Two recent studies have indicated that, contrary to many beliefs held by parents and professionals, the links between the emergence of teeth and significant physical symptoms are very weak.
The researchers compared signs of fever, sleep disruptions, irritability and other symptoms on days close to teeth eruption (before and after) and on days remote from teeth eruption.
The findings indicate that for most infants there are no links between the emergence of teeth and other behavioral or physical symptoms. In the minority of the infants tooth emergence was associated with some symptoms but these associations existed only for a brief period (4 days before teeth eruption, the day of eruption and 3 days after). In both studies, sleep disruptions were not associated with tooth emergence.
The authors suggest that parents' tendencies to blame teething for physical and behavioral symptoms is often unwarranted. Physical symptoms and distress are likely the result of other factors.
Sources:1) Wake, M., Hesketh, K., & Lucas, J. (2000). Teething and tooth eruption in infants: A cohort study. Pediatrics, 106, 1374-1379. 2) Macknin, M. L., Piedmonte, M., Jacobs, J., & Skibinski, C. (2000). Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study. Pediatrics, 105, 747-752.
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Childrens sleep disorders, sleep difficulties and help to prevent or resolve them.
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