Teething Myths among Nursing Mothers in a Nigerian Community

"Many symptoms had been associated with teething in children with the possibility of overlooking potentially fatal condition. Symptoms that had been associated with teething include diarrhoea; fever; vomiting and cough. The possibility that any of these symptoms could have been due to other causes call for thorough investigation of the child before concluding that it is only ""teething"". Objectives: The study was carried out to assess the beliefs of nursing mothers concerning symptoms that are associated with teething among children and to identify those that would seek medical treatments in case of their children having such symptoms during teething. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and ninety nursing mothers whose children had erupted at least a tooth were interviewed in the immunisation clinics of the University College Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital; both in Ibadan; Nigeria; on their beliefs and practice concerning teething in children. Results: One hundred and eighty-eight (64.8) of the mothers associated symptoms such as fever; cough; catarrh and diarrhoea with eruption of teeth in their children. Over half of the women agreed that a child having either fever (51.0); ear infection (57.6) or cough (50.3) should be promptly taken for medical consultation and not be tagged ""teething""; while for other symptoms such as gum pain (74.5); sleepless night (56.6); vomiting (51.4) and diarrhoea (51.7); over half of the mothers believed that the symptoms will resolve following the eruption of the teeth. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that mothers in the study attributes several symptoms to teething; which could be detrimental to the survival of their children as the symptom could have been due to other causes. There is; therefore; need for public enlightenment to create awareness on the possible effect of presumptuous belief that childhood diseases are due to teething process."

Dental Spacing in Primary Dentition of Nigerian Children and its Relationship to Arch and Crown Dimensions

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare mesiodistal and buccolingual crown widths; as well as dental arch dimensions between children with spaced and normal dental arches; and to determine which of the parameters mostly influence dental spacing. Methods: Crown and dental arch dimensions of dental casts of 125 children; grouped into spaced and normal primary dental arches; based on the tooth size-arch length discrepancy; were measured using electronic digital caliper. The data were statistically analyzed using t-test and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Maxillary and mandibular spaced arches had statistically significant larger intercanine widths than the normal arches. The total mesiodistal tooth size in both arches; and mean buccolingual width of the mandibular first and second primary molars of the spaced arches were significantly smaller than those of the normal arches. However; there were no significant differences between spaced and normal arches in arch length; arch depth and intermolar arch width. The most important predictor of spacing in both arches is the intercanine width; followed by total mesiodistal tooth size. Conclusions: The parameter that mostly influences dental spacing is the intercanine width