K Plutzer1, A J Spencer, M J N C Keirse. 1. Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. kamila.plutzer@adelaide.edu.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Teething, especially in their first child, continues to be a daunting problem for parents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to assess the effects of providing first-time mothers with information about symptoms commonly associated with teething and ways to manage these. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial to decrease the incidence of early childhood caries, we included information on teething as another issue in a child's oral health. Mothers in the intervention group received three rounds of printed information: at enrolment during pregnancy and when the child was 6 and 12 months old. Information on teething arrived when a child reached 6 months of age. Outcome assessment was at 20 ± 2.5 months of age. Data were complemented with a systematic search for evidence on teething symptoms and how to alleviate them in other populations. RESULTS: Of 649 expectant mothers enrolled in the study, 441 completed the 'Child's oral health' questionnaire. There were no significant differences in teething symptoms reported by mothers in the intervention (n = 232) and control (n = 209) groups. However, mothers in the intervention group were less likely to use topical and oral medications to manage teething problems (P < 0.03) and relied more on rubbing the gums to ease discomfort (P < 0.005) than mothers in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Providing mothers with information on how to address teething symptoms markedly reduced the use of medications for symptom relief. There is still need for better evidence, first, on what symptoms can or cannot be attributed to teething and, second, on what is effective in alleviating them.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Teething, especially in their first child, continues to be a daunting problem for parents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to assess the effects of providing first-time mothers with information about symptoms commonly associated with teething and ways to manage these. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial to decrease the incidence of early childhood caries, we included information on teething as another issue in a child's oral health. Mothers in the intervention group received three rounds of printed information: at enrolment during pregnancy and when the child was 6 and 12 months old. Information on teething arrived when a child reached 6 months of age. Outcome assessment was at 20 ± 2.5 months of age. Data were complemented with a systematic search for evidence on teething symptoms and how to alleviate them in other populations. RESULTS: Of 649 expectant mothers enrolled in the study, 441 completed the 'Child's oral health' questionnaire. There were no significant differences in teething symptoms reported by mothers in the intervention (n = 232) and control (n = 209) groups. However, mothers in the intervention group were less likely to use topical and oral medications to manage teething problems (P < 0.03) and relied more on rubbing the gums to ease discomfort (P < 0.005) than mothers in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Providing mothers with information on how to address teething symptoms markedly reduced the use of medications for symptom relief. There is still need for better evidence, first, on what symptoms can or cannot be attributed to teething and, second, on what is effective in alleviating them.
Authors: Jin Xiao; Naemah Alkhers; Dorota T Kopycka-Kedzierawski; Ronald J Billings; Tong Tong Wu; Daniel A Castillo; Linda Rasubala; Hans Malmstrom; Yanfang Ren; Eli Eliav Journal: Caries Res Date: 2019-01-10 Impact factor: 4.056
Authors: Elisha Riggs; Nicky Kilpatrick; Linda Slack-Smith; Barbara Chadwick; Jane Yelland; M S Muthu; Judith C Gomersall Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-11-20
Authors: María García-Pola; Agueda González-Díaz; José Manuel García-Martín Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-13 Impact factor: 3.390