Teething starts around 6 months of age and is complete by 30 months of age in most children. From medical professionals to grandmothers, everyone seems to have a list of symptoms they believe are linked to teething. It is important to remember that during this same time period of an infant's life, passive immunity due to maternal antibodies wanes and exposure to a wide variety of childhood illnesses occurs. Medical professionals need to be educated about teething to provide reasonable explanations to concerned caregivers. This article examines the signs and symptoms frequently attributed to teething and their possible alternative causes. The contemporary principles of the management of teething are discussed, including supportive measures.

Keywords : Teething, childhood illnesses, management

Key Points:

• Understand normal anatomy and physiology of tooth eruption as well as causes of delayed eruption.
• The inaccurate historical association between teething and significant morbidity and mortality.
• Be aware of the historic beliefs about the effects of teething and therapies that have been used in the past.
• Describe the effects of teething and the signs and symptoms that are unrelated to teething, which necessitate referral to a physician.
• The features that are currently accepted to be associated with teething.
• Advice which can be given to parents about current methods of teething pain relief, including conventional pharmacological and 'alternative' holistic methods.

'Teething' is an ill-defined non evidence-based entity proffered by both health care professionals and lay people as an inappropriate diagnosis for a wide variety of signs and symptoms such as fever, pain, irritability, sleep problems, mouthing/biting, drooling, red cheeks, decreased oral intake, gum inflammation, runny nose, and diarrhea. Often, the diagnosis of teething seems to help alleviate parental anxiety. Such parental beliefs are consistent worldwide, across all education levels, and for both first-time and experienced parents. The treatment modalities for teething have been diverse throughout the ages, frequently depending on the tenets of the medical profession and lay people, but principally involve pain relief.