Teething

Teething, the acquirement of teeth, especially of their first teeth, by children from about their seventh month onwards, may take place in strong children without any constitutional disturbance or ailment other than some local irritation or inflammation; many of the infantile diseases once credited to teething being really due to improper feeding (see INFANTS) and neglect of hygiene. But the time of teething is more or less a critical period, especially for the nervous system of the child, and is apt to be associated, especially in sensitive children or such as suffer from rickets, with restlessness, disturbed sleep, and even in some cases with Convulsions (q.v.), diarrhoea, and eruptions. Close attention to the general health is always necessary.