Factors affecting the timing of teething in healthy Turkish infants: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Teething is a developmental process and occurs over a broad chronological age range.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding pattern and growth parameters on teething time of healthy infants.

METHODS

A total of 1200 term newborn infants followed up in Gazi University well-child clinic infants were evaluated, and their growth parameters, feeding patterns, and timing of the eruption of the first tooth were noted. The routine visit times of the clinic were chosen as the cut-off values for teeth eruption for logistic regression analysis for investigating factors that determine the timing of teeth eruption.

RESULTS

Timing of the eruption of the first tooth ranged from 4 to 13 months. On the sixth month visit, 24.3%, and on the ninth month visit 84.5% of all infants had at least one tooth. Height-adjusted weight and height percentiles being less than 50, being fed by cow's milk or by formula in the first year, were independent factors negatively influencing teeth eruption by the sixth month, while all but height-adjusted weight percentiles being less than 50 had negative impact on tooth eruption by the ninth month.

CONCLUSION

Growth parameters and feeding pattern may be determinants of the timing of teeth eruption in healthy infants.