{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T13:44:48Z","timestamp":1787319888438,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"PeerJ","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]],"date-time":"2022-08-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1660780800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Parental knowledge of teething has been repeatedly investigated; however, little emphasis has been made on the associated sociodemographic factors with good knowledge of the parents and whether or not good knowledge is translated into adopting proper pain-relieving practices. The present study aims to firstly assess the knowledge level and practices of Saudi parents regarding teething and then explore associated sociodemographic variables with good knowledge of teething to determine the relation between parents\u2019 knowledge of teething and their adoption of pain-relieving practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This cross-sectional study recruited parents from the social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and they were asked to answer a pretested three-part internationally accepted questionnaire. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      One thousand four hundred ninety-nine parents responded and returned completed questionnaires. Of those, only 11.2% had good knowledge of teething. The majority of parents did not have basic knowledge of the teething period as well as believed that teething was associated with a runny nose (87.5%), diarrhea (77.9%), and sleep disturbance (72%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that parents with no primary school education (Odds Ratio: 0.29), or those who had an intermediate or secondary education level (OR: 0.55 and 0.78) were less likely to have good knowledge compared with parents who had a university degree. However, parents who earned intermediate monthly income (OR: 6.63) were more likely to have good knowledge of teething. With regards to practices used to relieve teething pain, inappropriate practices were observed regarding bottle feeding at night to soothe the child\u2019s pain (72%) and applying topical analgesics to rub the gum (72.4%). A significant positive correlation was found between the knowledge score and the practice score of both fathers and mothers (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.22 and 0.13,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.0001).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A very low percentage of Saudi parents, mainly those with the highest education level and intermediate monthly income, had good knowledge of teething, which translated into appropriate practices to soothe the child\u2019s pain regardless of the parent\u2019s gender. Saudi parents should receive anticipatory guidance related to teething from all health professionals to ensure an uneventful teething period for their children.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.13948","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]],"date-time":"2022-08-18T04:50:19Z","timestamp":1660798219000},"page":"e13948","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Levels and correlates of knowledge of teething among Saudi Arabian families"],"prefix":"10.7717","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Dina A.","family":"Alkhozaim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Almulayda, Qassim, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5210-5128","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sanaa N.","family":"Al-Haj Ali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Almulayda, Qassim, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ra\u2019fat I.","family":"Farah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Almulayda, Qassim, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"4443","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-0500-4-228","article-title":"Mothers\u2019 beliefs about infant teething in Enugu, South-east Nigeria: a cross sectional study","volume":"4","author":"Adimorah","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMC Research Notes"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0103","DOI":"10.1590\/pboci.2020.166","article-title":"What do parents know about oral health and care for preschool children in the central region of Saudi Arabia?","volume":"20","author":"Al-Haj Ali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Cl\u00ednica Integrada"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"368504211008308","DOI":"10.1177\/00368504211008308","article-title":"Risk factors of early childhood caries among preschool children in Eastern Saudi Arabia","volume":"104","author":"Al-Haj Ali","year":"2021","journal-title":"Science Progress"},{"issue":"9","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.3390\/children6090097","article-title":"Medical, dental, and nursing students\u2019 knowledge about early childhood oral health care","volume":"6","author":"Al-Hatalani","year":"2019","journal-title":"Children"},{"issue":"8","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3982","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18083982","article-title":"Assessment of Saudi mother\u2019s knowledge and attitudes towards childhood diarrhea and its management","volume":"18","author":"Alghadeer","year":"2021","journal-title":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-6","first-page":"216","article-title":"Perinatal and infant oral health care","volume":"40","author":"American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pediatric Dentistry"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-7","article-title":"Teething: 4 to 7 months","author":"American Academy of Pediatrics","year":"2016"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4801078","article-title":"It\u2019s only teething\u2026 A report of the myths and modern approaches to teething","volume":"191","author":"Ashley","year":"2001","journal-title":"British Dental Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1177\/0272684X17701262","article-title":"Teething","volume":"37","author":"Bankole","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Quarterly of Community Health Education"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-10","first-page":"148","article-title":"Tooth eruption symptoms: a survey of parents and health professionals","volume":"69","author":"Barlow","year":"2002","journal-title":"ASDC Journal of Dentistry for Children"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2214.2004.00431.x","article-title":"Experience of Turkish parents about their infants\u2019 teething","volume":"30","author":"Baykan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Child: Care Health and Development"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sdentj.2017.05.003","article-title":"Mothers\u2019 teething beliefs and treatment practices in Mansoura, Egypt","volume":"29","author":"El-Gilany","year":"2017","journal-title":"Saudi Dent Journal"},{"issue":"4536\u201348","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-13","first-page":"18","article-title":"Childhood fever and its management: differences in knowledge and practices between mothers and fathers in Taif; Saudi Arabia","volume":"3","author":"Elbur","year":"2014","journal-title":"World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"699","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-015-1690-y","article-title":"Parental knowledge and practices on infant teething, Taif, Saudi Arabia","volume":"8","author":"Elbur","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Research Notes"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.17796\/jcpd.34.3.h318882h52616225","article-title":"Teething symptoms in the first year of life and associated factors: a cohort study","volume":"34","author":"Feldens","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-018-0619-y","article-title":"Misconceptions and traditional practices towards infant teething symptoms among mothers in Southwest Ethiopia","volume":"18","author":"Getaneh","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-17","first-page":"2","article-title":"Teething signs and symptoms: persisting misconceptions among health professionals in New Zealand","volume":"109","author":"Ispas","year":"2013","journal-title":"New Zealand Dental Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1590\/S1806-83242012000200011","article-title":"Parental beliefs about children\u2019s teething in Udaipur, India: a preliminary study","volume":"26","author":"Kakatkar","year":"2012","journal-title":"Brazilian Oral Research"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.17796\/1053-4628-40.1.44","article-title":"Knowledge of teething and prevalence of teething myths in mothers of Saudi Arabia","volume":"40","author":"Kumar","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Pediatric"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S68","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2016.04.025","article-title":"Diagnosis and management of undifferentiated fever in children","volume":"72 Suppl","author":"Long","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Infection"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"747","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.105.4.747","article-title":"Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study","volume":"105","author":"Macknin","year":"2000","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e20153501","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2015-3501","article-title":"Signs and symptoms of primary tooth eruption: a meta-analysis","volume":"137","author":"Massignan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4801349","article-title":"Teething troubles","volume":"192","author":"McIntyre","year":"2002","journal-title":"British Dental Journal"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-015-0070-2","article-title":"Signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption: a clinical trial of nonpharmacological remedies","volume":"15","author":"Memarpour","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"issue":"6","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10005-1688","article-title":"Exploring parental knowledge and indigenous practices for infant teething in Indian population: a cross-sectional study","volume":"12","author":"More","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Clinical Pediatric"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1601-5037.2009.00412.x","article-title":"Challenging parents\u2019 myths regarding their children\u2019s teething","volume":"8","author":"Owais","year":"2010","journal-title":"International Journal of Dental Hygiene"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-27","first-page":"107","article-title":"A survey of teething beliefs and related practices among child healthcare workers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria","volume":"9","author":"Oziegbe","year":"2011","journal-title":"Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2010-2697","article-title":"Prospective longitudinal study of signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption","volume":"128","author":"Ramos-Jorge","year":"2011","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"122","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2004.05.005","article-title":"Parents\u2019 and medical personnel\u2019s beliefs about infant teething","volume":"57","author":"Sarrell","year":"2005","journal-title":"Patient Education and Counselling"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.17796\/jcpd.35.1.u146773636772101","article-title":"Teething: myths and facts","volume":"35","author":"Sood","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry"},{"issue":"11","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-31","first-page":"509","article-title":"Methods of symptomatic relief of teething in infants and young children recommended by South Dakota physicians","volume":"72","author":"Thompson","year":"2019","journal-title":"South Dakota Medicine"},{"key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"814","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.325.7368.814","article-title":"Teething symptoms: cross-sectional survey of five groups of child health professionals","volume":"325","author":"Wake","year":"2002","journal-title":"British Medical Journal"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1440-1754.1999.355395.x","article-title":"Parent beliefs about infant teething: a survey of Australian parents","volume":"35","author":"Wake","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Paediatric Child Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.7717\/peerj.13948\/ref-34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.5339\/qmj.2020.32","article-title":"Mothers\u2019 false beliefs and myths associated with teething","volume":"2020","author":"Yousif","year":"2020","journal-title":"Qatar Medical Journal"}],"container-title":["PeerJ"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/13948.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/13948.xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/13948.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/13948.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]],"date-time":"2022-08-18T04:50:31Z","timestamp":1660798231000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/peerj.com\/articles\/13948"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]]},"references-count":34,"alternative-id":["10.7717\/peerj.13948"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7717\/peerj.13948","archive":["CLOCKSS","LOCKSS","Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2167-8359"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2167-8359","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,18]]},"article-number":"e13948"}}