Ancient ideas about teething in children

This article explores ancient beliefs about teething in children and folk and medicinal remedies for alleviating this condition. Teething in children is almost always associated with a multitude of problems: itchy gums, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and, as a result, fussiness. These symptoms were so distressing to parents and doctors that they were often considered signs of a serious illness, even fatal one. Ancient physicians in their writings identified teething as one of the critical stages in a child‘s life and paid close attention to the problems associated with this period. The author identifies the main means used to relieve pain in children during teething, based on an analysis of the medical works of Hippocrates (V–IV centuries BC), Aulus Cornelius Celsus (I century BC — I century), Pedanius Dioscorides (I century), Soranus of Ephesus (I–II centuries), Quintus Serenus Sammonicus (II–III centuries), Pseudo-Theodorus Priscianus, as well as the work of Pliny the Elder “Natural History” (I century) and late antique collections — “Orphic Lithica” (II–IV centuries), the work “On Stones”, attributed to the magician Damigeron (II century), the collection “Cyranides” (IV century). Unlike adults, for whom ancient authors offered a wide range of toothache treatment options (rinses, ear drops, gum scarification, fumigation, etc.), the range of possible remedies for children was limited due to their young age and dietary requirements. Ancient practices distinguished two main methods for helping a child with teething. Advice offered in medical works focuses primarily on remedies aimed at softening gums: eating the cooked brains of various animals and rubbing the gums with milk, honey, and oil. Collections of folk and magical remedies offer various amulets, primarily the teeth of various animals. The use of an animal part corresponding to the ailing body part as a remedy reflects the tendency to use remedies that act on the principle of similarity. Among the animals whose teeth were used as amulets, two main groups can be distinguished: strong animals with large teeth, such as bears, foxes, and wolves — or those that renew their teeth throughout life — snakes and fish. Probably due to the impossibility of using pain relief remedies familiar to adults, preference was given to magical practices.