Why gum cutting is a dangerous habit

Gum cutting is a cultural practice common among the Kamba, Maasai and other tribes. In this practice, mothers or caregivers use ash stone or coarse sodium bicarbonate stone to rub off the gum pads of a baby until they bleed just when teething is about to happen.

In other cases, sharp objects like razor blades and knives are used to cut the gums and expose the underlying teeth buds. Moreover, it even goes further to mercilessly gorging out of the tooth buds in the gums. In all these cases, the procedures are done without any anaesthesia with the child bearing immense pain.