Natal teeth phenomenon might seem bizarre, but it is true. It is rare yet found in approximately 1 out of 2000 babies. The question must be lingering, how can a baby be born with teeth? Read on to find your answer.
Wait up, do not think that a baby can be born with a full set of teeth. It is usually 1 or 2; let us discuss and understand the difference between the sets.
Neonatal and Natal Teeth
Neonatal teeth emerge during the time the baby hits its 30 days milestone. In contrast, natal teeth are the ones the baby is already born with.
Natal Teeth
A baby may have 1 or a maximum of 2 teeth at birth, known as natal teeth. The tooth present is an incisor located in the bottom jaw at a central position, just like the neonatal set. The teeth may or may not look normal but are different from the actual set that grows later as they advance in age.
Natal teeth are loose and not white in appearance. They look blue/gray or sometimes even brown; this is because of less amount of enamel on them. Moreover, they are underdeveloped, move, and smaller having a cone shape.
Reasons For Natal Teeth Appearance
The exact causes for their growth are not known, but genetics, certain infections, or malnutrition during pregnancy usually cause this issue.
Furthermore, a few medical conditions can cause natal teeth growth as well, which are:
Soto’s Syndrome
A rare disease which is characterized with increased growth during the starting years of life. The baby is larger than normal, with slant eyes and natal teeth in the lower jaw.
Cleft Lip and Palate
The connection is not fully known between the two conditions but babies that are born with congenital abnormalities, especially cleft lip and palate, often have natal teeth too.
Ellis-van Creveld
It is a genetic issue which mainly has effects on bone growth. Such children in later years are short in height with heart problems. The main reason for this problem is gene mutation which causes abnormalities, including dental ones. The presence of natal teeth is one of the few complications seen in such individuals.
Hallerman-Streiff
Hallerman-Streiff is a mix of physical anomalies which are present when the baby is born and worsens in the years after. It involves skeletal and dental deformities, abnormal skull shape, thin skin, and teeth at birth are some of the signs this disorder shows.
Why Can’t We Keep Natal Teeth?
Natal teeth bring lots of complications; if any issues mentioned below are present in your baby, consult your dentist for a proper course of action.
Feeding Difficulties
Babies born with teeth are bound to face difficulties during feeding. The teeth irritate the baby’s tongue, causing ulceration in some because of constant contact between the two during nursing.
Uneasiness and irritation are seen not only in the babies but also in mothers who choose to breastfeed.
Choke Risk
Since natal teeth are loose with movement, there is a risk of that tooth going inside the lungs, causing breathing issues and may result in fatality.
Cavities
Enamel absence increases the risk of cavity formation.
Managing Natal Teeth
Consult your dentist and then decide what is best in such case scenario. If the tooth is retained after consideration, then extra care and precautions must be taken to detect signs of cavities or any other defect.
We hope this blog has answered the queries regarding a baby being born with teeth. Managing it is a task; talk to our specialists at Pediatric Healthcare of Northwest Houston PA for tips regarding oral care. Call us at 281 655 1500 – Houston or 936 539 8190 – Conroe to set up an appointment.
