White spots on the upper teeth of newborns

Experts say that the white spots on the upper teeth of newborns are not caused by disease, but are the manifestation of normal milk teeth. They are usually yellow-white, rice-sized particles located on the gums in the newborn's mouth. Generally speaking, it will disappear automatically after a few months, but if the baby is malnourished, the time for automatic disappearance will be prolonged, but it will not cause adverse effects on the body.

1. What is the matter with the white spots on the upper teeth of newborns?

There are white spots on the upper teeth of newborns. These are horse teeth. When the baby is 4-6 weeks after birth, some yellow-white spots appear on both sides of the midline of the upper palate and the edge of the gums, which look like grown teeth. They are commonly known as "horse teeth" or "deciduous teeth". They are medically called epithelial beads. Epithelial beads are formed by the accumulation of epithelial cells. It is a normal physiological phenomenon, not a disease. "Horse teeth" do not affect the baby's breastfeeding and the development of deciduous teeth. They will gradually fall off within a few months after birth. For some babies due to malnutrition, "horse teeth" cannot fall off in time, which is not a big hindrance and does not require medical treatment.

2. Clinical manifestations of neonatal antenatal teeth

Milk teeth generally do not cause any discomfort and disappear after a few weeks. They can also exist for a longer period of time. They are a common physiological phenomenon in newborns.

Horse teeth are located on the gums in the mouth of newborns. They are formed by the accumulation of epithelial cells or the accumulation and encapsulation of mucous gland secretions. They appear as yellow-white, rice-sized particles, commonly known as "horse teeth" or "molar teeth".

Small yellow nodules ranging in size from 2 to 4 mm can be seen on the midline of the hard palate of newborns. They are also called Peng's pearls and are also composed of epithelial tissue cells. They disappear after a few weeks.

3. Treatment of newborn teeth

Horse teeth do not require treatment and will disappear naturally over a few weeks.

Breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to the cleanliness of their nipples, and bottle-feeding should pay attention to the disinfection of bottles and nipples.

The oral mucosa of newborns is thin and tender, easily scratched, and there are abundant blood vessels under the oral mucosa, so the body's resistance is low. Therefore, it is forbidden to use conventional methods to scrub the oral cavity, especially to avoid picking at the baby's teeth.

4. Prevention of Newborn Teeth

Scrubbing the mouth of a newborn, picking its teeth with a needle or wiping them with a cloth can cause damage to the mucosa and allow bacteria to invade through the damaged areas, causing local infection, neonatal sepsis, or even purulent meningitis.