Babies are born with teeth

Now many new parents know that babies do not have teeth after birth. Teeth will grow when the baby is seven or eight months old. However, some children have a few tiny teeth at the beginning of birth. This situation is relatively rare in medicine because it is related to environmental genetics or endocrine. The specific situation needs to be examined. As long as the baby is healthy, there is no need to worry too much.

Why are newborns born with teeth?

Both natal teeth and neonatal teeth are relatively rare clinically, and the cause is multifactorial, which may be related to the environment, genetics, endocrine system, etc. Some of them may be manifestations of potential systemic diseases in the oral cavity. The most common ones are chondroectodermal dysplasia syndrome, mandibular-oculofacial malformation, micrognathia syndrome and megalencephaly syndrome.

Under what circumstances does it need to be removed?

Studies have shown that about 85% of natal teeth or newly born teeth are mandibular deciduous incisors. Most premature deciduous teeth have no roots or very little root development, are obviously loose, and have thin enamel and dentin. For these teeth, it is best to take X-rays to check whether they are supernumerary teeth, the development of the roots, and the condition of the adjacent teeth.

Extremely loose teeth are at risk of falling out at any time and causing aspiration, so they should be extracted as soon as possible. However, care should be taken to assess bleeding conditions, and vitamin K can be used preventively. If the tooth is not too loose, it is preferred to keep the tooth. Because extraction of deciduous incisors will result in missing teeth, it is not conducive to the child's future development and the eruption of adjacent teeth. Generally speaking, these loose teeth can become stable in a short period of time, and their adjacent teeth may also erupt earlier.

Teeth in the mouth may scratch the tongue ventral and lingual frenulum mucosa when the baby is breastfeeding, causing traumatic ulcers. Long-standing ulcers may cause hard, pale, fibroid tissue to develop, interfering with normal tongue movement and breastfeeding. Whether the fibroma-like tissue can be completely absorbed after formation requires further observation. If the ulcer is difficult to heal, seriously affects eating, and causes nutritional disorders in the baby, it is recommended to remove it.

Breastfeeding should master the appropriate method

For mothers, the presence of teeth in their babies’ mouths may make breastfeeding difficult, and proper feeding positioning is essential for successful breastfeeding and preventing breast injury.

First, choose a quiet environment and a comfortable posture, such as sitting. Hold the newborn in one hand and use the other hand to support your breast. Move the nipple with your hand to touch the corner of the hungry newborn's mouth to trigger its milk-seeking reflex. Once the newborn opens its mouth, the mother should quickly hold the newborn's head close to her chest to help the newborn hold the entire nipple and areola. Remember to place the nipple above the newborn's tongue, not under the tongue.

At the end of feeding, the mother can put a clean finger into the corner of the newborn's mouth to change the negative pressure in the newborn's mouth to positive pressure. At this time, pulling out the nipple can avoid nipple injury or the birth tooth falling off, thereby avoiding accidental aspiration or swallowing.