Does your newborn baby have teeth? Let's talk about Natal Teeth!

When the doctor examines your new addition to the family for the first time, you'll be surprised if he says, 'The baby has teeth'. You might be wondering, 'Oh, how can teeth come from birth?' Although this is actually a bit rare, some babies are born with teeth. These are what we medically call Natal Teeth. Don't worry, we'll talk about everything in simple terms today.

What are these Natal Teeth?

Simply put, Natal Teeth are the teeth that a baby has in their mouth when they are born. Most of the time, these come in at the front of the lower jaw, that is, as the two middle teeth in the lower jaw. Sometimes, you can see them coming in pairs.

This is not something that happens to every baby. Worldwide, research suggests that about one in 300 newborns may have teeth this way. So it's not that common. But experts aren't exactly sure why this happens. They currently believe it may be hereditary or a sign of another health condition.

Both of these types of teeth can be either immature or mature. Also, sometimes these can be supernumerary teeth. That is, teeth that come in in addition to the normal set of teeth.

Why do some babies get teeth like this?

Doctors have not yet found the exact cause of this, but they believe that several factors may contribute to it.

• Genetics: Sometimes this can run in families. This means that some children inherit a trait where the tooth germ cells that start to form teeth are located close to the gum surface. Some genetic conditions can also cause these teeth to appear early.

• Infections: This risk may also be increased by certain infections that the mother has during pregnancy, for example, congenital syphilis.

• Endocrine conditions: Hormonal problems, such as increased activity of glands such as the thyroid and pituitary, may also affect this.

• Chemicals: Exposure to chemicals that affect certain hormones is also suspected to be a cause.

A little about genetic diseases

There are several rare genetic conditions that have been identified that may be associated with the development of natal teeth. Examples include `Ectodermal dysplasia`, `Ellis-van Creveld syndrome` and `Pachyonychia congenita`. These are very rare. In many of these conditions, a gene related to keratin, a protein that makes things like our nails and skin, is affected. Since this gene is also involved in tooth development, it is currently thought that this may be a cause.

Do these teeth need treatment?

There's no need to worry if your baby has a tooth like this. In most cases, no treatment is needed. If the tooth is strong, well-positioned, and not causing any problems, it's usually best to leave it alone.

However, in some special cases, doctors recommend removing these teeth. These are cases like this:

• If the tooth is very loose: If the root of the tooth has not developed properly, it can be very loose. If that happens , there is a high risk that it will come loose and get stuck in the baby's throat. Since this can be dangerous, such teeth are removed.
• Problems during breastfeeding: If the mother's breasts are injured or unbearable pain occurs due to these teeth while breastfeeding the baby.
• If your baby's tongue is injured: If the underside of your baby's tongue is often injured due to the sharpness of the teeth. This is also called `Riga-Fede disease` in medicine.
• If the tooth structure is weak: If the tooth is not properly developed and is weak.

When should I see a doctor?

Usually, a pediatrician will examine the baby completely at the hospital as soon as he or she is born. Along with checking the baby's height and weight, an internal examination of the mouth is an essential part of the examination. Often, these teeth are first seen at that time.

After that, the doctor will examine the condition of these teeth. He will check how much the tooth is loose and whether it can cause any damage, and if necessary, he may also do an X-ray. Also, if there is any doubt about whether there is another genetic cause for this, he may refer you for the necessary tests.

You may be surprised and even a little scared to find out that your little one has teeth at birth. This is very normal. But don't worry about it. In most cases, this is just a minor, harmless change in your baby's development. The medical team caring for you and your baby will look into this and give you the advice you need. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor about them. They will explain everything to you and put your mind at ease.

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