Baby Born with a Tooth? Natal and Neonatal Teeth Explained

A tooth at birth or in the first month is rare, and most are normal baby teeth that came early. What to check, how to clean it, and when to see a dentist.

Spotting a tiny tooth in your newborn's mouth can be quite a surprise. You may wonder if it needs to come out, whether feeding will be okay, or if it could hurt your baby. Here's what parents should know about teeth that are there from birth.

Why some babies are born with a tooth

Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months. But once in a while, a baby is born with a tooth. This is called a natal tooth. A tooth that comes in during the first month is called a neonatal tooth. The names are different, but what you watch for is the same.

It's usually one or two teeth in the lower front gum. Most of the time, it isn't anything unusual. It's simply a normal baby tooth that showed up early. All 20 baby teeth are already growing inside the gums at birth, and one of them just arrived ahead of schedule. Rarely, it's an extra tooth rather than a regular baby tooth, and a dentist can tell you which it is.

A tooth that comes in this early often hasn't grown much of a root yet, so it may be loose. That's why the most important question is how firmly it's attached. If the tooth is firm and feeding is going well, it's left in place. It then stays with your baby like any other baby tooth.

This didn't happen because you did something wrong. Most of these are normal baby teeth that came early, so try not to worry, and feel free to ask any questions at your baby's visit.

On the other hand, a very loose tooth could fall out and be swallowed or breathed in, so a dentist needs to decide what to do.

What to check at home

When you look inside your baby's mouth each day, go through these steps.

1. Wash your hands well, then lightly touch the tooth with a finger to see how loose it is. Don't wiggle it back and forth on purpose.
2. Look under your baby's tongue for a red, raw sore. The tongue can rub against the edge of the tooth during feeds and get hurt.
3. If you're breastfeeding, watch for sores or pain on your nipple too.
4. After feeds, wrap damp gauze around your finger and gently wipe the tooth and gums.

A common mistake is trying to wiggle the tooth out at home because "it's going to fall out anyway." A newborn's gums are delicate and can be injured, and a tooth that comes out could be swallowed. Don't pull or wiggle it. Leave it to the dentist.

If your nipple hurts during feeds, it can help to have your feeding position or latch checked. If the pain doesn't go away or your baby isn't feeding well, talk with a dentist.

At the visit, the dentist will check how loose the tooth is, whether it's getting in the way of feeding, and whether there's a sore under the tongue, and then decide whether to leave it in place. Jotting down what you've noticed at home or taking a photo makes it easier to explain.

Frequently asked questions

When to see a dentist

• The tooth is very loose (go right away)
• Your baby has trouble latching or feeding is hard
• A sore develops under your baby's tongue
• Your nipple gets sore or painful with every feed
• You want to know whether it's a normal baby tooth or an extra one

English ebook · Dentist Ingyoon An

A guide to the decisions behind dental care

Tooth Calendar follows dental care from pregnancy to eighteen in 78 chapters. Explore the reasons behind feeding, brushing, baby-tooth decay, sedation, and injury decisions—including what can be watched and when to seek help. Age-based contents and a topic index help you find the concern you have today.

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The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.

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