Babies born with teeth a rarity but rarely a health problem

The next day, she took the baby to the hospital.

“After I saw the doctor, I was told to monitor the baby. I was to check if the teeth are affecting his milk intake or if he is not breathing properly,” she said.

But what exactly are natal teeth?

Natal teeth are teeth that are present when a baby is born. Although some mothers call it plastic teeth, these are real teeth that are often not fully developed and may have a weak root.

The cause of natal teeth is unknown. But they may be more likely to occur in children with certain health problems that affect growth.

Speaking to the Sun Health, paediatr ician Claire Molwantwa said the teeth that are perceived by mothers are just gums that are enlarged.

“The teeth that we see in children do not have roots. So you find that they are mobile in the sense that when a child removes his tongue outside the teeth moves in that direction,” she said.

Molwantwa said that the teeth are weak and can easily fall off. Natal teeth happen in only about one in 2,500 births worldwide.

“Now with this kind of movement, a baby can easily choke on them if they were to fall off and swallow them,” she said.

She notes that the only way to ensure that they don’t choke on them is by removing the teeth.

“They can be extracted if they cause a risk to the baby. If the baby cannot feed because of the teeth then he or she has to be saved by removing the teeth,” she said.

But she notes that if the baby is not having any problems with the teeth then the teeth should not be interfered with.

“Extraction is not for every child. If the teeth have grown well then there is no need to touch them. These are the teeth that the baby will have. If you extract them then your baby will not have teeth until he reaches six years of age,” she said.

Most babies get their primary teeth, often the lower front teeth, beginning at six months of age

“It might just be a problem for the mother because of how people will judge the baby based on the teeth. Purely psychological but if it’s worrying then you can see a dentist.”

A 2014 literature review published in the Indian Journal of Dentistry indicates that 15 per cent of babies born with natal teeth have close relatives who were born with a weird little tooth, as well.