You walk into the hospital room, ready to meet your friend’s newborn, and you’re expecting that classic, gummy, toothless smile. Instead, you see a tiny white pearl peeking out from the bottom gum. It’s a shock. Honestly, it feels like the baby skipped a few chapters of the parenting manual. But while seeing infants with teeth is rare—we’re talking roughly one in every 2,000 to 3,000 births—it is a real medical phenomenon that doctors and midwives see more often than you’d think.
These aren't your typical teeth. They have a specific name: natal teeth.
Most of us assume teeth are a "six-month-old" milestone. We buy the rubber Sophie the Giraffe toys and the freezing rings in anticipation of that half-year mark. Yet, biology doesn't always follow the calendar. When a baby is born with a tooth already erupted, it’s a natal tooth. If it pops up within the first thirty days of life, they’re called neonatal teeth. Usually, these are just premature versions of the primary lower incisors, but sometimes they’re "extra" teeth—supernumerary ones—that don't belong in the standard set of twenty baby teeth at all.
Why does this even happen?
Genetics is the big one. If you were born with a tooth, or your partner was, there’s a much higher chance your kid will be too. It’s often just a quirk of the dental lamina—the specialized tissues that form teeth—being a bit too close to the surface of the gum line. In some cases, though, it’s linked to specific medical conditions. According to research published in the Journal of Pharmacy & BioAllied Sciences, conditions like Ellis-van Creveld syndrome or Hallermann-Streiff syndrome can involve natal teeth, but for the vast majority of healthy babies, it’s just a random biological fluke.
The struggle for breastfeeding moms and infants with teeth
Let’s be real for a second: breastfeeding a baby who has sharp little razors in their mouth sounds like a nightmare. It is. Mothers often report significant discomfort or biting, which can lead to a quick transition to bottle feeding or a lot of work with a lactation consultant. But the pain for the mom isn't the only concern. There’s a thing called Riga-Fede disease. It sounds scary, but it’s basically just a fancy medical term for a traumatic ulcer on the underside of the baby’s tongue.
Imagine a baby’s tongue constantly rubbing against a sharp, jagged edge every time they suckle. It gets raw. It gets inflamed. It makes the baby cry because eating becomes painful.
Then there is the choking risk. Most natal teeth aren't fully formed. Because they emerged so early, the root structure is often non-existent or very weak. They’re wobbly. You can sometimes literally wiggle them with your pinky finger. If a tooth is loose enough to fall out, it becomes a major aspiration risk. No parent wants to think about their newborn choking on their own tooth in the middle of the night, which is why pediatric dentists usually take a "wait and see" approach or opt for immediate extraction.
Do you have to pull them?
Not always. If the tooth is sturdy and the baby is feeding fine, doctors usually leave it alone. They might just smooth down the sharp edges so the tongue doesn't get cut up. If it’s loose, though? It’s coming out. The procedure is usually very fast—often done in the office with a little bit of topical numbing—because there isn't much of a root to contend with.
It’s worth noting that if you pull a natal tooth that was part of the original "set" of twenty baby teeth, that space is going to stay empty for a long time. The permanent tooth won't show up until the kid is six or seven years old. That means a lot of years with a "gappy" smile, but it’s a small price to pay for safety.
Myths, folklore, and the "evil eye"
People have been obsessed with infants with teeth for centuries. Depending on where you live in the world, a baby born with teeth is either a sign of incredible luck or a total curse. In some ancient European cultures, it was believed these children would grow up to be great soldiers or leaders—Napoleon Bonaparte and Julius Caesar were both rumored to have been born with teeth.
On the flip side, in some parts of Africa and South America, it was historically viewed as an omen of bad luck or even sorcery. Obviously, we know better now. It’s just anatomy. But the stories still persist in family legends, making it one of those things that grandmothers love to gossip about at baby showers.
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Taking care of those early arrivals
If you decide to keep the teeth, the "brushing" routine starts on day one. You aren't going to use a standard toothbrush, obviously. A soft, damp cloth or a silicone finger brush is the way to go. You have to keep the area clean because even these early teeth can get plaque or decay if milk sits on them for too long.
- Check for stability: Every morning, give the tooth a very gentle nudge. If it feels like it’s getting looser, call the pediatrician.
- Watch the tongue: Look for redness or a white patch under the tongue. That’s the first sign of Riga-Fede.
- Consult a specialist: Don't just rely on a general doctor; get a pediatric dentist involved early. They specialize in the unique geometry of a tiny mouth.
It's a weird start to parenthood. You expect diapers and sleepless nights, but you don't necessarily expect a trip to the dentist before the baby is a week old. Just remember that while it looks strange, your baby is totally fine. They’re just a little bit ahead of the curve.
Actionable steps for parents
If you find yourself staring at a toothy newborn, here is the immediate checklist. First, don't panic or try to "test" the strength of the tooth yourself. Schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist within the first 48 hours if possible. They will likely take a tiny X-ray to see if the tooth has a root or if it’s a "supernumerary" tooth that isn't part of the normal set. If the baby is breastfeeding, monitor your own comfort level and check the baby’s tongue for sores after every feeding. If the tooth is extracted, keep the area clean with saline wipes as directed by the dentist to prevent infection. Most importantly, document it—it’s a rare biological story that your child will definitely want to hear when they're older.