Pediatricians have emphasized that babies born with one or two teeth are perfectly normal, dispelling long-held fears and myths surrounding this occurrence.
They advised against removing the teeth, cautioning that doing so could affect the child’s proper dental development. A study by Bankole O et al, regarding natal/neonatal teeth dispelling myths, found that Nigerians held beliefs associating such babies with curses, regardless of their social class.
According to the study, outside Nigeria, these babies were believed to be monstrous or vampires, with their teeth seen as sacrilegious signs of the devil. This often led to pressure for the teeth to be removed and spiritual cleansing.
The presence of teeth in newborns is termed natal teeth, while those growing teeth within the first month of birth are considered to have neonatal teeth.
Although babies typically start teething at six months, pediatricians explained that those with natal or neonatal teeth experience early teething, akin to babies who begin walking at six months.
Mothers of babies with natal teeth were advised to exercise caution to prevent the baby from inhaling the teeth, which could pose a risk to the baby’s health when they fall out.
Professor Obafunke Denloye, a pediatric dentist at the Department of Child Oral Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, emphasized that babies born with natal teeth were normal and healthy.
She explained that like other variations in childbirth, the presence of teeth at birth should be considered normal. Denloye highlighted that the perception of such cases as abnormal was influenced by societal beliefs and lack of exposure to such occurrences.
She further mentioned that cases of babies with natal and neonatal teeth were rare, although neonatal nurses might encounter such situations in their careers.
Denloye reassured breastfeeding mothers with babies born with natal teeth that the teeth might fall out. She cautioned them to be vigilant to prevent their babies from inhaling the teeth after they fall out.
The pediatric dentist also mentioned that the hereditary nature of natal and neonatal teeth meant that families who have previously experienced these occurrences could be convinced to leave the teeth as they are.
She stressed the importance of discouraging parents from seeking removal from unqualified practitioners and advised waiting at least eight days before considering removal to avoid potential complications.
Denloye highlighted the potential consequences of removing natal/neonatal teeth, including potential crowding when permanent teeth grow, which would require orthodontic correction.
Another pediatrician, wishing to remain anonymous, emphasized that the danger of natal teeth was the risk of dislodging and aspiration into the child’s lungs. However, they reassured parents that the teeth would eventually fall out naturally.
