By Bello Gideon (SIWES student, AAPOLY)
Children’s Doctor asserts that babies born with one or two teeth are perfectly normal, dispelling age-old fears and folklore surrounding such occurrences.
Parents are advised against removing these teeth, as doing so could later impact proper growth and tooth structure.
A study reveals that Nigerians associate babies with natal teeth with curses, while outside Nigeria, they are often thought to be vampires or beasts.
Contrary to societal beliefs, experts emphasize that newborns with natal teeth are normal and healthy, akin to variations in birth processes.
Pediatricians liken early tooth growth in these babies to early walking in others. However, caution is advised to prevent potential harm, as babies with natal or neonatal teeth may be more prone to inhaling them.
Professor Obafunke Denloye, a paediatric dentist, affirms the normalcy of such cases and underscores the need to view them as variations in the natural process of baby tooth eruption.
While occurrences of babies born with teeth are rare, neonatal nurses may encounter such situations in their careers, according to a 2022 study by Ella Holden et al.
