Question
Not long after birth, parents may discover a small milk tooth in their newborn’s mouth. How should this situation be understood?
Answer
The phenomenon of newborn teething is commonly referred to as the appearance of ’nipple teeth’, which are small yellowish-white lumps, usually sesame-sized, that may appear at the edges of the gums or on the upper palate of the infant. This is not a pathological issue but rather a normal physiological occurrence, caused by the accumulation of epithelial cells or swelling of mucous glands. These so-called ’nipple teeth’ typically disappear naturally within a few weeks or months, and parents should not be overly concerned.