Teething in babies is a special occasion for the mothers as it means the baby will start having solids instead of just breast milk. But teething has its specific time (from 4 to 8 months approximately). Teeth cannot show in newborn babies. But Epstein pearls are cysts that look similar to teeth can occur in the upper gum or mouth of a newborn.
But sometimes you may mistakenly perceive a more serious condition like oral thrush or hand-foot-mouth disease as the Epstein pearls. So you need to identify the Epstein pearls, their causes and symptoms to distinguish them from other oral problems in babies. In this article, we discuss about the condition, Epstein pearls in babies in detail.
In This Article
- What is Epstein Pearls?
- Causes of Epstein Pearls in Newborn Babies
- Signs and Symptoms of Epstein Pearls in Newborn Babies
- How Are Epstein Pearls in Newborns Diagnosed?
- Treatment Options Available For Epstein Pearls
- When Should You Consider Seeing a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
What is Epstein Pearls?
Epstein Pearls are tiny white or yellowish bumps that appear particularly on the roof of the baby’s mouth. The first case of Epstein Pearls was recorded in the 1880s and since then almost 85% of newborn babies are born with it. Epstein Pearls get its name after the name of Alois Epstein, a Czech paediatrician and physician, as he first described this cyst elaborately.
Einstein pearls are also known as gingival cysts or palatial cysts or dental lamina cysts and are not usually harmful to your baby.
Causes of Epstein Pearls in Newborn Babies
Epstein pearls generally occur in babies during their development inside the womb in the last stage of pregnancy. This condition happens when the epithelial cells get entrapped during the development of the palate.
To simplify, Epstein peals occur during the development of the mouth structure if any skin gets trapped between the jaw and the palate. This skin then gets filled with the skin protein named keratin and forms mucosal cysts. Since this happens during the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb you cannot do anything to prevent it.
Any accident or medical condition or eating habit of the mother does not cause Epstein pearls in the baby. But studies have shown that the chances of Epstein pearls to rise if the baby delivers past its due date, the baby is overweight during delivery, or the mother is having a late pregnancy.
[Read : What Is Fetal Macrosomia And Its Symptoms?]
Signs and Symptoms of Epstein Pearls in Newborn Babies
Epstein pearls are more common in cases like:
- The baby is born past due date
- Late pregnancy
- Multiple gestations
- The baby is overweight during birth
So, if any of these conditions happen to your pregnancy then the risk of Epstein pearls increases.
There is no symptom of Epstein pearls other than their unusual appearance on a newborn baby’s gums. The signs of Epstein pearls are also pretty common in all babies. These are
- The appearance of tiny white or yellowish nodules on the gums
- Cysts with size between 1 to 3 millimetres on the gums
- Cysts that occur mostly on the upper gum of the oral cavity which resembles a tooth
- A cluster of tiny bumps (2 to 6), or a single bump on the gums
- The disappearance of the bumps within a few weeks as the baby starts sucking the nipple or the pacifiers
Epstein pearls will not cause any fever, pain or swelling in the gums of your baby as it happens during teething.
[Read : Overdue Pregnancy]
How Are Epstein Pearls in Newborns Diagnosed?
You can diagnose Epstein pearls at home simply by observing the size or pattern of the cyst.
But to ensure it is truly Epstein pearls and not any other similar-looking condition like Milia, dental lamina, Bohn nodules, or oral thrush you can take your baby to the pediatrician.
The pediatrician will do an oral physical examination to understand the reasons behind the growths or nodules.
Treatment Options Available For Epstein Pearls
In general Epstein Pearls do not require any treatment and dissolve with time on their own. The friction of the gum due to breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or chewing pacifiers breaks down the cysts easily.
- Often the cysts gradually sink instead of rapturing away. So, in most cases, Epstein pearls will dissolve naturally without any treatment.
- Do not try to squeeze or pop out the cyst using your fingers or any instrument.
- You also need to check that your baby is not scratching the Epstein pearls as it can cause infection in the gum.
- Maintain proper hygiene like washing your nipples before breastfeeding or boiling the feeding bottle to time to ensure no infection occurs in the Epstein pearls.
- You can provide pacifiers and soft teething toys to your baby to encourage fast chewing and thus the dissolving of Epstein pearls.
[Read : Pacifiers- The Basics]
When Should You Consider Seeing a Doctor?
You should consider taking a doctor’s appointment if you find problems like
- The Epstein pearls are not cured even after several weeks
- The size of Epstein pearls is not reducing gradually over time
- The cysts are bleeding
- The cysts are getting bigger in size
- Your baby is crying out of pain while you feed
- By observing proper oral hygiene, you can prevent any fungal infection in the Epstein pearls. The pediatrician can guide you further on this matter.
The condition of Epstein pearls in babies is nothing to worry about. You can relax as the cysts will level on their own. But you must take extra care in maintaining hygiene so that no infection occurs in the area. Also never try to pinch or pop out Epstein pearls as this could be painful and harmful for your baby.
Regularly check the condition of the Epstein pearls and inform the pediatrician if there is any increase in the size and shape of the cysts. Get your baby’s Epstein pearls checked by the doctor to rule out other similar looking but more serious conditions like oral thrush or Millia or dental lamina or Bohn nodules.
FAQ’s
1. At What Age Can Babies Get Epstein Pearls?
Small babies can get Epstein pearls during the first few weeks or months of their birth. Epstein pearls occur when skin gets trapped while the jaw and palate of the mouth are joined during the final stage of mouth development. So generally, Epstein pearls can appear within 6 weeks of the baby’s birth and they can dissolve within a few weeks to one or two months.
2. Can Teething Cause Epstein Pearls?
No, teething does not cause Epstein pearls. These two are two separate things though you can misinterpret one for the other. Sometimes natal teeth are misinterpreted as Epstein pearls but the cases of natal teeth are very rare whereas Epstein pearls are quite common in newborns.
3. Do Epstein Pearls Go Away on Their Own?
Yes, in most Epstein pearls dissolve on their own. The friction caused by breastfeeding or bottle feeding is enough to break the keratin inside the Epstein pearls. You can help to dissolve the Epstein pearls by providing your baby some BPA-free soft silicon teether or pacifier.
4. Can Formula-Fed Babies Get Epstein Pearls?
Yes, both formula-fed and breastmilk-fed babies can get Epstein pearls. Formula milk or breastmilk has nothing to do with the cause of Epstein pearls. Einstein pearls happen during the fetal development stage and there is nothing you can do to prevent this condition.
Read Also: Teething in Babies – Signs and Tips to Take Care of Baby’s Teeth
