Article Overview -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Picture27

Rendition - 710 x 500

Image - Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment 

Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment 

We recommend you review the third-party site’s privacy policy, as their privacy practices may differ from P&G.

Any personal information you provide on the third-party’s website will be managed in accordance with their privacy policy.

Thank you for visiting oral-b.co.in

Please click the link below to

Article Share Content - English

You're now leaving Oral-b.co.in

Zone - Header

Zone - Body - Article - Legacy

Zone - After Body - Article - Legacy

Zone - Footer

Zone - Sidebar Overlay

Zone - Cookie Consent

Layout - Article - Legacy

Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-0

<p>When your little one starts teething, it gets very exciting to watch those tiny pearly whites finally make an appearance. Usually, this process can make your baby a little irritable and the tiny tot would chew on anything he or she can find. However, there are instances when there’s a slight ‘bump’ in the process and instead of a brand new tooth, you might notice tiny white or yellow bumps on the roof of your little one’s mouth. These bumps are called <b>Epstein pearls</b> and are not usually a cause of worry. Let’s learn more about this condition so that you are better equipped to help your infant. </p>
<ul>
  <li><p><a href="#Epstein"><b>What are Epstein pearls?</b></a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="#pearls"><b>Symptoms of Epstein pearls</b></a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="#Causes"><b>Causes of Epstein pearls</b></a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="#Treating"><b>Treating Epstein pearls</b></a></p></li>
  <li><p><a href="#When"><b>When to see a doctor </b></a></p></li>
  </ul>

Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-1

<h2>What are Epstein pearls?</h2>
<p><b>Epstein pearls,</b> also known as <b>gingival cysts,</b> are those white bumps that appear in your baby’s mouth and often resemble baby teeth. While it’s normal to worry about your child’s health, these <b>Epstein pearls in newborns</b> is a benign form of acne that occurs in the mouth. These bumps are quite small and less than a few millimetres in diameter. You don’t have to panic as these <b>gingival cysts</b> do not get bigger with time. It can either occur as a single cyst or in groups of two to six lesions.<b>Epstein pearls</b> occur in 60 	to 85 per cent of newborns and are more common in babies who:</p>
<ul>
  <li><p>Have a higher birth weight</p></li>
  <li><p>Are born to older mothers</p></li>
  <li><p>Are born past their due dates</p></li>
  </ul>
  <p>Since Epstein pearls resemble baby teeth, you need to learn how to tell them apart. Understanding the symptoms of the condition can help you identify the condition.</p>

Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-2

<h2>Symptoms of Epstein pearls</h2>
<ul>
  <li><p>The Epstein pearls are yellowish or white and are only visible when babies open their mouth to yawn or cry.</p></li>
  <li><p>These <b>gingival cysts</b> are barely noticeable and tend to be smaller than three millimetres in diameter.</p></li>
  <li><p>These bumps are harmless and do not cause any severe discomfort to the little one. It does not interfere with the feeding process.</p></li>
  <li><p>	Very often, people confuse Epstein pearls with another condition called milia, which causes keratin-filled bumps. The only difference between these conditions is their location; While Epstein pearls appear only on the roof of the mouth and gums, milia can occur anywhere on the skin.</p></li>
  </ul>


Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-3

<h2>Causes of Epstein pearls</h2>
<p>There’s no clear cause of Epstein pearls, but it occurs in 80 per cent of newborns. The condition doesn’t make itself evident till the baby is three months old. This condition occurs due to a build-up of keratin, the same material that your nails and hair are made of,  in the soft and hard palates. When the skin in the little one’s mouth gets trapped during the development process, this trapped skin gets filled with keratin. These tiny bumps are formed in the womb itself and cannot be prevented.</p>

Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-4

<h2>Treating Epstein pearls</h2>
<p>While Epstein pearls are harmless, it’s advisable to take your baby to the doctor if he shows signs of pain or irritability. The doctor can differentiate between Epstein pearls and milia by the appearance of the bumps. Based on the symptoms, the doctor would check for oral thrush or natal teeth (teeth that they are born with).</p>
<p>While this is a common condition, there is no particular <b>Epstein pearl treatment</b> method that can get rid of these bumps. In most cases, the bumps disappear on their own within a week or two after birth. The friction that occurs in the little one’s mouth during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding or when they use a pacifier can break down and dissolve the bumps. And, when your baby’s teeth finally appear, you can start brushing them to keep them healthy and clean. To ensure that your baby gets the best brushing experience, you can try <a href="https://www.oral-b.co.in/en-in/products/manual-toothbrushes/oral-b-kids-toothbrush">Oral-B Kids Manual Toothbrush</a>, which has soft, cup-shaped bristles to surround and gently clean baby teeth. The power tip bristles can clean well and even reach the back teeth with ease. Moreover, this toothbrush has a control grip that helps small hands maintain a steady hold on the toothbrush while they brush. And, once your kid turns three, you can also introduce them to <a href="https://www.oral-b.co.in/en-in/products/kids-toothbrushes">Oral-B Kids Electric Toothbrush</a>, which have soft bristles to protect your little one’s gums and a small head for easy brushing. These toothbrushes work hard and remove plaque tooth-by-tooth, so that you won’t have to spend a lot of time helping your baby brush. Inculcating good dental habits from an early age will prevent dental issues from arising in future.</p>

Article Text Block -Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment- Description-5

<h2>When to see a doctor</h2>
<p>The only time you need to consult a doctor for these bumps is when you are worried that these bumps occur due to a different reason. The following conditions display signs and symptoms that resemble Epstein pearls and are difficult to distinguish.</p>
<ul>
  <li><div class="arthead-bold"><h3>Oral thrush</h3><br><p>This condition is characterised by the appearance of white spots in the baby’s mouth. This fungal infection occurs when Candida yeast enters the mouth and infects the tissues. It causes white bumps or patches in the mouth, including the insides of the tongue and cheeks. Though this condition isn’t quite serious, it causes some difficulty and discomfort while feeding. </p></div></li>
  <li><div class="arthead-bold"><h3>Hand, foot, and mouth disease</h3><br><p>This viral condition affects children under the age of five and causes sores in the mouth that blister. It starts off as small red dots in the back of the mouth and eventually turns into sores that are painful and can make the baby fussy.</p></div></li>
  <li><div class="arthead-bold"><h3>Newborn (natal) teeth</h3><br><p>A rare condition that causes a newborn baby to have teeth. The natal teeth appear on the gums and often resemble Epstein pearls.</p></div></li>
  </ul>
  <p>Epstein pearls can become a cause of worry to parents. However, this condition is not serious, and while there’s no treatment available, it goes away on its own. Explore <a href="https://www.oral-b.co.in/en-in/products/kids-toothbrushes">Oral-B’s kids’ dental products</a> and teach them the importance of good oral health to avoid dental problems in future.</p>

SELECT YOUR REGION OR LANGUAGE

AFRICA

ASIA PACIFIC

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

AFRICA

ASIA PACIFIC

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

BY PRODUCT TYPE

BY PRODUCT TYPE

BY NEED

BY NEED

WHY ORAL-B

WHY ORAL-B

CONDITIONS

CONDITIONS

LIFE STAGES

LIFE STAGES

SELECT YOUR REGION OR LANGUAGE

AFRICA

ASIA PACIFIC

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

AFRICA

ASIA PACIFIC

EUROPE

LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

NORTH AMERICA

Epstein Pearls: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

RELATED PRODUCTS

ADDITIONAL READING