Maternal Hormones Influence Timing of Baby Teeth: Study Finds - Video

A new study reveals a fascinating link between maternal stress hormones during pregnancy and the timing of baby tooth eruption, shedding light on how prenatal factors may shape early development.

The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Oral Health.

Researchers examined 142 mother-child pairs from a single birth cohort, assessing tooth eruption up to two years of age and measuring mothers’ prenatal salivary hormones including cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones.

Using medical records, the study identified diagnoses of maternal anxiety or depression and analyzed hormone levels in late pregnancy saliva samples. Children underwent periodic dental exams to count erupted primary teeth, focusing notably on the lower central incisors. Over half the participants had socio-economic challenges, and breastfeeding duration was typically under six months, reflecting real-world diversity.

Findings showed that infants of mothers with higher cortisol levels had significantly earlier tooth eruption, with approximately four more teeth present by six months of age compared to infants of mothers with low cortisol. Weak but positive associations between other hormones like estradiol and testosterone with tooth eruption at 12 months were also observed. Interestingly, maternal anxiety or depression diagnoses were not linked to hormone levels or eruption timing, indicating biological rather than psychological stress effects.

These results suggest maternal stress may accelerate biological aging processes, potentially influencing bone and tooth development through complex hormonal interactions. Since early or delayed tooth eruption associates with future dental and developmental health risks, understanding these prenatal influences is crucial.

While correlations were modest and timing varied widely, this work underscores the importance of maternal health and stress management during pregnancy for offspring’s growth trajectory. Future larger studies with diverse populations are needed to validate the findings and clarify mechanisms.

Overall, the study opens new avenues for early identification of infants at risk for developmental issues and highlights maternal hormone regulation as a key factor in shaping early childhood oral health.

REFERENCE: Meng, Y., Yang, R., Alomeir, N., et al. (2025). Prenatal maternal salivary hormones and timing of tooth eruption in early childhood: a prospective birth cohort study. Frontiers in Oral Health. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1663817. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1663817/full