When your newborn yawns, you might be startled to notice small whitish bumps on the roof of their mouth.

Although these tiny cysts may seem worrisome, there’s no need to worry – they’re very common and won’t bother your baby at all.

What are Epstein pearls?

Epstein pearls are harmless cysts that can form along the gum line and/or roof of your newborn’s mouth. Also known as palatal cysts or gingival cysts, they are most common in the first 6 weeks of life and almost always disappear by themselves when the baby is 3 months old.

Although they may look uncomfortable, Epstein pearls do not cause pain, discomfort or any other symptoms in babies.

“The first time I noticed one in our little one’s mouth, I freaked out,” he says BabyCenter Community member of ItsNatasha. “But he had a bunch of them, so it looked a bit wild.”

What do Epstein pearls look like?

Epstein pearls look like tiny, firm, white-yellow nodules. They are usually located in the middle of the roof of the baby’s mouth.

“When they appear on the gums, they’re technically called Bohn’s nodules,” says Liz Donner, MD, a pediatric hospitalist and BabyCenter advisory board member. “These can be confused with teeth that are erupting. Bohn’s nodules are smooth and round, while teeth are hard and pointy. If your baby is under 3 months, it’s probably a harmless cyst and not a real tooth.”

You may notice just a few or many bumps, often grouped in groups of two to six. Each cyst is only 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter and is oval or round in shape.

What causes Epstein pearls?

A newborn’s developing mouth is unique to this period of life, and several conditions that affect the soft tissues are common and harmless. Epstein pearls form when keratin – a type of protein that helps form hair, nails and the outer layer of skin – becomes trapped between the soft and hard palate.

While doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes Epstein pearls, they can form when a thin layer of skin cells called the epithelium becomes trapped during palate development.

My daughter had (Epstein pearls) on her gums. They left after a few days. … Perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

– Member of the BabyCenter Morgbrow community

Will Epstein pearls go away on their own?

You can expect Epstein pearls to go away on their own within a few weeks to months without treatment.

“My daughter had (Epstein pearls) on her gums,” he says BabyCenter Community member of Morgbrow. “They went away after a few days… Perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.”

Are there treatment options for Epstein pearls?

Time is the best treatment for Epstein pearls: these tiny keratin-filled cysts will burst or dissolve on their own within a few weeks of their first appearance. In fact, trying to remove these cysts will cause more harm than good.

Should I ever worry about my baby’s Epstein pearls?

Epstein pearls are completely benign and extremely common, affecting between 65 and 85% of all newborns. The good news is that they are not uncomfortable and will not interfere with feeding or teething, so there is no need to worry.

The vast majority of Epstein pearls disappear on their own. However, in the very rare case that the cysts remain for several months after birth, your child’s doctor or dentist may recommend that they be surgically opened.

Of course, if you’re ever concerned about anything related to your newborn’s health, it never hurts to talk to your child’s healthcare provider.