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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffA cleft is an opening or a split in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both. In the womb, every baby has this opening when the mouth is forming, but the structures normally fuse together during the first three prenatal months. In babies with cleft lip or cleft palate, the fusion never takes place or occurs only partially, leaving an opening.
Researchers believe that most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, although a definite cause may not be discovered for every baby.
- Genetic factors. Either the mother or the father can pass on genes that cause clefting, either as an isolated defect or as part of a syndrome that includes clefting as one of its signs. In some cases, babies inherit a gene that makes them more likely to develop a cleft and then an environmental trigger actually causes the cleft to occur.
- Environmental factors. Fetal exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, certain medications, illicit drugs and certain viruses have been linked to the development of a cleft. Researchers believe that some clefts may be caused by nutritional deficiencies in the mother, particularly a lack of folate.
