Most one-year-olds have between two and eight teeth, with six being a common count right around the first birthday. The exact number varies widely because baby teeth follow a range rather than a fixed schedule, and some perfectly healthy babies still have no teeth at 12 months.
Which Teeth Come In During the First Year
The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are almost always first, typically breaking through between 6 and 10 months. The two upper front teeth follow, usually arriving between 8 and 12 months. After that, the upper lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the top front two) start coming in around 9 to 13 months, often overlapping with the first birthday.
So by 12 months, most babies have their two bottom front teeth and two to four upper front teeth. Some early teethers who got their first tooth at 4 or 5 months may already have six or eight teeth. Late teethers might have just two. Both scenarios fall within the normal range.
What Comes Next After Age One
The lower lateral incisors typically appear between 10 and 16 months, filling out the bottom row. First molars follow between 13 and 19 months on top and 14 to 18 months on the bottom. These are the wider, flat teeth toward the back of the mouth, and their arrival is often more uncomfortable than the front teeth. Canines (the pointed teeth between the incisors and molars) come in around 16 to 23 months, and the second set of molars rounds things out between 23 and 33 months.
Children end up with 20 primary teeth total: 8 incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars. The full set is usually in place somewhere between the second and third birthday.
When No Teeth at 12 Months Is Still Normal
If your one-year-old has zero teeth, that’s considered late teething, but it’s not automatically a problem. Some babies simply run on a slower timeline. Genetics play the biggest role. If one or both parents were late teethers, their child is more likely to be one too. Premature birth and low birth weight can also push the schedule back.
The threshold that typically prompts a closer look is 18 months. If no teeth have appeared by then, a pediatric dentist can check whether anything else is going on, such as an issue with the gums or underlying tooth development. Before that point, a toothless grin at 12 or even 14 months is rarely a concern on its own.
Teething Symptoms to Expect
The classic signs are heavy drooling, chewing on anything within reach, and general fussiness. Many babies become irritable, have trouble sleeping, or cry more than usual in the days around a new tooth breaking through. Some develop a mild, low-grade temperature below 101°F.
One important distinction: fevers above 101°F, diarrhea, and runny noses are not caused by teething. Those symptoms point to a virus or other illness that happens to coincide with the teething timeline. It’s a persistent myth that teething causes high fevers, but research consistently shows it doesn’t.
Caring for New Teeth at Age One
Even a single tooth needs brushing. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. That tiny amount is the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for all children under three.
Tooth decay can start surprisingly early, and one of the most common triggers is prolonged contact with sugary liquids. Putting a baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice lets those sugars pool around the teeth for hours. If your child uses a bottle at bedtime, finish it before they lie down. The American Dental Association also recommends encouraging your child to start drinking from a cup by their first birthday, which naturally reduces the amount of time liquid sits against the teeth.
Avoid dipping pacifiers in sugar or honey, and keep bottles filled with only milk, formula, or breast milk rather than juice or sweetened drinks. These habits matter most during the first and second year, when enamel on new baby teeth is thinnest and most vulnerable.
The First Dental Visit
The recommended timing is by your child’s first birthday or within six months of their first tooth, whichever comes first. This visit is short and low-key. The dentist checks that teeth are coming in normally, looks at the gums and jaw, and talks through brushing technique and feeding habits. Starting early establishes a baseline and catches any issues like enamel defects before they progress.