Most 16-month-olds have between 4 and 12 teeth, with many sitting right around 8. By this age, the upper and lower front teeth (central and lateral incisors) have usually come in, and the first molars are either breaking through or about to. But the range of normal is wide, and some perfectly healthy toddlers at 16 months have fewer teeth than their peers.
Which Teeth Are In at 16 Months
The first teeth to arrive are the lower central incisors, the two bottom front teeth, which typically show up between 6 and 10 months. The upper central incisors follow shortly after, and then the lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front two) fill in on both top and bottom. Most children have all eight incisors by around 12 to 16 months, though some lower lateral incisors can still be coming in right at the 16-month mark.
The next big milestone is the first molars, the broader teeth toward the back of the mouth. Upper first molars come in between 13 and 19 months, and lower first molars between 14 and 18 months. At 16 months, your toddler may have one, two, or even all four first molars already through, or they may still be on their way. That’s a big reason the tooth count varies so much at this age. A child who got molars early could have 12 teeth, while one who hasn’t started molars yet might have 8.
Upper canines (the pointy teeth between the incisors and molars) start arriving around 16 to 22 months, and lower canines from 17 to 23 months. So at 16 months, canines are just starting to be on the radar. Most toddlers won’t have them yet.
Why Some Toddlers Have More or Fewer
Variation in tooth eruption timing is one of the most common things pediatric dentists see. Genetics plays the biggest role. If you or your partner were late teethers, your child likely will be too. Ethnicity and sex also factor in: teeth tend to erupt slightly earlier in boys than in girls, and eruption patterns differ across racial and ethnic groups.
Beyond genetics, several other factors influence timing. Birth weight, gestational age, and nutritional status all play a role. A baby born premature or at a low birth weight may get teeth a bit later. Maternal smoking during pregnancy has also been linked to delayed eruption. None of these factors necessarily signal a problem. They simply shift the timeline.
A 16-month-old with only 4 or 6 teeth is not automatically behind. As long as teeth are continuing to come in over time, the pace is almost always normal. True delayed eruption, where teeth are significantly outside the expected window, is uncommon and usually tied to specific underlying conditions that a dentist or pediatrician would evaluate.
What Teething Looks Like Right Now
If your 16-month-old is fussy, drooling more than usual, or chewing on everything, first molars are the likely culprit. Molars are larger than incisors and have a flat, broad surface that has to push through more gum tissue. This makes molar teething noticeably more uncomfortable than the earlier front teeth.
Common signs include irritability, disrupted sleep, swollen gums in the back of the mouth, decreased appetite, and ear pulling on the side where a molar is coming in. Some children run a very mild, low-grade temperature during active teething, though a true fever (above 100.4°F) is not caused by teething and should be evaluated separately. Chilled teething rings, gentle gum massage with a clean finger, and cold soft foods like yogurt can help ease the discomfort.
Caring for New Teeth
Once teeth are present, brushing twice a day matters. Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. That’s the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for children under 3. A tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste strengthens enamel as it forms, and the grain-of-rice dose is safe if swallowed.
Drinking fluoridated tap water provides additional protection. If your household uses well water or bottled water without fluoride, mention this at your next dental visit. Fluoride varnish, a quick coating applied by a dentist or pediatrician, is another option starting from the very first tooth.
The biggest cavity risk at this age comes from prolonged exposure to sugary liquids. Milk, formula, and juice all contain sugars that feed bacteria on tooth surfaces. Avoid sending your toddler to bed with a bottle, and if you offer juice, limit it to mealtimes. Wiping or brushing after the last feeding of the night and again in the morning is the simplest way to keep new teeth healthy.
When Your Child Should See a Dentist
The current recommendation is to schedule a first dental visit by your child’s first birthday or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first. If your 16-month-old hasn’t been to a dentist yet, it’s a good time to book that appointment. The first visit is short and low-key. The dentist checks for early signs of decay, looks at how the teeth are coming in, and can answer questions about your child’s specific eruption pattern. If you’re concerned about a tooth count that seems low, this visit is the easiest way to get reassurance or, in rare cases, catch something that needs attention early.