Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months old, though the normal range stretches from about 4 to 12 months. Some babies are early bloomers with a tooth poking through at 3 or 4 months, while others don’t see one until closer to their first birthday. In rare cases, babies are actually born with teeth already in place.
The Typical Teething Timeline
The two bottom front teeth almost always come in first, usually between 6 and 10 months. The four upper front teeth follow, typically arriving between 8 and 13 months. From there, teeth fill in roughly in pairs, one on each side of the jaw, until all 20 baby teeth are in place by around age 2½ to 3.
Here’s the general order and timing:
- Bottom front teeth: 6 to 10 months
- Top front teeth: 8 to 12 months
- Top and bottom lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front ones): 9 to 16 months
- First molars: 13 to 19 months
- Canines (the pointy ones): 16 to 23 months
- Second molars: 23 to 33 months
Lower teeth generally appear before their upper counterparts, and teeth tend to arrive as a matching pair, one on the left and one on the right.
Babies Born With Teeth
About 1 in every 289 newborns worldwide is born with at least one tooth already visible. These are called natal teeth, and they’re distinct from neonatal teeth, which appear during the first 30 days of life. Natal teeth are about three times more common than neonatal teeth.
Experts aren’t entirely sure why natal teeth happen, but genetics plays a role. Some babies inherit a trait where the clusters of cells that form teeth sit unusually close to the gum surface. Natal teeth can also be associated with certain genetic conditions. In most cases, though, they’re harmless. A pediatrician may recommend removing them if they’re very loose and pose a choking risk or if they interfere with feeding.
When Late Teething Is Worth Checking
If your baby hasn’t gotten a single tooth by 18 months, it’s worth scheduling a visit with a pediatric dentist. Most babies will have at least one tooth by 12 months, and while being a few months behind that is perfectly normal, an 18-month gap gives a dentist reason to take a closer look. Late teething on its own is rarely a sign of a serious problem, but an evaluation can rule out underlying causes and put your mind at ease.
Signs a Tooth Is Coming
Before a tooth breaks through, you’ll likely notice your baby drooling more than usual, chewing on anything they can get their hands on, and being fussier than normal. Their gums may look swollen or feel firm in the spot where the tooth is pushing through. Some babies also have trouble sleeping or lose interest in eating for a day or two.
One common belief is that teething causes fever. It doesn’t cause a true fever, but it can raise body temperature slightly, staying below 100.4°F. Anything at or above 100.4°F is considered an actual fever and isn’t caused by teething. If your baby has a temperature that high, especially under 3 months old, it needs medical evaluation regardless of whether you suspect teething.
Safe Ways to Soothe Teething Pain
The simplest relief is something cool and safe to chew on. A wet washcloth chilled in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes works well. Solid teething rings (not the liquid-filled kind) can be chilled in the fridge or freezer, though you should take them out before they become rock hard. If your baby has started solids, a frozen banana or frozen berries in a mesh feeder can do double duty as a snack and a soother. You can also massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger dipped in cool water.
For babies older than 6 to 9 months, a slow-flow sippy cup of cool water gives them something to suck on for comfort. When choosing teething toys, silicone and latex options are generally safer bets than plastic, which may contain chemicals like phthalates or BPA. A tightly rolled clean cotton sock is another low-tech option that works surprisingly well. Whatever you use, clean it after each session.
What to Avoid
The FDA has issued clear warnings against using numbing gels or creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine on teething babies. Benzocaine can cause a dangerous condition where red blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen properly, which can be fatal. Lidocaine solutions carry risks of seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury if too much is applied or accidentally swallowed. These products offer little to no benefit for teething pain and pose serious risks.
Liquid-filled teething rings have also been recalled in the past because bacteria can grow in the liquid, and a baby can potentially bite through the ring.
Caring for Those First Teeth
Start brushing the day the first tooth appears. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste, roughly the size of a grain of rice, on a soft-bristled infant toothbrush twice a day. That tiny amount is safe even before your baby can spit, and the fluoride helps protect the enamel from the start. Once your child turns 3, you can increase to a pea-sized amount and teach them to spit after brushing. They don’t need to rinse with water afterward.