The best ways to help a teething baby are simple and low-tech: something cold to chew on, gentle gum pressure, and patience. Most babies start teething between 6 and 12 months, and the process repeats in waves until all 20 primary teeth are in place around age 3. Each new tooth can bring a few days of fussiness, but the right approach makes a real difference.
When Teeth Come In
The lower front teeth (central incisors) typically appear first, between 6 and 10 months. The upper front teeth follow at 8 to 12 months. From there, teeth erupt roughly in pairs, one on the left and one on the right, working outward and back. Lateral incisors come next (9 to 16 months depending on the jaw), then first molars (13 to 19 months), canines (16 to 23 months), and finally second molars (23 to 33 months).
Lower teeth generally show up before their upper counterparts. This timeline varies widely from baby to baby, so a late first tooth is not a concern on its own. What matters more is recognizing when a tooth is actively pushing through, because that’s the window when your baby needs the most comfort.
What Teething Actually Looks Like
Teething is milder than many parents expect. The main signs are extra drooling, rubbing or pressing on the gums, and slightly increased fussiness. Your baby may want to chew on anything within reach. That’s the body’s instinct to apply counter-pressure to sore gums, and it’s completely normal.
What teething does not cause is just as important to know. Teething does not cause fever, diarrhea, diaper rash, or a runny nose. It also does not cause prolonged, intense crying. These symptoms point to something else, most commonly an ear infection, urinary tract infection, or another illness that happens to coincide with the teething timeline. Attributing a fever to teething can delay care for infections that need treatment, so take those symptoms at face value rather than writing them off.
Cold and Pressure: The Two Best Remedies
Almost every effective teething remedy works through one of two mechanisms: cold (which numbs the gum tissue slightly and reduces inflammation) or pressure (which counteracts the sensation of a tooth pushing upward). Combining both is the sweet spot.
Teething Toys
Solid teething rings made of silicone or untreated wood are the safest options. Chill them in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before offering them. Avoid liquid-filled teethers, which can leak or crack, and don’t freeze teething toys solid. A rock-hard frozen ring can bruise tender gums instead of soothing them. You want firm and cool, not icy and rigid.
A Clean Finger or Washcloth
Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger provides direct, controlled pressure exactly where it’s needed. A damp washcloth that’s been chilled in the fridge works the same way and gives your baby something to gnaw on independently. Some parents wet and twist a corner of the washcloth into a nub to make it easier for the baby to target sore spots.
Cold Foods for Babies on Solids
If your baby is already eating solid foods, chilled or partially frozen foods pull double duty as nutrition and pain relief. Frozen banana pieces work well after three to four hours in the freezer because they get cold enough to soothe but stay soft enough to gnaw safely. Chilled cucumber rings dipped in fruit puree are another option. You can also offer cold fruit purees or plain yogurt straight from the fridge. Let any frozen food sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes before serving so it doesn’t stick to your baby’s tongue or lips.
What to Avoid
Several popular teething products carry real risks that outweigh any benefit.
- Numbing gels with benzocaine. Over-the-counter gels designed to numb the gums can cause a rare but serious blood condition in young children. The FDA has warned against using benzocaine products on children under two.
- Homeopathic teething tablets. The FDA found that tablets marketed by major brands contained inconsistent and sometimes dangerously high levels of belladonna alkaloids, which are toxic compounds from the nightshade plant. Some tablets also had unpredictable amounts of caffeine. The FDA urges parents not to use these products.
- Amber teething necklaces and bracelets. These pose a strangulation risk when worn and a choking risk if beads break off. The FDA issued a formal warning after reports of choking incidents and one infant death from strangulation during a nap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not wear any jewelry at all.
Pain Relief When Nothing Else Works
On particularly rough days, infant-formulated pain relievers based on acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for babies six months and older) can take the edge off. Use the dosing syringe that comes with the product and follow the weight-based dosing on the label. This is a tool for occasional bad stretches, not something to use around the clock for weeks. If your baby seems to be in persistent pain that doesn’t match the mild discomfort teething typically produces, that’s worth a call to your pediatrician to rule out other causes.
Caring for New Teeth
Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth breaks through. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day. That tiny amount of fluoride protects enamel without posing any risk if swallowed. Many parents brush after the morning and bedtime feedings to build a routine early.
Wipe your baby’s gums with a damp cloth after feedings even before teeth appear. This clears milk residue and gets your baby used to the sensation of having their mouth cleaned, which makes the transition to a toothbrush much easier.
The Hardest Teeth
Not every tooth causes the same level of discomfort. The first molars, which arrive between 13 and 19 months, have a broad chewing surface that creates more pressure as they push through. Second molars (23 to 33 months) are even larger. These later teeth tend to cause more noticeable fussiness than the front incisors did, so parents who breezed through early teething sometimes feel blindsided by the molar stage. The same cold-and-pressure strategies still work, but you may need to rely on them more heavily during these phases.