Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months of age, though the normal range stretches from about 5 to 12 months. The lower front teeth (central incisors) are almost always the first to appear, followed closely by the upper front teeth. From there, the remaining 18 baby teeth come in gradually over the next two years or so.
The Typical Teething Timeline
The lower central incisors usually break through between 5 and 8 months, making them the earliest arrivals. The upper central incisors follow at 6 to 10 months. After that, the lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front two) come in on both top and bottom, generally between 7 and 12 months.
First molars, the broader teeth further back in the mouth, typically appear between 11 and 18 months. Canines (the pointed teeth between the incisors and molars) fill in around 16 to 20 months. The second molars, all the way in the back, are the last to arrive, usually between 20 and 30 months. By age 3, most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth.
These ranges come from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, which also notes that many otherwise normal infants don’t follow this schedule precisely. Some babies are born with a tooth already visible. Others don’t get their first until well past their first birthday. Both situations are usually fine.
When Late Teething Is Worth Mentioning
If your baby hasn’t developed any teeth by 9 months, it’s worth bringing up with your pediatrician. That doesn’t necessarily signal a problem. Some children simply run on a slower schedule, and genetics play a large role. But a quick check can rule out less common causes like nutritional deficiencies or other developmental factors.
What Teething Actually Feels Like for Your Baby
Teething discomfort tends to peak in the days just before and just after a tooth breaks through the gum. You’ll likely notice increased drooling, a strong urge to chew on anything within reach, and some fussiness or irritability. Swollen, tender gums are common, and your baby may rub their face or pull at their ears on the side where a tooth is coming in.
One persistent myth is that teething causes fever. It can raise body temperature slightly, anywhere from 98 to 100.3°F, but that falls below the threshold for a true fever. If your baby’s temperature climbs above 100.4°F, something else is going on, and teething shouldn’t be treated as the explanation.
Safe Ways to Ease Teething Pain
A chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a clean, cold washcloth gives your baby something firm to press against their gums, which helps relieve the pressure of an emerging tooth. Gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger works too. The counter-pressure is often enough to settle the fussiness.
What you should avoid: topical numbing gels and liquids containing benzocaine or lidocaine. The FDA has warned that these products offer little benefit for teething pain and carry serious risks, including a rare but potentially fatal blood condition where red blood cells lose much of their ability to carry oxygen. Lidocaine solutions can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury if too much is swallowed. Homeopathic teething tablets have also drawn FDA warnings. None of these belong in your baby’s mouth.
Caring for New Teeth
Start brushing as soon as that first tooth appears. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. That tiny amount is safe to swallow and provides enough fluoride to protect the new enamel. Once your child turns 3, you can increase to a pea-sized amount.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association all recommend scheduling your child’s first dental visit by age 1. That visit is mostly about establishing a baseline, checking for early signs of decay, and giving you guidance on oral care routines. Baby teeth matter more than many parents realize. They hold space for adult teeth, support speech development, and are vulnerable to cavities from the moment they emerge.