Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months old, though anywhere from 4 to 12 months is normal. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) almost always appear first, followed by the two top front teeth. By age 3, most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth.
The Typical Teething Timeline
Teeth tend to arrive in a predictable order. The bottom front two come first, usually between 6 and 10 months. The top front two follow shortly after. From there, the teeth work outward: lateral incisors (the ones flanking the front teeth) appear next, then the first molars, canines, and finally the second molars at the back of the mouth.
Here’s the general sequence and age range:
- Lower central incisors: 6 to 10 months
- Upper central incisors: 8 to 12 months
- Lateral incisors (top and bottom): 9 to 16 months
- First molars: 13 to 19 months
- Canines: 16 to 23 months
- Second molars: 23 to 33 months
These ranges are averages. Some babies are born with a tooth already visible, while others don’t get one until after their first birthday. Both extremes are typically fine. If your child has no teeth at all by 12 months, it’s worth a visit to a pediatric dentist to rule out any underlying issues. Similarly, if remaining baby teeth haven’t appeared by age 4, that warrants a dental evaluation.
Premature Babies May Teethe Later
If your baby was born early, teething may seem delayed when you go by their birth date. Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that premature infants get their first tooth later than full-term babies based on chronological age, but right on schedule when measured from their original due date (conceptual age). So if your baby was born six weeks early, expect teething to start roughly six weeks later than the standard timeline.
How to Recognize Teething
The classic signs show up a few days before a tooth breaks through the gum. You’ll likely notice more drooling than usual, sometimes enough to soak through a bib. The gums where a tooth is about to emerge often look red, swollen, and tender to the touch.
Other common signs include fussiness, irritability, trouble sleeping, a decreased interest in eating, and constant biting or chewing on objects. Your baby is pressing things against sore gums for counter-pressure, which genuinely helps with the discomfort.
One important thing teething does not cause: a real fever. It may nudge your baby’s temperature slightly above normal, but it won’t reach 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. That threshold defines a true fever, and a fever signals an infection, not teething. If your baby’s temperature hits 100.4°F or above, don’t chalk it up to a new tooth. Something else is going on.
Safe Ways to Ease Teething Pain
The simplest relief is a clean, chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a cold washcloth for your baby to gnaw on. The cold helps numb sore gums, and the pressure of chewing provides natural relief. You can also gently rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger. For babies already eating solids, chilled foods like cold fruit in a mesh feeder can do double duty.
What you should avoid is just as important. The FDA warns against using topical numbing gels or liquids containing benzocaine or lidocaine on children’s gums. These products, sold under brand names like Orajel, Anbesol, and others, offer little benefit and carry serious risks. Benzocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, which drastically reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. It can be fatal.
Amber teething necklaces are another product to skip entirely. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear any jewelry. The FDA issued a formal warning after reports of children choking on broken beads and an 18-month-old who was strangled by an amber necklace during a nap. The risks are strangulation and choking, particularly when a child is unsupervised or sleeping. There is no scientific evidence that amber releases any pain-relieving substance through the skin.
When to Start Dental Care
Your baby’s first dental visit should happen by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth appearing, whichever comes first. This initial visit is less about treatment and more about establishing a baseline, checking that teeth are developing normally, and getting guidance on cleaning those new teeth.
Even before any teeth show up, you can wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, damp cloth after feedings. Once the first tooth arrives, switch to a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. Baby teeth matter more than many parents realize. They hold space for permanent teeth, support speech development, and are vulnerable to decay from the moment they appear.
When Baby Teeth Fall Out
Baby teeth typically fall out in the same order they arrived. The bottom front two go first, usually around age 6, followed by the top front two. Lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars follow over the next several years. Most children lose their last baby tooth between ages 10 and 12, with permanent teeth replacing each one. The full set of 32 adult teeth (including wisdom teeth) isn’t complete until the late teens or early twenties.