The first baby teeth to appear are almost always the two bottom front teeth, arriving around 6 to 10 months of age. From there, teeth generally follow a predictable bottom-to-top, front-to-back pattern until all 20 primary teeth are in place by around age 2.5 to 3. The exact timing varies widely from baby to baby, but the sequence tends to stay consistent.
The Full Eruption Sequence
Babies develop 20 primary teeth total: eight incisors (the flat front teeth), four canines (the pointed ones), and eight molars (the broad chewing teeth in the back). They come in roughly this order:
- Lower central incisors (6 to 10 months): The two bottom front teeth are typically first. Many parents notice these around 6 months, though some babies get them as early as 4 months or as late as 12.
- Upper central incisors (8 to 12 months): The two top front teeth follow shortly after, giving your baby that classic two-toothed grin.
- Upper lateral incisors (9 to 13 months): These appear on either side of the top front teeth.
- Lower lateral incisors (10 to 16 months): The matching side teeth on the bottom fill in next, completing the set of eight front teeth.
- First molars (10 to 16 months): Four molars come in toward the back of the mouth, with a gap between them and the front teeth. These are the first teeth designed for grinding food.
- Canines (16 to 20 months): The four pointed teeth fill in the gaps between the incisors and the first molars.
- Second molars (20 to 30 months): The very back teeth are the last to arrive, completing the full set of 20.
Notice the overlap in those age ranges. A baby who gets lower central incisors at 10 months and upper central incisors at 8 months has technically gotten the “top” teeth first, and that’s perfectly normal. The ranges reflect real variation, not strict deadlines.
What Teething Actually Feels Like for Your Baby
The most common signs that a tooth is on its way include extra drooling, swollen or puffy gums, fussiness, and a strong urge to chew on fingers, fists, or anything within reach. Some babies sail through with barely a whimper. Others are noticeably uncomfortable for a few days before each tooth breaks through.
One important thing to know: teething does not cause fevers, colds, rashes, or diarrhea. This is a persistent myth, but the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is clear on this point. The timing just happens to overlap with the age when babies start losing the immune protection they received from their mothers and begin catching more infections. If your baby develops a fever or seems sick while teething, those symptoms have a separate cause and deserve their own attention.
Increased drooling can start as early as 3 or 4 months, well before any teeth actually appear. So drool alone isn’t a reliable sign that a tooth is about to pop through.
When Teeth Are “Late”
Some babies don’t get their first tooth until after their first birthday, and that’s still within the range of normal. Genetics play a big role. If you or your partner were late teethers, your baby may be too.
That said, if your baby hasn’t developed any teeth by 9 months, it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician. In most cases nothing is wrong, but occasionally delayed eruption is linked to nutritional issues or other health conditions that are easier to address early. The American Dental Association recommends scheduling a baby’s first dental visit after the first tooth appears, and no later than their first birthday.
The Order Teeth Fall Out
Here’s a detail many parents don’t think about until years later: baby teeth generally fall out in the same order they came in. The lower central incisors, which arrived first, are usually the first to go (typically around age 6). The upper central incisors follow, then the lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and finally the second molars. Most children lose their last baby teeth around age 12.
This means the teeth your baby has the longest are the ones in the very back. Since second molars don’t arrive until age 2 or so and stick around until age 11 or 12, keeping them healthy matters. They’ll be doing a full decade of chewing.