Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months of age, and the full set of 20 primary teeth is usually in place by age 3. That means teeth arrive steadily over roughly two and a half years, though the pace isn’t constant. Some stretches feel like teeth are popping up every few weeks, while other gaps last months with no new activity.
When the First Tooth Appears
Six months is the average, but there’s a wide normal range. Some babies sprout a tooth as early as 4 months, while others don’t see one until closer to 10 months. In the general population, the first tooth typically arrives somewhere between 6 and 10 months of age. Girls tend to get their teeth slightly earlier than boys, though the difference is small and not universal.
Genetics play the biggest role in timing. If you or your partner teethed early, your baby probably will too. Beyond genetics, factors like nutrition, birth weight, and whether the baby was born prematurely can shift the timeline. Babies born very early (before 30 weeks) or at very low birth weights are at higher risk for delayed eruption, sometimes by several months. If your baby has no teeth by about 10 months of age, it’s worth mentioning at their next checkup, though it’s rarely a sign of a serious problem.
The Order Teeth Come In
Baby teeth follow a fairly predictable sequence. The bottom two front teeth (lower central incisors) almost always arrive first, followed by the top two front teeth. From there, the pattern works outward and back:
- Lower central incisors: 6 to 10 months
- Upper central incisors: 8 to 12 months
- Upper lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front two): 9 to 13 months
- Lower lateral incisors: 10 to 16 months
- First molars (upper and lower): 13 to 19 months
- Canines (the pointed teeth): 16 to 23 months
- Second molars (upper and lower): 23 to 33 months
Lower teeth generally come in before their upper counterparts, though plenty of babies break this pattern with no consequence. The order can vary without meaning anything is wrong.
The Pace Changes Over Time
The first year of teething tends to be the busiest. Between roughly 6 and 14 months, eight front teeth (four incisors on top, four on the bottom) typically arrive. That’s a new tooth every month or so during the fastest stretch. Parents often feel like teething never stops during this window.
Things slow down after the incisors are in. There’s often a noticeable gap of a few months before the first molars start pushing through around 13 to 19 months. Molars are larger and take longer to fully emerge. The canines fill in next, and then the second molars bring up the rear, sometimes not finishing until close to a child’s third birthday. By that point, all 20 baby teeth are in place, and the mouth stays relatively stable until the first permanent teeth start replacing them around age 6.
What Teething Actually Feels Like
Each tooth’s eruption causes discomfort for about 3 to 8 days. The pain typically starts a few days before the tooth breaks through the gum and fades within a day or two after. That means your baby isn’t in constant pain for months on end, even though it can feel that way when multiple teeth arrive in quick succession.
Common signs include increased drooling, irritability, swollen gums, and a strong urge to chew on things. Some babies run a very mild fever (below 100.4°F), though true fevers, diarrhea, and rashes are not caused by teething itself. If your baby seems genuinely sick, something else is going on. Teething symptoms can begin as early as 4 months, even before any tooth is visible, because the teeth are already shifting beneath the gums.
Molars Are the Toughest Stretch
Parents often notice that the front teeth cause relatively mild fussiness, while molars are a different story. This makes sense: molars have a much larger surface area that has to push through the gum tissue. First molars (around 13 to 19 months) and second molars (around 23 to 33 months) tend to cause the most discomfort, more nighttime waking, and more refusal to eat. The second molars, in particular, arrive at an age when toddlers are more vocal about their displeasure, so the experience can feel more intense for everyone in the house.
Cool teething rings and gentle gum massage with a clean finger are the most effective comfort measures. Chilled (not frozen) washcloths work well too. Avoid teething gels that contain numbing agents, as they wash away quickly and can cause problems if swallowed in large amounts.
When Teeth Are Considered Late
Researchers consider eruption delayed if no tooth has appeared by about 10 months of chronological age, though many pediatric dentists won’t raise concerns until closer to 12 or 13 months. Late teething runs in families and is usually harmless.
Premature birth is one of the most well-studied causes of delayed eruption. Babies born before 30 weeks or weighing under about 2.2 pounds at birth are significantly more likely to teethe late. A study from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry found that the single biggest predictor of delayed eruption in preemies was how long they were on a breathing tube. Duration of intubation alone accounted for most of the explainable variation in when the first tooth appeared. For healthy premature babies without prolonged medical complications, teeth typically arrive on schedule based on chronological age, not adjusted age.
Other factors that can delay eruption include nutritional deficiencies (particularly calcium and vitamin D), certain genetic conditions, and hormonal issues. A child who still has no teeth at 18 months warrants a dental evaluation to rule out underlying causes, though even then, the teeth usually come in on their own.
Caring for Teeth as They Arrive
Start cleaning teeth the day the first one appears. A soft infant toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) is all you need until age 3, when you can move up to a pea-sized amount. Before any teeth are visible, wiping your baby’s gums with a damp cloth after feedings helps establish the routine.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends scheduling your child’s first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth, whichever comes first. This visit is more about establishing a baseline and catching any early issues than it is about a full cleaning. Early visits also help kids get comfortable in a dental office before they’re old enough to be anxious about it.