Most children teethe from around 4 months old until about age 3, when the last set of baby molars finishes coming in. That means the active teething window spans roughly two and a half years, though each individual tooth only causes discomfort for about 3 to 8 days. The process can feel relentless because 20 teeth arrive in waves, but the pain isn’t constant the entire time.
When Teething Starts and Ends
Teething pain typically begins around 4 months of age, though some babies start a little earlier or later. The lower front teeth usually appear first, followed by the upper front teeth. From there, teeth continue to arrive in pairs over the next couple of years, working outward from the front of the mouth toward the back.
The last baby teeth to arrive are the second molars, the wide flat teeth at the very back. Upper second molars typically come in between 25 and 33 months, while lower second molars appear between 23 and 31 months. By age 3, most children have all 20 primary teeth in place, and the first phase of teething is over.
How Long Each Tooth Hurts
A single teething episode lasts about 3 to 8 days. Discomfort usually starts a few days before the tooth breaks through the gum and tapers off shortly after. So while the overall teething timeline stretches across years, your child isn’t in pain the entire time. There are long stretches of calm between teeth, especially after the first several have come in.
The front teeth tend to cause less trouble than the molars. When the larger back teeth push through, the broader surface area means more gum irritation, and those episodes often land on the longer end of the 3-to-8-day range.
The Typical Order Teeth Arrive
Baby teeth follow a fairly predictable sequence, though the exact timing varies from child to child:
- 6 to 10 months: Lower central incisors (bottom front teeth)
- 8 to 12 months: Upper central incisors (top front teeth)
- 9 to 13 months: Upper lateral incisors (next to the top front teeth)
- 10 to 16 months: Lower lateral incisors
- 13 to 19 months: First molars
- 16 to 23 months: Canines (the pointed teeth)
- 23 to 33 months: Second molars
These ranges overlap because teeth often come in pairs within weeks of each other. Some children get clusters of teeth at once, which can make certain stretches more uncomfortable than others.
Common Symptoms to Expect
Teething typically causes drooling, fussiness, chewing on objects, and swollen or tender gums. Some babies have trouble sleeping or refuse food during an active episode. You might also notice your child pulling at their ears, which happens because the pain can radiate along the jaw.
One important thing to know: teething does not cause true fevers. It may raise your baby’s temperature slightly, but a real fever is defined as 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If your child hits that threshold, something else is going on, likely an infection. A temperature above 104°F (40°C) needs emergency care. The timing is easy to confuse because babies lose maternal antibodies around the same age teething starts, so they get more colds and infections right when teeth begin appearing.
What Actually Helps With Teething Pain
The safest and most effective options are also the simplest. Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger applies gentle counterpressure that soothes irritation. A teething ring made of firm rubber gives your child something safe to chew on. Chilling the ring in the refrigerator (not the freezer) adds a mild numbing effect. A cold, wet washcloth works well too.
What you should avoid: the FDA warns against using any topical numbing products containing benzocaine or lidocaine on teething babies. Benzocaine can cause a dangerous condition that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and lidocaine can lead to heart problems, seizures, and severe brain injury if too much is absorbed or accidentally swallowed. Homeopathic teething tablets also carry safety warnings. These products offer little benefit for teething pain and pose real risks.
The Second Round: Permanent Teeth
After the calm period from age 3 to about age 6, children enter a second phase of tooth changes when permanent teeth start replacing baby teeth. This process begins around age 6 with the lower front teeth and continues through the early teen years. The final permanent molars, wisdom teeth, may not arrive until age 17 to 21.
This second phase is generally much less painful than infant teething. Older children can communicate what they’re feeling, chew harder foods, and manage mild discomfort more easily. The main exception is the 6-year molars, which erupt behind the baby teeth rather than replacing them, and can cause soreness similar to what your child experienced as a toddler.