Teething typically starts around 4 to 6 months of age and continues until about age 3, when most children have all 20 baby teeth. That’s a long window, but your child won’t be uncomfortable the entire time. Each individual tooth only causes symptoms for about 3 to 8 days, with discomfort peaking in the days just before and after the tooth breaks through the gum.
The Full Teething Timeline
The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, arriving between 5 and 9 months. The two upper front teeth follow at 8 to 12 months. From there, teeth continue to emerge in a roughly predictable pattern: the upper side teeth at 10 to 12 months, the lower side teeth at 12 to 15 months, the first set of back teeth (molars) at 10 to 16 months, the pointed teeth next to the front ones (canines) at 16 to 20 months, and finally the second set of molars at 20 to 33 months.
These ranges vary widely from child to child. Some babies get their first tooth at 4 months, others not until closer to their first birthday. Both are normal. If your child hasn’t developed any teeth by 9 months, it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician, but late teething on its own is rarely a sign of a problem.
How Long Each Tooth Hurts
While the entire teething process spans roughly two and a half years, the actual discomfort comes in short bursts. A single tooth typically causes symptoms for 3 to 8 days. Pain tends to start a few days before the tooth pokes through the gum and fades within a day or two after it emerges. Between teeth, your baby should be comfortable and acting like themselves.
Not every tooth causes the same level of fussiness. The front teeth are thin and sharp, so they tend to cut through more easily. The molars, which are broad and flat, often cause more discomfort because they have to push through a larger area of gum tissue. Many parents notice the worst episodes around 10 to 16 months when the first molars arrive, and again around 20 to 30 months with the second molars.
What Teething Actually Looks Like
The classic signs are drooling, chewing on anything within reach, swollen or tender gums, and general irritability. Some babies have trouble sleeping or refuse to eat. You might also notice a slight rise in temperature, but teething does not cause a true fever. A temperature under 100.4°F can accompany teething for reasons that aren’t fully understood, but anything at or above that threshold points to illness rather than a new tooth. The same goes for diarrhea, rashes, and vomiting, which parents often attribute to teething but are more likely signs of an unrelated infection.
Safe Ways to Ease the Pain
The simplest relief is counter-pressure on the gums. A clean finger gently rubbed along the sore spot works well, and so does a solid teething ring chilled in the refrigerator (not the freezer, where it can become hard enough to bruise gums). Avoid liquid-filled teething rings, which have been recalled in the past due to bacteria growth and the risk of a baby biting through to the liquid inside. Silicone or latex teething toys are a safer choice, and a damp washcloth or tightly rolled cotton sock chilled in the fridge gives babies something textured to gnaw on.
What you should skip: numbing gels and sprays containing benzocaine or lidocaine. The FDA warns against using these products for teething in children. Benzocaine can trigger a rare but serious condition that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and lidocaine solutions can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury if too much is swallowed. Homeopathic teething tablets have also drawn safety warnings. If your baby seems to be in real pain, talk to your pediatrician about age-appropriate pain relief options rather than reaching for over-the-counter oral numbing products.
When Teeth Arrive Late
The timing of first teeth has a wide range of normal. Genetics plays the biggest role. If you or your partner were late teethers, your baby likely will be too. Most children who are slow to start still end up with a full set of 20 baby teeth by age 3. The order teeth come in matters less than parents often think. While the typical sequence starts with the bottom front teeth, some babies get upper teeth first or skip straight to side teeth. As long as teeth are appearing, the sequence is rarely a concern.