Most 14-month-olds have between four and eight teeth, though some may have slightly more or fewer. The range is wide because baby teeth don’t follow a strict schedule. By this age, the central and lateral incisors (the front teeth, top and bottom) are typically in, and the first molars may just be starting to push through.
What Teeth Come In by 14 Months
Baby teeth arrive in a fairly predictable order, even if the exact timing varies from child to child. The lower central incisors, the two bottom front teeth, are usually first, appearing between 6 and 10 months. The upper central incisors follow between 8 and 12 months, and the upper lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front two) come in between 9 and 13 months. The lower lateral incisors erupt between 10 and 16 months.
That means a 14-month-old who’s right on the average timeline will have all four central incisors and is likely working on the lateral incisors, giving them somewhere around six to eight teeth. But a child who started teething on the later end of normal might only have four, and that’s perfectly fine.
The first molars are also on the horizon at this age. These broader, flatter teeth in the back of the mouth typically appear between 11 and 18 months on both the top and bottom, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Your child may already have one poking through, or you might not see molars for a few more months. Molars tend to cause more discomfort than incisors because of their larger surface area pushing through the gums.
Why Some Toddlers Have More or Fewer Teeth
Genetics plays the biggest role in when teeth show up. If you or your partner were early or late teethers, your child is likely to follow a similar pattern. Beyond genetics, several other factors influence the timeline.
Premature birth can delay eruption. Research published in Pediatric Dentistry found that babies born before 30 weeks or weighing under about 2.2 pounds at birth had significantly later tooth eruption. The strongest predictor of delay in premature infants was how long they needed a breathing tube after birth. Babies who had difficulty establishing full feedings or gaining weight also tended to get their first tooth later. Healthy premature infants, though, often catch up and erupt teeth at the expected age.
Nutritional status matters too. Adequate calcium and vitamin D support the mineralization process that prepares teeth to break through the gums. Children who had delayed access to oral vitamin supplements in infancy showed later eruption in the same research.
When Fewer Teeth Could Signal a Problem
The window for “normal” is broad enough that most parents have nothing to worry about. A 14-month-old with only two or three teeth is still within the expected range, especially if new teeth seem to be on their way. UF Health recommends talking to your child’s pediatrician if no teeth at all have appeared by 9 months. By 14 months, a child with zero teeth warrants a closer look, but even then the cause is often just a familial pattern of late eruption rather than an underlying condition.
Rare conditions affecting tooth development do exist. These include certain genetic syndromes, thyroid disorders, and vitamin deficiencies. Your pediatrician can assess whether any evaluation is needed based on your child’s overall growth and health history.
Teething Symptoms at This Stage
If your 14-month-old is fussy, drooling more than usual, or gnawing on everything in sight, there’s a good chance a new tooth is coming. Molars in particular can make toddlers irritable for days before anything becomes visible on the gumline.
One common misconception is that teething causes fever. It doesn’t. Teething can nudge body temperature slightly above normal, but it won’t push it to 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. A true fever at that level signals an infection, not teething, and shouldn’t be dismissed. Cleveland Clinic specialists are clear on this point: if your baby’s temperature hits 100.4°F or above, something else is going on.
For teething discomfort, a chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a clean, cold washcloth to chew on usually helps. Gently rubbing the gums with a clean finger can also provide relief.
Caring for New Teeth
Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, roughly the size of a grain of rice, twice a day with a soft, small-headed toothbrush. You don’t need to wait until your child has a full set of teeth to begin this routine.
Your child should also have their first dental visit by age 1, or within six months of their first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. If your 14-month-old hasn’t been to the dentist yet, it’s a good time to schedule that first appointment. Early visits are brief and focused on checking that teeth are developing normally and that the gums look healthy.
What Comes Next After 14 Months
The pace of teething picks up over the next year. After the first molars settle in, the canines (the pointed teeth between the incisors and molars) typically arrive between 16 and 23 months. The second set of molars, the last of the baby teeth, usually appears between 23 and 33 months. By age 3, most children have all 20 primary teeth in place.
If your child currently has fewer teeth than their same-age peers, you’ll likely see them catch up over the next several months. The total number at any given moment matters far less than whether teeth are continuing to appear over time. A steady, if slow, progression is completely normal.