Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 12 months of age, with 6 months being the most common starting point. Some babies teethe earlier, some later, and the range of normal is wide. Here’s what to expect as those first teeth come in, what order they arrive, and how to handle the discomfort safely.
The Typical Teething Timeline
The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are almost always the first to appear, usually around 6 months. The two upper front teeth follow shortly after. From there, teeth tend to fill in from front to back: the lateral incisors (the teeth on either side of the front four), then the first molars, canines, and finally the second molars. By age 3, most children have all 20 baby teeth.
This timeline has a lot of natural variation. A baby who doesn’t sprout a tooth until 10 or 11 months is perfectly normal. Some babies are even born with a tooth already visible, while others don’t see one until closer to their first birthday. If your baby hasn’t developed any teeth by 9 months, it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician, not because it’s necessarily a problem, but because they can check for less common causes of delayed eruption.
Adjusted Timeline for Premature Babies
If your baby was born early, teething milestones are better measured using corrected age rather than actual age. You calculate corrected age by subtracting the number of weeks your baby was premature from their current age in weeks. So a baby born at 32 weeks (8 weeks early) who is now 7 months old has a corrected age of about 5 months. Using corrected age gives a more accurate picture of developmental milestones, including teething, for the first two years of life.
What Teething Actually Feels Like for Your Baby
The classic signs are drooling, fussiness, and a strong urge to chew on anything within reach. You may notice your baby gnawing on their fingers, toys, or the edge of their crib. Their gums can look swollen or red in the spot where a tooth is about to push through. Sleep disruptions are common, and some babies lose interest in feeding for a day or two because sucking puts pressure on sore gums.
One thing teething does not cause is a true fever. It can nudge your baby’s body temperature slightly above normal, but it won’t reach 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. That threshold defines a fever, and a fever signals an infection, not teething. The timing is confusing because babies start teething right around the age when the immune protection they got from the womb begins to fade, so they catch more colds and viruses. If your baby has a temperature of 100.4°F or above, treat it as a possible illness. Seek emergency care for any temperature above 104°F (40°C).
Safe Ways to Ease Teething Pain
A chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a clean, wet washcloth kept in the refrigerator for a few minutes gives your baby something cold and firm to press against their gums. Gently rubbing their gums with a clean finger can also help. These simple approaches work well for most babies.
What you should avoid is more important than what you try. The FDA warns against using any teething gels or products containing numbing agents like benzocaine or lidocaine on infants. Benzocaine, the active ingredient in products like Orajel and Anbesol, can cause a rare but serious condition where the blood’s ability to carry oxygen drops dangerously low. Lidocaine can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury in young children if too much is applied or accidentally swallowed. Homeopathic teething tablets have also drawn FDA warnings for inconsistent ingredient levels and potential harm. None of these products offer meaningful relief for teething, and the risks far outweigh any benefit.
When to Schedule the First Dental Visit
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling your child’s first dental visit when the first tooth appears, and no later than their first birthday. This visit is brief and low-key. The dentist checks that the teeth and gums are developing normally, offers guidance on cleaning those new teeth, and establishes a baseline. Starting early also helps your child get comfortable with dental visits before they’re old enough to be anxious about them.