At 13 months, the teeth most likely making an appearance are the first molars. These are the broad, flat teeth toward the back of your toddler’s mouth, and they typically start breaking through between 11 and 19 months. Some 13-month-olds may also still be getting their upper lateral incisors, the teeth just beside the two front teeth, which can emerge as late as 12 months.
What Your Toddler’s Mouth Looks Like at 13 Months
By 13 months, most children already have several teeth in place. The bottom central incisors (the two front bottom teeth) usually arrive first, between 5 and 8 months. The top central incisors follow at 6 to 10 months, then the lateral incisors fill in on either side. So a typical 13-month-old has somewhere between four and eight front teeth already visible.
The new arrivals at this stage are the first molars. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, both upper and lower first molars can erupt anywhere from 11 to 18 months. Cleveland Clinic data narrows this slightly: upper first molars tend to come in between 13 and 19 months, while lower first molars follow at 14 to 18 months. That means 13 months is right at the beginning of the molar window, so you might see the gums swelling in the back before any tooth actually pokes through.
Why First Molars Feel Different
First molars are wider and have a larger surface area than the thin incisors your child cut earlier. Instead of a sharp edge slicing through the gum, a broad, bumpy surface has to push its way out. This can make molar teething noticeably more uncomfortable. You may see your toddler chewing on fingers or toys more aggressively, drooling heavily, or becoming fussier than usual, especially at night.
Gum swelling over the molar area, toward the back of the jaw, is common and can look red or slightly bruised. Some children develop a low-grade temperature during teething, though a true fever (above 100.4°F) is not caused by teething alone and points to something else going on. Sleep disruption is also typical, since the pressure of eruption can intensify when your child lies down.
The Eruption Order After 13 Months
Once the first molars settle in, there’s usually a brief pause before the next teeth arrive. Here’s the general sequence from this point forward:
- First molars: 11 to 18 months (both upper and lower)
- Canines (the pointed teeth): 16 to 20 months
- Second molars: 20 to 30 months
By around age 2.5 to 3, most children have all 20 primary teeth. Keep in mind that these ranges are averages. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry notes that many otherwise normal infants do not follow the standard schedule strictly. Some children get teeth earlier, some later, and the order can vary too. A child who gets lower molars before upper molars, or canines before molars, is not unusual.
When Fewer Teeth Than Expected Is Fine
If your 13-month-old has only a few teeth, or the molars haven’t started showing yet, that’s well within normal range. Tooth eruption is largely genetic. Some toddlers have a full set of incisors by their first birthday while others are just getting started. UF Health recommends talking to your child’s healthcare provider only if no teeth have appeared by 9 months. At 13 months, having anywhere from four to eight teeth is typical, and even having fewer does not necessarily signal a problem.
Caring for New Molars
Molars matter more for decay risk than incisors because their flat, grooved surfaces can trap food. Once those first molars appear, brushing becomes especially important. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, no more than a grain of rice in size. Brush at least twice a day: once before bed and once at another consistent time. The bedtime brushing is the most critical, since saliva production drops during sleep and bacteria have more opportunity to cause damage.
The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental visit between the eruption of their first tooth and age one. If your 13-month-old hasn’t been to a dentist yet, now is a good time to schedule that first appointment, particularly with molars coming in.
What Molars Mean for Eating
The arrival of first molars is a real turning point for your toddler’s diet. Before molars, children rely on their gums and front teeth to mash soft foods. Molars give them the ability to actually grind and chew, which opens the door to more textured foods like small pieces of soft meat, raw banana, cheese cubes, and well-cooked vegetables. You don’t need to wait until the molars are fully in to introduce these textures, since toddlers are surprisingly effective at gumming food, but you’ll notice your child handling chunkier meals with more confidence once those back teeth are in place.
During active molar eruption, some toddlers temporarily refuse food or prefer softer options because of gum soreness. Cold foods like chilled fruit or yogurt can feel soothing and keep nutrition on track during fussier stretches.