Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months of age, though anywhere from 4 to 10 months is normal. The two bottom front teeth usually break through first, followed by the four upper front teeth. From there, teeth continue to appear in pairs until all 20 primary (baby) teeth are in place, typically by age 2½ to 3.
The Typical Order Teeth Come In
Teeth tend to follow a predictable pattern. The two bottom center teeth arrive first, around 5 to 8 months. The four upper front teeth come next, between 6 and 12 months. After that, teeth fill in roughly in pairs on each side of the jaw, working from front to back.
The canines (the pointy teeth next to the front ones) typically show up between 16 and 20 months. First molars often appear between 11 and 18 months, and the second molars, the last to arrive, come in between 23 and 33 months. Lower teeth generally emerge slightly earlier than their upper counterparts, but it varies from child to child. By the time your toddler turns 3, they’ll likely have a full set of 10 upper and 10 lower teeth.
What Teething Actually Feels Like for Your Baby
The earliest signs are usually heavy drooling and a strong urge to chew on anything within reach. Your baby may press toys, fingers, or the corner of a blanket against their gums for pressure relief. Crankiness, extra crying, and disrupted sleep are all common during active teething episodes.
One widespread misconception is that teething causes high fevers, diarrhea, or a runny nose. It doesn’t. A low-grade temperature under 101°F can accompany teething, but anything higher is more likely a virus. Teething and illness often overlap in timing because babies in the 6-to-24-month range catch frequent infections, which leads parents to connect the two. If your baby has a fever above 101°F or develops diarrhea, treat it as a separate illness rather than a teething symptom.
Safe Ways to Ease Teething Pain
The simplest and safest relief is pressure on the gums. Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger works well, as does offering a firm rubber teething ring. The ring should be solid, not liquid-filled, and kept at room temperature or slightly chilled in the refrigerator. Frozen teething rings are too hard and can actually bruise the gums.
What you should avoid is more important than what you try. The FDA has issued direct warnings against teething gels and tablets containing benzocaine or lidocaine, stating they offer little to no benefit and carry serious risks. Benzocaine can trigger a condition called methemoglobinemia, where the blood’s ability to carry oxygen drops dangerously. Lidocaine solutions can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury in infants if too much is applied or accidentally swallowed. Homeopathic teething tablets have also been flagged. Stick with physical soothing methods and always supervise your baby with a teething ring to prevent choking.
When Teeth Are Early or Late
Some babies are born with one or two teeth already visible. This happens in roughly 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 30,000 births. These natal teeth are usually the lower front teeth, and they’re often slightly loose. A pediatric dentist may smooth sharp edges to protect the baby’s tongue and make breastfeeding easier, or remove the tooth if it’s very mobile and poses an aspiration risk. In most cases, natal teeth are harmless and can be left alone.
On the other end of the spectrum, some babies don’t get their first tooth until closer to 12 or even 14 months. This is usually just a variation of normal and often runs in families. If no teeth have appeared by the first birthday, it’s worth mentioning at your child’s next checkup, but delayed eruption alone rarely signals a problem.
Caring for New Teeth
Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. Use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush with a grain-of-rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste (1,000 ppm fluoride). That tiny amount is enough to protect enamel while keeping fluoride intake safe for a baby who can’t spit yet. Brush twice a day, especially before bed, since milk or formula sitting on teeth overnight promotes decay.
Before any teeth come in, you can wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth after feedings. This helps establish a routine and keeps the gum tissue healthy as teeth prepare to emerge underneath.
The First Dental Visit
Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend scheduling a first dental visit within six months of the first tooth appearing, or by age one, whichever comes first. This visit is brief and mostly about checking development, spotting early signs of decay, and giving parents guidance on brushing and diet. Starting dental visits early helps catch problems when they’re small and gets your child comfortable with the experience before they’re old enough to feel anxious about it.
When Baby Teeth Start Falling Out
The same teeth that arrived first are usually the first to go. The lower front teeth typically loosen and fall out around age 6 to 7, followed by the upper front teeth at 7 to 8. The process continues gradually, with canines and molars shedding between ages 9 and 13. The second molars are the last to go, usually between 11 and 13 years old. By that point, most of the 32 permanent teeth are either in place or on their way.