Most babies get their first tooth around 6 to 8 months old, and by age 3, all 20 baby teeth are typically in place. The process then reverses starting around age 6, when those baby teeth begin falling out to make room for 32 permanent adult teeth. Here’s what to expect at each stage.
Baby Teeth: The Full Timeline
Baby teeth arrive between about 4 and 36 months, following a predictable pattern. The lower front teeth (central incisors) come first, appearing around 7 to 8 months on average, though some babies sprout them as early as 3 months. The upper front teeth follow close behind at around 9 months.
From there, the sequence moves outward and back:
- Lower central incisors: 6 to 10 months
- Upper central incisors: 8 to 12 months
- Upper lateral incisors: 9 to 13 months
- Lower lateral incisors: 10 to 16 months
- First molars (upper and lower): 13 to 19 months
- Canines (upper and lower): 16 to 22 months
- Second molars (upper and lower): 23 to 33 months
Lower teeth tend to arrive slightly before their upper counterparts. By roughly 25 months, or just past a child’s second birthday, most children have all 20 baby teeth. But the range is wide. Some children don’t get their last molars until closer to 30 months, and that’s still normal.
When Baby Teeth Fall Out
Baby teeth start loosening in roughly the same order they arrived. The lower central incisors are the first to go, usually between ages 6 and 7, followed by the upper central incisors around the same time. The lateral incisors shed next, around 7 to 8 years old.
After a brief pause, the process picks up again. The first molars and lower canines fall out between ages 9 and 12, and the second molars and upper canines are the last to go, typically between 10 and 12. Most children have lost all their baby teeth by age 12 or 13.
Permanent Teeth: What Comes Next
Adult teeth generally begin appearing around age 6, often before a child has lost the baby tooth in that spot. The first permanent molars are notable because they erupt behind the baby teeth rather than replacing them, so there’s no loose tooth to signal their arrival. These “six-year molars” are easy to miss.
The adult front teeth fill in between ages 6 and 9. Premolars (the teeth between the canines and molars) come in around ages 10 to 12, replacing the baby molars. Permanent canines arrive around the same window. Second permanent molars appear around age 12, and wisdom teeth, if they come in at all, usually emerge between ages 17 and 21. By age 21, all 32 permanent teeth have typically erupted.
What Teething Actually Feels Like
Teething gets blamed for a lot, but its real symptoms are mild. The proven signs are increased drooling, a desire to chew on things, and sometimes slight gum tenderness. Many babies just act a bit fussier than usual. A facial rash from drool is also common, since saliva contains small food particles that irritate the skin.
Teething does not cause fever, diarrhea, diaper rash, or excessive crying. It also doesn’t make babies more prone to illness. This matters because blaming a fever on teething can delay treatment for real infections like ear infections, urinary tract infections, or even meningitis. If your baby has a true fever or is crying hard, look for another cause.
Soothing Teething Discomfort
The simplest approaches work best. Gently rubbing or massaging swollen gums with a clean finger provides direct pressure that eases soreness. You can also give your baby a firm rubber teething ring to chew on. Avoid liquid-filled teethers, which can break, and don’t freeze teething rings, as extreme cold can hurt sensitive gums. The FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend these non-medicated options as the first line of relief.
When Teeth Are Late
There’s a wide range of normal. Some babies are born with a tooth already visible, while others don’t get one until close to their first birthday. Clinically, “delayed eruption” means teeth arriving well beyond the average timeline for that tooth. If your baby has no teeth by about 18 months, it’s worth mentioning to a pediatrician or dentist, though the most common explanation is simply family variation. Nutritional factors like vitamin D deficiency and certain rare genetic conditions can also delay eruption, but these are uncommon.
Caring for New Teeth
Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice, twice a day. At age 3, increase to a pea-sized amount. After age 6, a slim ribbon across the brush is appropriate. Young children don’t have the coordination to brush effectively on their own until around age 6 or 7, so plan on doing it for them or closely supervising.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends scheduling a child’s first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months of that first tooth, whichever comes first. Early visits help catch problems before they develop and get your child comfortable with the dentist’s office while the stakes are low.