When do babies typically start teething. What are the common signs and symptoms of teething. How long does the teething process usually last. Which teeth emerge first in babies. How many baby teeth will appear in total.

The Teething Timeline: When Do Babies Start Getting Teeth?

Teething is a significant milestone in a baby’s development, but the timing can vary considerably from one child to another. Most babies begin teething between 6 and 12 months of age, but it’s not uncommon for the process to start earlier or later.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical teething timeline:

• 3-4 months: Some babies may start teething this early
• 6-12 months: Most common age range for teething to begin
• 12-14 months: Some babies may not start teething until this later range

In rare cases, some newborns may be born with a tooth already erupted or have one emerge within the first few weeks of life. These are called natal or neonatal teeth, respectively.

Is it normal for teething to start later?

Yes, it’s entirely normal for teething to start later than expected. Every baby develops at their own pace, and the timing of tooth eruption can be influenced by various factors, including genetics. If you’re concerned about your baby’s dental development, it’s always best to consult with a pediatrician or pediatric dentist.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Teething

While some babies may breeze through teething with minimal discomfort, others may experience more noticeable symptoms. It’s important to note that not all babies will exhibit all symptoms, and the intensity can vary.

Common signs and symptoms of teething include:

1. Increased drooling
2. Swollen, tender gums
3. Irritability or fussiness
4. Difficulty sleeping
5. Loss of appetite
6. Rubbing cheeks or pulling ears
7. Gnawing on objects
8. Mild temperature elevation (less than 38°C or 100.4°F)

Are diarrhea and fever symptoms of teething?

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no scientific evidence linking diarrhea or high fever to teething. If your baby experiences these symptoms, especially a fever above 38°C (100.4°F), it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider as they may indicate an unrelated illness.

The Teething Process: Duration and Stages

The entire teething process typically spans about two years, from the eruption of the first tooth to the appearance of the last primary tooth. However, the actual discomfort associated with teething usually comes in waves, coinciding with the emergence of new teeth.

How long does teething pain last for each tooth?

Teething pain for individual teeth usually lasts a few days. Discomfort often begins a few days before the tooth breaks through the gum and may continue for a few days afterward. However, some babies may experience longer periods of discomfort, while others might show little to no signs of distress.

The Order of Tooth Eruption: Which Teeth Come First?

While there can be variations, most babies follow a general pattern when it comes to the order in which their teeth appear. Here’s a typical timeline:

• 5-7 months: Lower central incisors (bottom front teeth)
• 6-8 months: Upper central incisors (top front teeth)
• 9-11 months: Upper lateral incisors (teeth beside the top front teeth)
• 10-12 months: Lower lateral incisors (teeth beside the bottom front teeth)
• 12-16 months: First molars (back teeth)
• 16-20 months: Canines (pointed teeth between incisors and molars)
• 20-30 months: Second molars

Is it normal for teeth to come in out of order?

While most babies follow this general pattern, it’s not unusual for teeth to appear in a slightly different order. As long as all the teeth eventually come in, there’s usually no cause for concern. However, if you have any doubts, it’s always best to consult with a pediatric dentist.

The Full Set: How Many Baby Teeth Will Your Child Have?

By the time your child is between 2 and 3 years old, they should have a complete set of 20 primary teeth, also known as baby teeth or milk teeth. These teeth play a crucial role in your child’s development, aiding in proper nutrition, speech development, and guiding the permanent teeth into place.

What’s the breakdown of primary teeth?

The 20 primary teeth are divided as follows:

• 8 incisors (4 upper, 4 lower)
• 4 canines (2 upper, 2 lower)
• 8 molars (4 upper, 4 lower)

These teeth will eventually be replaced by 32 permanent teeth, starting around age 6 or 7 and continuing into the late teens or early twenties.

Soothing Teething Discomfort: Safe and Effective Methods

While teething is a natural process, it can be uncomfortable for babies. Fortunately, there are several safe methods to help alleviate teething pain:

1. Gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger
2. Offer a cold teething ring or washcloth to chew on
3. Provide safe, specially designed teething toys
4. Use a clean, damp washcloth to wipe away excess drool
5. For babies over 6 months, offer cold foods like chilled (not frozen) fruit purees

Are teething gels safe for babies?

The use of teething gels is generally not recommended. Many over-the-counter teething gels contain benzocaine, which can be harmful to babies. Always consult with your pediatrician before using any medication for teething pain.

Dental Care for Teething Babies: Starting Good Habits Early

Proper dental care should begin even before your baby’s first tooth appears. Here are some tips for maintaining good oral hygiene in teething babies:

• Wipe gums with a soft, damp cloth after feedings
• Once teeth appear, brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water
• Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle to prevent tooth decay
• Schedule your baby’s first dental visit by their first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing

When should you start using toothpaste for your baby?

You can start using a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) as soon as the first tooth appears. Increase to a pea-sized amount when your child is 3 years old and can spit out the toothpaste.

When to Seek Professional Help: Teething Concerns and Complications

While teething is generally a straightforward process, there are instances when you should consult a healthcare professional:

1. If your baby develops a fever over 38°C (100.4°F)
2. If teething seems to be causing severe pain or distress
3. If there’s no sign of a tooth by 18 months
4. If teeth appear to be coming in very crooked
5. If you notice signs of tooth decay, such as brown or black spots on the teeth

Can teething cause ear infections?

Teething itself doesn’t cause ear infections. However, the symptoms can sometimes be confused. If your baby is pulling at their ears and seems to be in pain, it’s best to have them checked by a doctor to rule out an ear infection.

Remember, every baby is unique and will experience teething differently. By understanding the process and knowing what to expect, you can help make teething a more comfortable experience for your little one. Always trust your instincts as a parent, and don’t hesitate to seek professional advice if you have concerns about your baby’s teething process or oral health.

Baby teething symptoms – NHS

When it comes to teething, all babies are different. But your baby will probably get their first tooth some time during their first year.

Find out how to spot when your baby is teething and what order your baby’s teeth are likely to appear in.

When do babies start teething?

Some babies are born with their first teeth. Others start teething before they are 4 months old, and some after 12 months. But most babies start teething at around 6 months.

Teething symptoms

Baby teeth sometimes emerge with no pain or discomfort at all.

At other times, you may notice:

• their gum is sore and red where the tooth is coming through
• they have a mild temperature of less than 38C
• they have 1 flushed cheek
• they have a rash on their face
• they’re rubbing their ear
• they’re dribbling more than usual
• they’re gnawing and chewing on things a lot
• they’re more fretful than usual
• they’re not sleeping very well

Read tips on how to help your teething baby.

Some people think that teething causes other symptoms, such as diarrhoea, but there’s no evidence to support this.

You know your baby best. Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern. You can call NHS 111 or contact a GP.

Read more about spotting the signs of serious illness in babies and toddlers.

What order do baby teeth appear in?

Here’s a rough guide to how babies’ teeth usually emerge:

• bottom incisors (bottom front teeth) – these are usually the first to come through, usually at around 5 to 7 months
• top incisors (top front teeth) – these tend to come through at about 6 to 8 months
• top lateral incisors (either side of the top front teeth) – these come through at around 9 to 11 months
• bottom lateral incisors (either side of the bottom front teeth) – these come through at around 10 to 12 months
• first molars (back teeth) – these come through at around 12 to 16 months
• canines (between the lateral incisors and the first molars) – these come through at around 16 to 20 months
• second molars – these come through at around 20 to 30 months

Most children will have all of their milk teeth by the time they are between 2 and 3 years old.

Community content from HealthUnlocked

Page last reviewed: 9 August 2022

Next review due: 9 August 2025

When Do Babies Start Teething? Signs & Symptoms

Your baby’s first tooth and those adorable toothy grins are milestones you’ll look for and treasure. If you’re wondering when they will appear, it’s good to know that the timing of teething varies widely from baby to baby. Read on to discover when your baby may start teething, the signs and symptoms of teething, how long teething typically lasts, and much more.

When Do Babies Start Teething?

Teething often starts when babies are between 6 and 12 months old, though in some cases those first teeth may appear earlier or even a little later. In some very rare cases newborns may be born with a tooth already erupted, or have a tooth come through in the first few weeks.

What if Teething Starts Later Than You Expect?

It’s helpful to remember that growing teeth is not a competitive sport, and that your baby’s teeth will arrive when they are ready. So, don’t be concerned if your friends’ children get teeth before your baby does.

The age range can be quite broad when it comes to teething. Though it’s likely that teething may begin between 6 and 12 months, the first tooth may appear as early as 3 or 4 months or as late as 14 months. Some babies might even be slightly outside of this range on either side. Genetics may play a role in the timing.

Of course, if you’re concerned about your baby’s teeth (or lack thereof) or have any questions about dental care, speak to her healthcare provider or dentist.

Which Teeth Come in First?

How Long Does Teething Last?

The duration of the teething process can vary. At some point between your child’s second and third birthdays, however, your little one will have a full set of 20 primary teeth. This means the total teething period lasts about two years.

If your little one has teething discomfort, know that this will probably come and go. Teething symptoms are typically experienced in the days before a tooth erupts; then the soreness subsides until a new tooth starts to come in.

How Many Baby Teeth Will Appear in Total?

Your little one’s first set of teeth are known as primary or baby teeth. By the time she’s 2 and a half to 3 years old she will have a full set of 20 baby teeth.

When your child is around 6 or 7 years old, the baby teeth will start falling out to make way for her permanent teeth, sometimes called secondary teeth. It takes many years for all 32 secondary teeth to come in, so for a while there your child will have a mix of primary and secondary teeth.

Signs and Symptoms of Teething

As the baby teeth grow and break through the gums, teething symptoms can include:

• Irritability. Your little one might seem a little fussier and may cry more than usual.

• Disturbed sleep. Teething pain or discomfort may cause your baby to wake up during the night.

• More drooling. It’s common for a teething baby to drool a lot when teething. Experts say the extra saliva can help soothe the tender gums.

• Chewing on things. When your baby is teething, she may gnaw on toys, a teething ring, or even her own fingers to help relieve the pressure she feels on her gums. Chewing on something firm helps massage the gums and helps ease any discomfort as the tooth tries to erupt.

• Sore, swollen gums. The spot where a tooth is coming through may be tender, red, and swollen.

• Low-grade temperature. During teething, your little one’s temperature may be slightly elevated, but teething is unlikely to cause a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. If your baby seems very uncomfortable or has a temperature of at least 101 degrees (or at least 100. 4 degrees for a baby under 3 months) , contact your little one’s healthcare provider, who can determine what’s causing the fever.

Teething Timeline

Top Teeth

• Central incisors (the front teeth): 8 to 12 months

• Lateral incisors (the teeth on either side of the front teeth): 9 to 13 months

• Canines, or cuspids (the sharp, pointy teeth on either side of the lateral incisors): 16 to 22 months

• First molars (the back teeth used to grind food): 13 to 19 months

• Second molars (the back teeth that fill in the last gaps): 25 to 33 months

Bottom Teeth

• Central incisors (the front teeth): 6 to 10 months

• Lateral incisors (the teeth on either side of the front teeth): 10 to 16 months

• Canines, or cuspids (the sharp, pointy teeth on either side of the lateral incisors): 17 to 23 months

• First molars (the back teeth used to grind food): 14 to 18 months

• Second molars (the back teeth that fill in the last gaps): 23 to 31 months

How to Soothe Your Teething Baby

Teething can be uncomfortable for some babies, and as there’s no magic technique that works for every child, you may have to experiment to find something that helps your little one feel better. Among the many ways to soothe your teething baby are these two quick ideas:

• Give a teething ring. Chewing on one of these rings lets your teething baby massage her own gums. Some types can be cooled in the fridge to give extra relief, but don’t put a teething ring in the freezer—this can make it too hard and cold for your little one’s sensitive gums. To keep your little one safe, never tie a teething ring to a string that’s looped around your baby’s neck or clipped to her top.

• Massage your baby’s gums. Using a clean finger, gently massage your baby’s sore gums.

How to Care for Your Baby’s New Teeth

It’s important to start caring for your baby’s teeth (or tooth) as soon as the first one pokes through. Those baby teeth have to last several years before they’re replaced with adult teeth, and establishing good dental hygiene habits early on will help set your little one up for healthy teeth and gums throughout her life.

Taking steps to prevent cavities and tooth decay in the baby teeth is just as important as it is with adult teeth, because decay in these teeth can affect the permanent teeth that follow and cause other dental problems like pain and infections.

Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth

Regular brushing is an important part of dental care. The key thing at this stage is to gently clean baby teeth twice a day and to get your little one used to the brushing routine.

Here are some guidelines for brushing your baby’s teeth, as well as some tips on teaching your older child how to get the job done, with your help:

• Brush at least twice a day, always brushing after your child has had anything sugary as well as after the last meal or drink of the day

• Put a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for your baby’s age. Carefully brush each tooth, making sure to reach all the surfaces, including the sides and the inside surface. Once your child is about 2 years old you can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. You’ll need to teach him how to rinse and spit, rather than swallowing the toothpaste.

• The direction of the brush stroke doesn’t really matter. The key is to clean each tooth from all angles, making sure you reach the back teeth as well

• For now you’ll need to brush your baby’s teeth. As he reaches the toddler and preschooler stage, help him begin brush his own teeth, under your close supervision. You’ll need to lend a hand until he’s 7 or 8 years old to ensure those teeth get a thorough clean. Here are some ideas for how to make brushing more fun for both of you.

Diet

Your little one’s diet is a big part of dental health. Avoid giving your child sugary drinks like fruit juice and sodas, or sticky sweet snacks like gum, toffee, and sticky caramel. Also, don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup of milk, formula, juice, or any other sweet drink, as this can cause the sugary liquid to pool in his mouth and lead to tooth decay.

For more on caring for your baby’s teeth, check out our article on dental care for children.

Dental Checkups

Getting professional care from a dentist is crucial for the healthy development of your child’s teeth, mouth, and gums. Usually, the first dentist visit should take place within about six months of the first tooth poking through or by the time your child is 12 months old, whichever comes first.

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, you can make an appointment at any time. Your baby’s healthcare provider will also check your baby’s teeth and gums at his regular well-child checkups.

When to See Your Baby’s Healthcare Provider

If your little one is showing symptoms like fever, irritability, or diarrhea, or any other signs of childhood illness, and you’re not sure whether it’s related to teething or something else, it’s safest to call your healthcare provider so an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan can be made.

You should also contact your baby’s healthcare provider if you’re concerned about how much discomfort your baby is in as a result of teething. The provider may recommend some form of pain relief while also making sure that nothing else is wrong to cause the elevated levels of pain or discomfort. Do not use teething gels to numb the gums, as these are dangerous.

You’ll also want to consult your baby’s healthcare provider or dentist if your baby has a tooth problem or injury, such as a broken or chipped tooth.

Interesting Facts About Baby Teeth

Want to know more about teething and those white-as-can-be baby teeth? Here are some fun facts about your little one’s teeth:

• On average, about four teeth will poke through every six months during the teething process

• Girls’ teeth may erupt a little sooner than boys’ teeth

• The bottom teeth tend to erupt before the same type of tooth on the top

• Teeth usually erupt in symmetrical pairs; in other words, one tooth on the right side of the jaw and the same type of tooth on the left side of the jaw will poke through at roughly the same time

• Your child’s primary teeth are smaller and whiter than the permanent teeth that will replace them in a few years’ time

• From around the age of 4, your child’s face and jaw will begin to grow and change shape, and this will create gaps in his smile as the baby teeth won’t catch up in size. This is completely normal—it’s the mouth’s way of making space for the bigger adult teeth that will follow.

• Your baby’s secondary teeth will be coming in when he is about 7 or 8 years old. Because it will take a little while before your child has a full set of adult teeth, for several years your child will have a mix of baby and adult teeth.

• Your baby has 20 primary teeth but will have many more secondary teeth. By the time your child is in his teens or early 20s, he’ll have between 28 and 32 adult teeth.

The Bottom Line

Teething can sometimes be a challenging time for your baby and you. Try to keep in mind how important those teeth are, helping your child chew and bite into the nutritious foods that are fueling his growth and development.

If you’re still waiting for that first tooth, know that it will be here soon enough, and more will be on the way. Each new tooth that emerges will make that smile even more adorable than it was before.

Take good care of your baby’s tiny teeth and before you know it the gaps in your little one’s smile will be filled in with some of the cutest, whitest teeth you’ve ever seen!

Teething in children: symptoms and complications

Teething in children very often raises a lot of questions from parents. As a rule, during teething, babies experience discomfort, which significantly affects the nervous system of the child and makes parents pretty worried. In our article, we will look at the order, symptoms and complications of teething.

Teething in children

In what order do teeth erupt in children? As a rule, this is the following order of growth of milk teeth:

1. First two lower central incisors – 6-8 months
2. First two upper central incisors – approx. 8 months
3. First two upper lateral incisors – 8-12 months
4. First two lower lateral incisors – 10-12 months
5. First four posterior teeth – 14-20 months
6. First four canines – 18-24 months
7. Second four posterior teeth – 2-3 years

Teething symptoms

What are the symptoms of teething in a one year old baby? What are the symptoms of teething in children? Typically, symptoms of teething in children under one year of age include:

• Excessive salivation. It may cause coughing and hoarseness, as well as a rash around the mouth and chin
• Swelling, redness and tenderness of the gums
• Itchy gums. Toddlers often try to relieve it by chewing on just about anything they can get their hands on
• Decreased appetite or its complete absence, as well as refusal to eat
• Temperature increase
• Sleep disorder
• Hyperexcitability
• Changing chair
• Runny nose

It is important to understand that when teething in children, the symptoms can be different and it is not at all necessary that the child has everything from the list. Symptoms of teething in children after one year are very often similar to those present before the year. Even with the eruption of molars in children, the symptoms may be similar, but everything, of course, is purely individual.

Complications of teething

The symptoms of a child’s first teething are important to monitor in order to predict complications. Complications may include:

• Early teething. The norm is 6 months, but it may be that the child’s teeth begin to erupt even at 2 months
• Too late teething. It is possible that even at 8 months the child has not yet erupted teeth. The consequence of this situation may be adentia – this is the complete or partial absence of teeth in the oral cavity
• Wrong teething sequence
• Abnormal tooth formation or dental anomalies
• Anomalies of tooth growth
• Enamel hypoplasia. Represents a lesion of tooth enamel that occurs in children under 10 months of age
• Aphthous ulcers or aphthous stomatitis. It is a process of appearance in the oral cavity of small purulent sores
• Gingival hematoma. May occur when a blood vessel is damaged

In INTAN implantation and dentistry centers you can provide a wide range of pediatric dentistry services. All services are carried out only by highly qualified dentists who have a special approach to children and knowledge of how to carry out the treatment so that the little patient likes it.

Temperature during teething: causes, duration

When teething, the child’s body experiences severe stress and reacts to it with increased temperature. In order not to confuse a common cold with a temperature during teething, you need to know what exactly happens when teeth are cut.

The reason for the temperature increase during eruption
The temperature does not just happen. The child’s body reacts in this way to the inflammation of the gums that has appeared, through which the tooth will soon come out. At this time, the immunity at the site of the future tooth decreases, and various microorganisms begin to activate, which also cause temperature.
Up to a year, teething is more or less calm and does not cause severe inconvenience, but after a year, when fangs begin to erupt, which take longer to appear, the baby may experience pain accompanied by fever, up to several weeks.
Often the temperature rises not because of inflammation of the gums, but because of viruses that have entered the body or infection due to reduced immunity. The body with its help fights with them, because they are not able to exist at high temperatures, so they die.

How high can the temperature rise?
How much the temperature will rise, individually for each organism. Normally, it can vary from 37.5 to 38.5 degrees. It is necessary to measure the temperature every half an hour or an hour, because in young children it can rise very quickly, because their body is still unable to properly perform heat exchange.
If the temperature began to reach a value of 39 degrees, then you must immediately call an ambulance, because this may mean the appearance of various complications.

Duration
Regardless of the examples given, all organisms react differently, so things can develop differently for different children. Usually the temperature lasts 2-3 days and disappears when the tooth erupts. There are also cases when the temperature lasts for 5 or even 7 days, and the temperature can rise and disappear completely after a few hours.
Be that as it may, the doctor still needs to be called to examine the baby. To exclude complications and a number of other diseases, in which case they should be treated as early as possible.

What are the symptoms other than fever?
Temperature is not the only sign of teething. In parallel, a runny nose may join due to the spread of edema from the gums to the nasal mucosa. This happens when the upper teeth erupt.
Also one of the symptoms is profuse salivation and weakening of the baby’s stool.

What symptoms should alert?
Due to reduced immunity, the child’s body is not able to fight many viruses and infections. The following signs may indicate their presence:
• the nose is very stuffy, and snot flows from it in large quantities. This means that rhinitis has joined the edema, it must be treated;
• diarrhea. Very rarely it appears along with the temperature, but still happens. This may mean some kind of intestinal infection brought by the baby with the help of toys;
• cough. Because of the strong salivation, children do not always have time to swallow saliva, so sometimes they can choke on it, as a result of which they cough. If the cough is repeated systematically and at the same time there are signs of outgoing sputum, then inflammation of the respiratory tract has joined the temperature;
• reddened throat. In addition to the nasal mucosa, edema can also pass to the mucous membranes of the neck. This may mean the appearance of pharyngitis or acute respiratory infections;
• nausea and vomiting. Occur at a very elevated temperature, perhaps this is a symptom of an intestinal infection or damage to the nervous system.
If the baby has these signs, you need to immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary treatment, regardless of the presence of temperature.

What measures should be taken in case of high temperature?
Many parents start antipyretic and antiviral drugs when they have a slight fever. You can’t do this, because you need to allow the body to fight the virus on its own. The abuse of such drugs can lead to addiction, and in the future the body will not be able to cope with infections and viruses on its own. Pediatricians advise not to bring down the temperature until it reaches 38 degrees, because you need to let the body fight.
If the effectiveness of antipyretics is low, you can wipe the baby with a little cool water or rub it with an alcohol solution with the addition of vinegar.
Sometimes parents resort to such a method as homeopathy, but with the help of these remedies it will not be possible to effectively reduce the temperature, although they can generally improve the condition of the crumbs.
If the temperature does not subside for more than 3 days, you should consult a doctor.

Is it possible to walk in the temperature?
If the baby feels well and the temperature is not too high, then a walk in the fresh air will only bring benefits.