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!

Baby Teeth Chart: A Full Teething Timeline

As your baby grows, you’ll start looking for those first tiny teeth to poke through the gums — an exciting milestone. Although the teething period can be hard for some babies, the upside is that you have lots of toothy grins to look forward to.

Discover when your baby’s first tooth is likely to erupt, as well as what in what order the rest of your baby’s teeth will come in, and at what age. Our baby teeth chart will make it easier to get a handle on which tooth is which!

Baby Teeth Chart

A baby teeth chart shows you when each of your little one’s first set of teeth — known as primary teeth, baby teeth, or deciduous teeth — is likely to come in and then fall out.

Although the exact age when a tooth erupts or falls out will vary from child to child, the baby teeth chart below is a rough guide to when babies typically get their teeth.

In What Order Do Baby Teeth Appear?

Teething usually begins around the ages of 6 to 12 months, although for some babies a tooth can appear as early as 4 months or later than 12 months.

Most of the time, the two front teeth — the central incisors — on either the top or bottom row make their appearance first. Often these are then followed by the opposite front teeth, then the first molars, followed by the canines.

Teeth usually fill in, often in pairs, with one on each side of the upper or lower jaw, until all teeth have arrived. Usually by the time your child is 2 1/2 to 3 years old, all of the primary teeth will have erupted.

The table below shows an approximate age range for when each tooth will come in as an alternative to the baby teeth chart.

How Many Teeth Do Babies and Kids Have?

In total, 20 baby teeth come through. There are 10 on the upper jaw (top teeth) and 10 on the lower jaw (bottom teeth).

Your little one’s mouth will gradually become filled with these teeth up until the age of 3. Then, these primary teeth will begin falling out around the age of 6 to make way for your child’s adult teeth.

Can Teething Be Painful for Babies or Toddlers?

For some babies, teething is painless, but for others it may occasionally cause mild irritability, crying, and even a low-grade temperature.

Much of the discomfort comes from the gums around the new teeth as they erupt, which can become swollen and tender.

If your baby or toddler is showing signs of discomfort and you think it may be due to teething, contact your child’s healthcare provider or dentist for personalized advice. You can also read more on how to soothe a teething baby here or consider a teething toy as a way to help soothe your little one.

At What Age Do Baby Teeth Fall Out?

The first primary teeth begin to fall out when a child is around 6 or 7 years old. The table below offers an approximate age rage for when each tooth typically falls out. Keep in mind, this table shows an average range and it may happen a little differently for your child.

The Bottom Line

It’s exciting seeing that first baby tooth, and a baby teeth chart can provide a rough idea of when the rest of your baby’s teeth will come in. Just remember that every child’s development is different, so your little one’s teeth may follow a slightly different timeline.

At this time, you might also be interested in reading up on how to care for your baby’s teeth and when your baby’s first dentist visit should be.

Mom asks: “Can a 2-month-old baby cut teeth?”

Health

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. In recent days, I notice that she seems to be cutting her teeth. The child began to cry more, began to gnaw on his fist, even if he had eaten quite recently. Drooling constantly. Can teeth be cut so early? Whether is it a pathology? And how to relieve the child’s pain?

Pediatric dentist at PerfectSmile Aesthetic Dentistry and Bone Regeneration Center

— Teething at 2 months is possible. It is not considered a pathology. Cases have been recorded when babies were born already with teeth. Mostly they need to be removed because they interfere with breastfeeding and make it difficult to take formula from a bottle. But there are times when they are left behind. Everything is individual.

At 2 months, eruption is considered early. This is due to genetics. The mother’s past illnesses, the intake or lack of intake of any vitamins by the mother does not affect the timing of teething. But it can affect the quality of the teeth.

The timing of eruption may be affected by vitamin and microelement deficiencies in the child himself, but in this case, on the contrary, we assume a later eruption.

Teething – how to relieve pain

Gels with lidocaine, benzocaine and other local anesthetics should not be used under the age of 4 years! Homeopathic preparations containing belladonna are also prohibited. Preparations in which choline salicylate is present are questionable. The risks and side effects outweigh the potential benefits.

What to do:

1. Massage your baby’s gums with your finger or silicone brush.

2. Use a cold teether. Just freeze in the refrigerator, not the freezer.

3. Give the nibbler a chilled product that is familiar to the baby.

4. Give me a pacifier. Personally, I am against the nipple, it is better to once again give the baby a breast. But for formula-fed babies, this may be the way out.

5. If all else fails, as a last resort, use pain relievers approved for children.

Whether to brush a baby’s teeth

We start brushing teeth with toothpaste and a brush (not a fingertip and not a silicone brush) as soon as the first tooth erupted. It is very important!

There is a myth that the earlier milk teeth erupt, the more they are subject to caries. This is wrong. It’s just that most pediatricians still advise starting brushing your teeth with toothpaste not earlier than a year, or even a year and a half.

If you start brushing and flossing your baby’s teeth right away, and use xylitol wipes to brush your teeth after nightly feedings, you can avoid cavities.

Ksenia Voronezhtseva, Expert

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Teething in a child: timing, care, ways to relieve pain

Children will definitely appreciate the parental contribution to maintaining dental health when they grow up. In order to help the baby from the very beginning, it is necessary to know the structural features, the stages of formation and the correct order of teething.

Development of teeth before eruption

Your baby’s teeth should be taken care of long before they erupt. It is useful for expectant mothers to know that the rudiments of milk teeth are formed already at the 7-8th week of intrauterine development, and permanent ones at the end of 4 months. Not only the timing of teething, but even the level of mineralization of enamel of both milk and molars depends on how the pregnancy proceeds. Therefore, it is so critical that a woman receives all the vitamins, microelements and is as healthy as possible.

But not only food is important. The results of the research showed that in the presence of industrial harmful substances in the environment of the expectant mother during pregnancy and numerous stressful situations, the formation of all dental tissues is disrupted in the child and the timing of the appearance of milk teeth is shifted. Among children born to women with high blood pressure, late eruption of temporary teeth was noted in 56.7%. Approximately one third of the examined children born to mothers with heart defects revealed late eruption of temporary teeth, as well as deviations in the pairing and sequence of their eruption. The duration of pregnancy also plays a role. There is a pronounced dependence of the timing of the eruption of the first teeth on the degree of prematurity: the earlier the baby was born, the later the first teeth erupt ^{[1, 2]} .

Why baby teeth are needed

Nature has conceived the correct order and timing of teething in children. Evolutionarily, this is due to the need to form the bite and jaw bones for chewing and speech. Over the years, the bones grow, and the milk teeth, which at the beginning of their appearance fit snugly against each other, diverge by the age of 6-7, forming wide, natural interdental spaces for this period – tremas and diastemas.

There are only 20 teeth in the milk bite. This is due to the fact that they must be correctly placed in the small children’s jaw of the first years of a baby’s life, and excludes crowding of teeth that provokes dental diseases. The last of the milk teeth are replaced at the age of 10-12 years. However, they are very important for the physiological formation of the jawbones and permanent occlusion.

Proper growth and health of milk teeth help:

• rebuild the body from lactophoric to a mixed type of nutrition;

• reserve space for the normal positioning of future molars;

• form a mixed bite.

There is an erroneous opinion that milk teeth in case of infection with caries can not be treated, but immediately removed. But modern dentists are against such tactics. Early removal is fraught with displacement of neighboring milk teeth and the appearance of problems already with an adult bite. Therefore, it is so important to maintain the presence and health of all milk teeth until the moment when permanent teeth erupt on their own ^[3] .

The structure of milk teeth

Temporary teeth have thinner enamel, and their internal pulp cavity is larger compared to permanent ones. All this makes the tooth lighter, which helps with the eruption of permanent teeth, but at the same time accelerates the development of caries and pulpitis. However, there are bonuses: by the time the molars begin to erupt, which will remain with the child until the end of life, the roots of milk teeth even dissolve to ensure their rapid and relatively painless loss.

Terms of eruption of milk teeth

Teething is a genetically programmed event that occurs at a certain period. Physiological teething is characterized by three main features: certain timing, pairing and sequence of teething. Galaktionova M. Yu.

Children’s milk teething rates differ depending on their ethnicity. But as studies show, in general, the world is experiencing a reduction in the time from birth to the moment when the first tooth appears. This is due, according to most researchers, to the global acceleration of human development ^[1] . How and when milk teeth erupt is one of the indicators of a child’s physical development.

Causes of violation of the order and timing of teething in children can be:

• heredity;

• climatic conditions;

• nature of feeding;

• certain diseases, such as rickets.

Standards for eruption of milk teeth according to the American Dental Association are presented in the table.

The specified periods are average indicators, varying depending on individual and family characteristics ^[4,5] . But the sequence of appearance of teeth is essential, and it is better to track and record it. From a physiological point of view, the correct order of eruption of milk teeth in children is important for bite formation .

Teething aid

The appearance of milk teeth is not an easy process not only for the children themselves, but also for their parents. The most common teething symptoms:

• swelling and redness of the gums;

• increased salivation;

• itching and urge to keep hands, toys in mouth;

• capriciousness of a child;

• sleep disorder;

• refusal to breast, bottle or complementary foods;

• fever;

• stool disorders;

• runny nose.

The following will help you get through this period as comfortably as possible:

• special teething rings that relieve itching, especially with a cooling effect;

• local anesthetic dental gels;

• antipyretic and analgesic preparations;

Gentle silicone fingertip massage to soothe and relieve your baby ^[6]

Baby Teeth Care

Once the first tooth has erupted, don’t put off going to the dentist. Schedule a visit (at least once every 3-4 months). And after the first birthday, it is also desirable to be observed by an orthodontist. If there are no problems, visits to him should be repeated once a year ^[7,8]

Proper care at home is important.

• The milk teeth are suitable for an ultra-soft toothbrush with a small head.

• Children’s mouth rinses are used from about 4 years of age or from the time the child can spit.

• Parents should supervise the brushing of preschool children’s teeth and, if necessary, help and clean missed areas.

• Adults should teach their children to rinse their mouth after meals from a very young age.

• Until the child has learned to spit on his own, toothpaste should not contain fluorides.

• A bathroom timer or a favorite song helps you stick to the 2-minute brushing time.

• Solid food should be included in the diet daily in sufficient quantities to properly form the bite and stimulate the gums.

These simple tips help keep baby teeth healthy from the very beginning until they are naturally replaced by permanent teeth.

List of sources

1. Izmestieva OV, Galaktionova M. Yu., Manashev GG Characteristics of exogenous and endogenous factors affecting the eruption of temporary teeth in children. 2012 // https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/harakteristika-ekzogennyh-i-endogennyh-faktorov-vliyayuschih-na-prorezyvanie-vremennyh-zubov-u-detey (date of access: 21.02.2020)

2. Galaktionova M. Yu., Izmest’eva OV Timing of eruption of temporary teeth and the nature of feeding children in the first year of life. 2012 // https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sroki-prorezyvaniya-vremennyh-zubov-i-harakter-vskarmlivaniya-detey-pervogo-goda-zhizni (date of access: 21.02.2020)

3. Iordanishvili AK, Korovin NV, Serikov AA Anatomo-topometric characteristics of the jaws during eruption and retention of wisdom teeth. 2017 //https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/anatomo-topometricheskie-harakteristiki-chelyustey-pri-prorezyvanii-i-retentsii-zubov-mudrosti (Accessed: 02/21/2020)

4. Bimbas ES, Saipeeva MM, Shishmareva AS Time of eruption of permanent teeth in children of primary school age. 2016 //https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sroki-prorezyvaniya-postoyannyh-zubov-u-detey-mladshego-shkolnogo-vozrasta (date of access: 02/21/2020)

5. Shilova N., Berzina S., Brinkmane A., Dulevska I., Umbraszko S., Briede I. Timing and sequence of eruption of milk teeth and factors influencing them. 2017 // https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sroki-i-posledovatelnost-prorezyvaniya-molochnyh-zubov-i-vliyayuschie-na-nih-faktory (date of access: 02/21/2020)

6. Bogdanova NA, Zueva TE How to help a child with teething? A new look at an old problem. 2019 // https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kak-pomoch-rebenku-pri-prorezyvanii-zubov-novyy-vzglyad-na-staruyu-problemu (date of access: 02/21/2020)

7. Ayupova FS Tactics of treatment of children with anomalies in the eruption of permanent posterior teeth.