
Babies start teething at around 6-12 months, although some may begin teething as early as 4 months. In rare cases, a baby may be born with its first teeth (natal teeth). By age 3, most toddlers have their entire set of 20 baby teeth, often called primary teeth or milk teeth.
Each baby is different when it comes to teething, and not every baby will start teething at the same time. If you have concerns about your baby's teeth, talk to your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist.
What order do a baby's teeth come in?
During the first 3 years of a baby's life, they will develop five different types of teeth. The teeth typically erupt in a specific order, although this varies somewhat from child to child and is nothing to be concerned about:
- Central incisors (front teeth), which are typically the first to erupt (the bottom ones will often erupt before the upper ones)
- Lateral incisors ( teeth between the central incisors and canines)
- First molars
- Canines (teeth next to lateral incisors and beside the front molars)
- Second molars, which are typically the last to erupt
How can you tell whether your child is teething?
Teething can be quite painful and uncomfortable for a baby. Your baby may have signs and symptoms that include:
- Agitation
- Fussiness
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Sleeping difficulties
- Pain, redness, and tenderness in the gums
Fever is generally not a sign of teething.
When should you see a doctor?
If your baby exhibits the following symptoms, you should seek medical help right away:
What is the best way to calm a teething baby?
When an infant is teething, you can help soothe their gums with the following tips:
- Gently stroking or massaging your baby's gums with a clean finger, a chilled spoon, or a wet gauze pad to ease soreness.
- Giving them a clean, nontoxic baby teether to chew on. Baby teethers should be made of solid rubber and designed to be used by teething babies. Avoid teethers with liquid fillings or plastic components that could break or injure your baby.
- Administering painkillers if recommended by your doctor.
- Applying numbing gels or lotions if your child is over age 2 and if it is recommended by your doctor. Avoid over-the-counter oral numbing treatments.

SLIDESHOW
Parenting Guide: Healthy Eating for Kids See SlideshowWhat is the best way to look after your baby's teeth?
Oral hygiene before teeth eruption
- Clean your baby's mouth twice a day.
- Place your baby on your lap with their head near your chest so you can see into your baby's mouth.
- Gently touch the top and lower gums with a clean, damp washcloth or soft towel.
- Gently rub your baby's tongue with a soft cloth bathed in lukewarm water.
- Distract them with a toy, since many babies dislike getting their mouths cleaned.
Oral hygiene after teeth eruption
- Fluoride can be introduced to your baby's diet as early as 6 months old. Fluoride is a mineral that hardens teeth enamel, prevents tooth decay, and is necessary for good dental health. In several countries, fluoride is added to tap water.
- Brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Once your child gets a tooth, you can begin brushing it twice a day. Use a soft-bristle, infant-sized, dentist-approved toothbrush with a very small amount of toothpaste to gently brush your baby's teeth.
- Visit your pediatrician regularly so they can check the health of your baby's teeth. Once your baby reaches age 1, they can start seeing a pediatric dentist.
Health News
- CDC Warns of Potentially Fatal Bacterial Illness on U.S. Gulf Coast
- Helping Others as Volunteers Helps Kids 'Flourish': Study
- FDA Approves Pfizer's RSV Shot for Older Adults
- What to Do When Tough-to-Treat Lymphoma Strikes During Pregnancy
- Rate of Pregnant U.S. Women Who Have Diabetes Keeps Rising
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
American Dental Association. "Eruption Charts." <https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/eruption-charts/references>.
DiMaggio, D., and Cernigliaro, J. "Baby's First Tooth: 7 Facts Parents Should Know." American Academy of Pediatrics. <https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Babys-First-Tooth-Facts-Parents-Should-Know.aspx<.
Top When Do Babies Start Teething Related Articles
7 Signs It's Time to Wean Your Baby From Breast or Bottle Feeding
When is it time to wean your baby from the breast or bottle to solid foods? Learn how and when to wean your child from breastmilk to formula, and from formula to solid food.Baby's First Year: Milestones Month by Month
When do babies learn to crawl? Start teething? Learn about major milestones in your baby's first months. Get tips on how to help baby learn, grow, and develop into a healthy toddler.Baby's 1st Yr Slideshow
What developmental milestones can you expect to see during baby's first year? Find out when babies learn to smile, laugh, crawl, and talk.Baby Skin Care: Tips to Keep Newborn’s Skin Healthy
Baby skin care products can help with peeling, rashes, baby acne, and dryness that can develop on a newborn baby's skin. Develop a baby skin care routine to pamper your baby’s skin.Better Ways to Feed Your Baby
What tips and tricks help you introduce healthy foods to your baby's diet. Learn techniques for feeding that work for infants and young children, why babies are such messy eaters, and how your child learns by eating new foods and exploring vegetables, fruits, and other healthy meals.Do Babies Need Teethers?
A baby is born with buds in the gums from which teeth erupt. All 20 primary teeth will grow from the teeth buds below the gumline. Their teeth usually start erupting between 6-12 months of age. Most children will have their full set of 20 baby teeth (primary teeth or milk teeth) in place by 3 years.elemental infant formula
Elemental infant formula is a special hypoallergenic formula used to feed infants who are allergic to or unable to digest cow’s milk, soy-based, or pre-digested protein formulas. There have been recent reports of broken bones, rickets, and other bone disorders in infants fed with Neocate infant formula. Side effects linked to Neocate infant formula include low phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia), rickets, fractures, nutritional deficiencies, stunted growth, skeletal deformities, and long-term skeletal damage.How Can I Help My Baby With Feeding Problems?
Nearly half of children who develop normally have eating problems, whereas nearly 80% of children with developmental delays have eating problems. Help your baby with feeding problems by feeding smaller portions, focusing on the positive and providing pediatrician-recommended nutritional supplements.infant formula
Infant formula is a special dried milk powder used as a substitute for or to supplement breast milk in the first 12 months of a baby’s life. Infant formula is made to resemble breast milk as closely as possible and attempts to provide all the nutrition a baby needs including protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Infant formula provides nutrition and does not generally have side effects. Some infants, however, may have intolerance or allergy to milk proteins or soy, and special formula may be required for such infants.phenol oropharyngeal
Phenol oropharyngeal is a medication used to relieve pain from sore throat and mouth, canker sores, and teething, and as a local antiseptic to protect minor cuts, scrapes, or burns in the skin from infection. Phenol oropharyngeal relieves sore throat by numbing the mouth and throat. Common side effects of phenol oropharyngeal include inflammation of epiglottis (epiglottitis), swelling of epiglottis and the voice box (larynx), and skin irritation. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.Teething
Teething in babies typically starts between 4 and 10 months of age. Symptoms and signs of cutting teeth include rash, drooling, decreased sleeping, fussiness, bringing the hands to the mouth, and rubbing the cheek or ear. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be used to treat teething pain. Do not give aspirin to babies or children due to a condition called Reye's syndrome, which can be deadly.What Causes High Calcium Levels in Infants?
Elevated levels of calcium in the blood indicate a condition known as hypercalcemia. The causes of high calcium levels may vary with age and other factors. High calcium levels in infants can be caused by excess calcium in food, excessive vitamin D intake, excessive vitamin A intake, primary hyperparathyroidism or an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH), cancerous tumors, injury to skin or fat tissue, infectious diseases (leprosy and histoplasmosis), immobilization or bed rest, and family history of genetic disorders.What Is an Epstein Pearl?
Epstein pearls are whitish-yellow cysts seen on the gums and roof of the mouth in a newborn baby. These white bumps are harmless and usually go away on their own.What Order Do Baby Teeth Come In?
A baby is born with buds inside the gums that give rise to all 20 primary teeth eventually. The primary teeth usually start erupting between 6 and 12 months of age. Most children usually have their full set of 20 primary teeth or milk teeth in place by the age of 3 years. Teething is the process of eruption of baby teeth out through the gums.