Quick answer: Most babies cut their first tooth between 6 and 12 months, usually the two lower front teeth (lower central incisors). Teeth then erupt in a fairly predictable order over the next two years, and a child usually has all 20 primary (milk) teeth by about 2.5–3 years. The exact timing varies a lot — some babies get their first tooth at 4 months, some at 12+ months, and both are normal. Teething can cause drooling, gum soreness and irritability, but it does not cause high fever or diarrhoea — those need a doctor, not a teether.
When Does Teething Start?
Teeth begin forming before birth, but they usually start erupting through the gums around 6 months of age. A range of 4 to 12 months for the first tooth is considered normal.
A small number of babies are born with a tooth already present (a natal tooth) or cut one in the first month — uncommon, and worth a quick check with your pediatrician/dentist, but usually harmless. At the other end, some perfectly healthy babies don’t get their first tooth until close to their first birthday. Late teething alone, in an otherwise well and growing baby, is rarely a problem.
Eruption timing runs in families — if you or your partner teethed late, your baby may too.
The Tooth Eruption Order
Primary teeth almost always come in bottom before top for each tooth type, and front to back overall. The usual sequence is:
- Lower central incisors (bottom front two) — first to appear
- Upper central incisors (top front two)
- Upper lateral incisors (either side of the top front teeth)
- Lower lateral incisors (either side of the bottom front teeth)
- First molars (the back chewing teeth, top and bottom)
- Canines (the pointed teeth, between the laterals and first molars)
- Second molars (the very back teeth) — last to appear, usually around age 2–3
Teeth in the same pair usually come in close together, and most children follow this order — but out-of-order eruption is common and almost never a concern. What matters is that the teeth eventually arrive and come in roughly symmetrically.
Baby Teething Chart: Tooth-by-Tooth Age Ranges
These are typical age ranges, not deadlines. Eruption timing varies widely between healthy children.
Lower teeth (mandibular)
| Tooth | Typical eruption age |
|---|---|
| Central incisor | 6–10 months |
| Lateral incisor | 10–16 months |
| Canine | 17–23 months |
| First molar | 14–18 months |
| Second molar | 23–31 months |
Upper teeth (maxillary)
| Tooth | Typical eruption age |
|---|---|
| Central incisor | 8–12 months |
| Lateral incisor | 9–13 months |
| Canine | 16–22 months |
| First molar | 13–19 months |
| Second molar | 25–33 months |
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, HealthyChildren.org) and American Dental Association (ADA) primary-tooth eruption charts; consistent with Indian Dental Association (IDA) guidance. Ranges are approximate and overlap between teeth is normal.
Read it as a range, not a target. A tooth arriving a couple of months earlier or later than the range above, or in a slightly different order, is almost always normal variation — not a sign anything is wrong.
How Many Teeth by Age? (Primary Teeth Count)
A rough guide to how many of the 20 primary teeth most children have by a given age. Individual babies vary widely.
| Age | Approx. number of teeth |
|---|---|
| 6 months | 0–2 |
| 12 months | 4–8 |
| 18 months | 8–12 |
| 24 months | 12–16 |
| 30–36 months | 16–20 (full set) |
A common (very rough) rule of thumb some parents use is number of teeth ≈ age in months minus 6, up to about 12 teeth — but treat this as a loose guide only, not a rule to worry about if your baby doesn’t match it.
Teething Symptoms
Real, well-recognised signs that a tooth is on the way:
- More drooling than usual
- Wanting to bite and chew on fingers, toys, anything
- Sore, swollen or tender gums — sometimes a small bluish bump (eruption cyst) over the tooth, which usually resolves on its own
- Irritability or fussiness, especially in the days right around a tooth breaking through
- Mildly disturbed sleep
- Slightly reduced appetite for a day or two
- A drool rash on the chin or cheeks from constant wetness
- A low-grade rise in temperature — typically under 38°C (100.4°F)
These symptoms tend to cluster in the few days before and after a tooth erupts, then settle.
What Is NOT Caused by Teething (Important Safety Point)
This is the single most important thing to get right. Blaming serious symptoms on teething can delay treatment for a real illness.
Teething does NOT cause:
- High fever (38°C / 100.4°F or above)
- Diarrhoea or significant vomiting
- Cough, runny nose, or congestion
- Rashes elsewhere on the body
- Refusing all feeds / dehydration
- Lethargy or a baby who seems genuinely unwell
Research is clear: teething may cause mild gum discomfort and at most a very slight temperature rise — it does not make babies sick. A large meta-analysis (Massignan C et al., “Signs and Symptoms of Primary Tooth Eruption: A Meta-analysis,” Pediatrics, 2016), along with AAP guidance, confirms teething is not associated with high fever or diarrhoea. Because babies start teething around 6 months — exactly when antibodies passed from the mother are fading and infections become more common — these illnesses often coincide with teething and get wrongly blamed on it.
If your baby has a true fever (38°C/100.4°F or higher), diarrhoea, vomiting, or seems unwell — do not write it off as teething. See your pediatrician. A fever in a baby under 3 months is always urgent.
Safe Ways to Soothe Teething
Simple, evidence-backed comfort measures:
- Gum massage — rub the sore gum gently with a clean finger
- A chilled (not frozen) teething ring — solid silicone/rubber; refrigerate, never freeze, as rock-hard rings can bruise gums
- A clean, cool, damp washcloth for your baby to chew
- For babies on solids, supervised chilled soft foods or a mesh feeder can help
- Wipe away drool often to prevent a chin rash
- Extra cuddles and distraction — comfort goes a long way
- For genuine pain/discomfort only — not as a routine or preventive measure — paracetamol dosed by weight can be used. Ask your pediatrician for the correct dose first.
What to Avoid (Safety Warnings)
Some popular teething products are genuinely dangerous. Avoid these:
- Teething gels containing benzocaine (and most numbing gels). These are sold in India — in pharmacies and online — but that does not make them safe. Benzocaine can cause methaemoglobinaemia, a rare but serious condition that dangerously lowers the oxygen in the blood, and this risk applies regardless of where the gel is bought. The US FDA warns against benzocaine for children under 2 and the AAP advises against numbing teething gels; avoid them.
- Amber teething necklaces and any teething jewellery. These are widely available in India through shops and online sellers, but the dangers are the same everywhere: they are a choking hazard (if beads come loose) and a strangulation hazard (worn around the neck). There is no evidence they relieve teething, and they have been linked to infant deaths; the FDA and AAP have warned against them.
- Frozen-solid teething toys or ice directly on gums — can bruise or burn delicate tissue.
- Homeopathic teething tablets/gels, some of which have been recalled for inconsistent ingredients.
- Anything small enough to break off or be swallowed, or that a baby could choke on.
- Rubbing honey or jaggery on the gums — a common traditional practice in India that should be avoided. Honey can carry Clostridium botulinum spores and risks infant botulism in babies under 12 months; neither soothes teething.
The safest teethers are large, solid, one-piece silicone or rubber rings with no small parts and nothing worn around the neck.
When Should My Baby See a Dentist?
Dental and pediatric guidance (AAP, ADA, and IDA) recommends a first dental visit by the first birthday, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing — whichever comes first.
Start oral care even before teeth arrive: wipe the gums with a clean, damp cloth. Once the first tooth appears, brush twice a day with a soft infant brush and a tiny smear (rice-grain size) of fluoride toothpaste. Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice — this causes early tooth decay (bottle caries).
Red Flags — When to See a Doctor or Dentist
Most teething needs no medical attention. Get advice if you notice:
- No teeth at all by about 15–18 months → see your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist to check
- High fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, or an unwell baby blamed on teething → this is illness, not teething — see a doctor
- Teeth coming in very out of order or only on one side (asymmetry)
- Discoloured, pitted, or oddly shaped teeth as they erupt
- Bleeding gums beyond minor spotting, or a swelling that keeps growing
- Signs of pain that aren’t settling with normal soothing
Late teething by itself, in a baby who is otherwise well and growing, is usually just normal variation — but a check-up gives peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first tooth to come in?
Almost always one of the two lower central incisors (the bottom front teeth), usually between 6 and 10 months.
Can teething cause a high fever?
No. Teething may cause a very slight rise in temperature (under 38°C), but it does not cause a true fever. A fever of 38°C/100.4°F or higher is from something else and should be checked by a doctor.
My baby is 12 months old with no teeth. Is that a problem?
Usually not. The normal range for the first tooth stretches to about 12 months, and some healthy babies are a little later. If there are still no teeth by 15–18 months, see your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist.
Are teething necklaces safe?
No. Amber and other teething necklaces are a choking and strangulation hazard, have no proven benefit, and have been linked to infant deaths. The FDA and AAP advise against them.
Can I use a teething gel?
Avoid numbing gels with benzocaine in children under 2 (FDA warning). For real discomfort, gum massage, a chilled teether, and — if needed — weight-based paracetamol on your pediatrician’s advice are safer choices.
When does my baby get all their teeth?
Most children have the full set of 20 primary teeth by about 2.5–3 years of age.
This article is general information for parents in India and follows AAP, ADA and Indian Dental Association guidance. It is not a substitute for an in-person assessment by your pediatrician or dentist, who knows your child’s full history. For any urgent concern — especially a fever in a young baby, diarrhoea, vomiting, or a baby who seems unwell — contact your pediatrician or the nearest hospital, or call 112 (national emergency) or 108 (ambulance).
Worried about your baby’s teething or feeding? Book a consultation with a Babynama pediatrician, or explore our Care Plans for 24/7 expert support.
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