GUIDE
Teething can start as early as 4 months and continue until about age 3 — with most of the action happening in the first two years.
Every baby follows their own schedule. This month-by-month guide shows what typically happens at each stage, what the wide range of normal looks like, and when to actually be concerned.
If you search for "when does teething start," you will find answers ranging from 3 months to 12 months. That is because the range truly is that wide. Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 10 months, but a first tooth at 4 months or 14 months can both be perfectly normal.
What follows is a month-by-month guide to what typically happens during the teething years. Use it as a rough map, not a precise schedule. Your baby has not read this article and is under no obligation to follow it.
The entire teething process — from the first tooth to the last second molar — usually wraps up by about age 3. That means roughly two years of intermittent teething, though any given tooth usually only causes noticeable symptoms for a few days to a week around the time it actually breaks through the gum.
| Age Range | What's Happening | Teeth Expected | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–6 months | Pre-teething signs may appear: increased drooling, gum rubbing, desire to chew on objects | Usually none yet, but early teethers may get lower central incisors | Offer safe teething toys. Clean gums with a damp cloth after feeds. |
| 6–8 months | Peak window for first teeth. Gums may appear swollen or have a bluish-white bump where a tooth is pushing through. | Lower central incisors (bottom front 2) | Start brushing with a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth appears. |
| 8–10 months | Upper front teeth typically arrive, completing the classic 'four teeth' look. | Upper central incisors (top front 2) | Continue twice-daily brushing. Offer cold teething rings for comfort. |
| 10–14 months | Lateral incisors fill in on both top and bottom. Baby may have 4–8 teeth. | Upper and lower lateral incisors | Schedule the first dental visit (AAP recommends by age 1). Monitor for signs of decay. |
| 13–19 months | First molars arrive — these are often the most uncomfortable teeth because of their size. | First molars (top and bottom) | Offer extra comfort. Cold foods and appropriate pain relief (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) may help. |
| 16–23 months | Canines (the pointed teeth) fill in the gap between incisors and molars. | Canines / cuspids (top and bottom) | Continue twice-daily brushing. Toddler may resist — stay consistent. |
| 23–33 months | The last teeth arrive — second molars at the very back. Completes the full set of 20. | Second molars (top and bottom) | All 20 baby teeth should now be in. Continue good oral hygiene habits. |
Many parents first suspect teething around 3 to 4 months, when their baby starts drooling heavily and putting everything in their mouth. And they might be right — but they also might not be. At this age, increased saliva production is a normal developmental milestone independent of teething, and the hand-to-mouth behavior is part of how babies explore their world.
That said, some babies genuinely do begin the teething process this early. The tooth begins moving through the jawbone long before it becomes visible at the gum surface, and this movement can cause discomfort and the urge to apply pressure by chewing. If your baby seems uncomfortable and you can feel a hard ridge under the gum where a tooth should be, teething may indeed be starting.
Whether or not a tooth is imminent, this is a good time to introduce safe teething toys and get into the habit of wiping your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feedings. These habits pay off later.
The lower central incisors — the two bottom front teeth — are usually the first to appear. You might notice a small white ridge or bump on the lower gum before the tooth actually breaks through. Some parents spot the tooth when their baby smiles or when they feel it during a gum check. Others discover it the hard way, during breastfeeding.
The arrival of the first tooth is a milestone worth marking. It signals the start of dental development and means it is time to begin brushing (yes, even one tooth needs brushing). Use a soft infant toothbrush and a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day.
If your baby is 6 months old and there is no sign of teeth, do not worry. The average is 6 to 7 months, but many babies do not get their first tooth until 8, 10, or even 12 months. If you or your partner were late teethers, your baby probably will be too.
After the bottom front teeth, the upper central incisors usually follow — typically between 8 and 12 months. These are the teeth that transform your baby's smile. Then the lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the front four) fill in over the following months.
By around 12 to 16 months, many babies have six to eight front teeth. But again, the range is wide. Some 12-month-olds have a full row of front teeth; others have just two. Both are normal.
This is also the recommended window for your baby's first dentist visit. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend a first dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth, whichever comes first.
First molars are often the teeth parents dread most, and for understandable reasons. These are the first flat, broad teeth — designed for grinding food — and their larger surface area means more gum tissue has to stretch and break to let them through. Many parents report that molar teething causes more disruption than front teeth.
Signs that molars are on their way include your toddler chewing on their fingers or fist further back in the mouth, increased drooling that may have subsided after the front teeth came in, and possibly some crankiness and disrupted sleep. You may also be able to feel or see a raised bump on the gum behind where the existing teeth end.
Cold foods (chilled fruit, cold yogurt) can be especially helpful during molar teething because your toddler is old enough to eat them safely. A chilled teething ring or cold washcloth to chew on provides counter-pressure on the sore area. If your child is clearly uncomfortable, appropriate doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help — there is no reason to let them suffer through it.
The canines — the pointed teeth between the incisors and molars — typically arrive between 16 and 23 months. Then the second molars, the very last baby teeth, come in between 23 and 33 months. Once these are in, the full set of 20 primary teeth is complete.
By the time you reach this stage, you are a teething veteran. You know what your child's teething pattern looks like, you have your go-to remedies, and you can distinguish teething fussiness from other causes. The second molars can still be uncomfortable, but by this point your toddler can communicate more about what hurts, which makes management easier.
The complete set of 20 baby teeth will serve your child until they start losing them around age 6 or 7, when the permanent teeth begin to push through. Until then, maintaining good oral hygiene habits — brushing twice daily, limiting sugary foods and drinks, and regular dental visits — protects the teeth that hold space for the permanent ones coming later.
| Scenario | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| First tooth at 3–4 months | On the early end of normal. Some babies even have natal teeth (born with teeth). Early teething alone is not a concern. | Start brushing as soon as the tooth appears. Mention at next well-child visit. |
| First tooth at 6–7 months | Right on the average. This is the most common time for a first tooth to appear. | Begin dental hygiene. Schedule first dental visit by age 1. |
| First tooth at 10–12 months | A little later than average but well within normal range. Very common. | No concern needed. Continue monitoring. |
| No teeth at 12 months | Still within normal range. More common than most parents realize — family history is the strongest predictor. | Mention at the 12-month well-child visit. Your pediatrician will likely reassure you. |
| No teeth at 15 months | Late but usually still normal, especially if there is family history of late teething. | Your pediatrician may refer to a pediatric dentist for evaluation, mostly for reassurance. |
| No teeth at 18 months | Worth investigating. While often still genetic, this warrants a dental evaluation to rule out rare conditions. | See a pediatric dentist. They may take X-rays to confirm teeth are present in the jaw. |
Logging when each tooth appears helps you spot your baby's teething pattern — some babies cluster multiple teeth, others space them out over months. tinylog's milestone tracking lets you record each tooth as it arrives, building a complete dental timeline you can share with your baby's dentist.
Teething is a developmental process, not a disease. Pediatricians see a lot of parents who are anxious about teething timing, and their most common message is: relax. Here is what they want you to know:
The range of normal is wider than you think. A first tooth anywhere from 4 to 15 months is normal. A baby with two teeth at 12 months and a baby with eight teeth at 12 months are both developing normally.
Late teething does not mean something is wrong. In the vast majority of cases, late teething is genetic. It is not caused by nutritional deficiencies and does not indicate developmental delay. The teeth are almost certainly there in the jaw, waiting to come through on their own schedule.
Teething symptoms are milder than the internet suggests. The evidence-supported symptoms of teething are gum discomfort, drooling, and the desire to chew. A baby with a 102°F fever, diarrhea, and a rash does not have "bad teething" — they need to be seen by a doctor.
Start dental care early. Do not wait until all 20 teeth are in to see a dentist. The first visit should happen by age 1. Early visits are mostly about establishing a relationship, checking development, and catching potential issues before they become problems.
One of the most confusing aspects of teething is that symptoms can start weeks or even months before a tooth actually appears. A baby who is drooling excessively and gnawing on everything at 4 months may not produce a visible tooth until 7 months. This does not mean something is wrong — it means the tooth is slowly working its way through the bone and gum tissue. The journey is long before the payoff is visible.
Your baby might get three teeth in two weeks and then nothing for four months. Some babies cluster teeth; others space them out. There is no 'right' pace. The overall pattern — 20 teeth by roughly age 3 — is what matters, not whether the teeth arrive on a neat monthly schedule.
Research suggests that teething discomfort peaks in the day or two immediately before and on the day a tooth breaks through the gum surface. Once the tooth is through, symptoms typically resolve quickly. If your baby has been miserable for a week with no tooth in sight, consider whether something else might be going on.
By the time your baby's fifth or sixth tooth comes in, you will be a teething veteran. You will know the signs, have your remedies ready, and be less likely to panic. The good news is that most parents find the first few teeth the most stressful — not because they are worse for the baby, but because everything is new for you.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If your baby has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, is refusing to eat, or seems unusually unwell, contact your pediatrician — these symptoms are not typical of teething alone.
