Teething: When Teeth Start to Appear
Between 6 and 12 months, your baby will likely get their first teeth! Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but some get them earlier or later. By 12 months, many babies have about 8 teeth.
Order of Baby Teeth
Usually teeth come in this order:
- Bottom front teeth (6-10 months)
- Top front teeth (8-12 months)
- Side front teeth (9-13 months)
- First molars come later (around 14 months)
Signs Your Baby is Teething
Your baby might:
- Be more fussy than usual
- Drool a lot
- Put things in their mouth
- Have red, swollen gums
- Want to chew on hard things
- Have a slight fever (under 101°F)
- Have trouble sleeping
- Pull on their ears
- Have red cheeks
How to Help Your Teething Baby
Safe Things to Try
- Cold (not frozen) teething rings
- Clean wet washcloth (chilled in fridge)
- Gentle gum massage with clean finger
- Cold foods (for babies eating solids)
- Lots of cuddles and comfort
Things to Avoid
- Teething gels with benzocaine
- Teething tablets with belladonna
- Frozen teething toys (too cold!)
- Teething necklaces (choking risk)
- Alcohol on gums
Starting Dental Care Early
Even before teeth come in, you can:
- Wipe gums with a soft, clean cloth
- Use water only (no toothpaste yet)
- Make it part of daily routine
- Be gentle and quick
Once Teeth Appear
Brushing Baby’s First Teeth
- Use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (size of a rice grain)
- Soft, small toothbrush made for babies
- Brush twice a day (morning and bedtime)
- Be gentle but thorough
- Make it fun with songs or games
Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
- Never put baby to bed with a bottle
- No juice in bottles
- Clean teeth after eating sweet foods
- Don’t dip pacifiers in sweet things
- Limit sugary foods and drinks
First Dentist Visit
- Schedule first visit when first tooth appears
- No later than first birthday
- Dentist will check growth and development
- You’ll learn proper cleaning techniques
- Ask questions about dental care
Things That Can Hurt Baby’s Teeth
- Putting pacifiers in your mouth
- Too much juice or sweet drinks
- Letting baby walk with food or bottles
- Not cleaning teeth regularly
When to Call the Doctor
Call if your baby has:
- Very high fever (over 101°F)
- Bad diarrhea
- Very hard time sleeping
- Gums that bleed a lot
- No teeth by 15 months
- Trouble eating
- Green or yellow pus around teeth
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Teething: 4-7 Months. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Dental Association. (2021). Baby Teeth. mouth healthy.org.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Children’s Oral Health. cdc.gov.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2021). Infant Oral Health. aapd.org.
- Mayo Clinic. (2022). Teething: Tips for Soothing Sore Gums. mayoclinic.org.
- National Institutes of Health. (2021). Taking Care of Your Child’s Teeth. nih.gov.
Additionally, you can call United Way of Westchester and Putnam helpline at 211 for information about local community resources.
