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.
