Ranges, not deadlines. Eruption timing varies enormously between healthy babies and is strongly influenced by genetics. If your baby is early or late compared with this chart, that on its own is not a problem.
Most babies get their first tooth somewhere between 4 and 7 months, with 6 months as the rough average. But the normal range is far wider than most charts admit: a small number of babies are born with a tooth already through, and others have a bare gum line at their first birthday. Both ends of that range can be perfectly healthy.
What is more consistent than the timing is the order. Teeth generally arrive in a predictable sequence, usually in symmetrical pairs, and usually bottom before top.
Baby teeth eruption chart
| Teeth | Usual age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lower central incisors | 6–10 months | Almost always first — the two bottom front teeth |
| Upper central incisors | 8–12 months | The two top front teeth |
| Upper lateral incisors | 9–13 months | Either side of the top front teeth |
| Lower lateral incisors | 10–16 months | Completes the eight front teeth |
| Upper first molars | 13–19 months | Bigger surface — often more uncomfortable |
| Lower first molars | 14–18 months | |
| Upper canines | 16–22 months | Fill the gap between incisors and molars |
| Lower canines | 17–23 months | |
| Lower second molars | 23–31 months | The last to arrive, and often the hardest |
| Upper second molars | 25–33 months | Completes the set |
All 20 primary teeth are usually through by around 2½ to 3 years. They start falling out around age 6, in roughly the order they arrived.
Teething weeks are also the weeks you stop trusting your memory. NapNap logs every night waking and nap alongside the date, so when you are trying to work out whether this week is genuinely worse, you have the record instead of a guess.
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How much variation is normal?
- Natal and neonatal teeth. Roughly 1 in 2,000–3,000 babies is born with a tooth, or gets one in the first month. It is usually a lower incisor and usually harmless, though it should be checked in case it is loose.
- Late first tooth. Nothing by 12 months is still within normal range for many babies. Most dentists suggest a check if there is no tooth at all by around 18 months, mainly to rule out the uncommon underlying causes.
- Out-of-order eruption. Common and rarely significant on its own.
- Gaps between teeth. Usually a good sign — spacing in the baby teeth means more room for the larger adult teeth later.
Timing is largely inherited. If you or your partner were early or late teethers, your baby is more likely to follow.
What eruption actually looks like
In the days before a tooth breaks through, the gum over it often looks swollen and pale, and you may feel a hard ridge under it. A small bluish-purple swelling — an eruption cyst — sometimes appears over the emerging tooth. These are usually harmless and resolve on their own when the tooth cuts through, but mention it to your doctor or dentist if you are unsure.
Caring for the first teeth
- Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, twice a day, with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
- Book a first dental visit by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth.
- Avoid bottles in bed once teeth are present — pooled milk against the teeth overnight causes decay.
- Baby teeth matter even though they fall out: they hold space for the adult teeth and are needed for chewing and speech.
For what teething does and does not cause, see teething symptoms. If your nights have fallen apart and you are not sure teething is to blame, teething and sleep covers how to tell the difference. And for the broader picture of what to expect at each age, see baby milestones by age.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Eruption charts and anticipatory guidance.
- American Dental Association, Eruption charts for primary teeth.
- NHS, Baby teething symptoms and looking after your baby's teeth.
Common questions
What age do babies start teething?
Most babies cut their first tooth between 4 and 7 months, with around 6 months being typical. The normal range is much wider though: a few babies are born with a tooth, and others have none at 12 months and are still perfectly healthy.
What order do baby teeth come in?
Usually the two lower central incisors first, then the upper central incisors, then the upper and lower lateral incisors, the first molars, the canines, and finally the second molars at around 2 to 2.5 years. Teeth generally arrive in symmetrical pairs.
How many teeth should a 1 year old have?
Commonly between two and eight, most often the front incisors. Anywhere in that range is normal, and having fewer is not in itself a concern.
When should I worry about no teeth?
A first tooth at 12 months is still within normal range. Most dentists suggest getting it checked if there is no tooth at all by about 18 months, mainly to rule out the uncommon underlying causes.
Do baby teeth matter if they fall out anyway?
Yes. They hold space for the adult teeth, and they are needed for chewing and for speech development. Decay in baby teeth can also affect the adult teeth forming underneath, so they need brushing from the day the first one appears.