Baby teething timeline: symptoms, order, and what's normal

In this article

1. When teething usually starts
2. The order teeth come in
3. Symptoms that are genuinely teething
4. What teething does not cause
5. Soothing methods that are safe
6. Remedies to avoid
7. When to call your pediatrician
8. Caring for those first teeth

Teething gets blamed for almost everything in the first two years: the bad nights, the runny noses, the random fevers, the off days. Some of that is real and some of it is coincidence, and the difference matters more than most parents realize. Knowing what teething actually looks like keeps you from missing something else that needs attention.

When teething usually starts

Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months of age, though the normal range is wide. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that first teeth commonly appear anywhere from about 4 to 12 months, and a baby on either end of that range is almost always perfectly typical. A small number of babies are even born with a tooth already through, and others are still gummy at their first birthday.

If your baby reaches roughly 12 to 18 months with no teeth at all, that is worth mentioning at a checkup, mostly so your pediatrician or dentist can confirm everything is developing on track. Late teething on its own is rarely a problem, and it does not predict anything about how healthy or strong the teeth will be.

The order teeth come in

Primary teeth tend to arrive in a fairly predictable sequence, usually in symmetrical pairs. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) almost always come first, followed by the top front teeth. From there the lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars fill in over roughly the next two years. According to AAP guidance, most children have their full set of 20 primary teeth by around age 3.

Teeth	Typical age they appear
Lower central incisors (bottom front)	6 to 10 months
Upper central incisors (top front)	8 to 12 months
Upper and lower lateral incisors	9 to 16 months
First molars	13 to 19 months
Canines (eye teeth)	16 to 23 months
Second molars	23 to 33 months

Eruption ranges adapted from AAP and pediatric dentistry guidance. Individual timing varies, and that variation is normal.

The ranges overlap on purpose. Teething is not a tidy monthly schedule, and your baby will not read the chart. Use it as a rough map, not a deadline.

Symptoms that are genuinely teething

A landmark prospective study published in the AAP journal Pediatrics tracked teething infants day by day and found that real teething signs are usually mild, cluster in the few days around a tooth breaking through, and fade once it does. The symptoms that research most consistently links to teething are:

• Drooling more than usual, sometimes enough to cause a mild rash around the chin from constant wetness
• Gum rubbing, chewing, and biting on fingers, toys, and anything within reach
• Irritability or fussiness, especially in the day or two before a tooth surfaces
• Mildly swollen or tender gums where the tooth is pushing through
• A slightly raised temperature that stays within the normal range, under 100.4°F (38°C)
• Some disruption to feeding or sleep for a short stretch, then a return to baseline

The key pattern is brief and self-limited. Teething discomfort that lines up with a tooth coming through, then settles within a few days, fits the picture. Symptoms that drag on for a week or more usually have a different cause.

“Teething explains a few cranky days around a new tooth. It does not explain a week of fever.”

What teething does not cause

This is the part that prevents real problems. HealthyChildren.org, the AAP's parent resource, is direct about it: teething does not cause fever, diarrhea, diaper rash, or a runny nose. The NHS and other major pediatric bodies say the same thing. Teething can nudge a baby's temperature up by a fraction, but it does not produce a true fever.

Why this matters: when a genuinely sick baby's symptoms get written off as 'just teething,' the real cause can go unaddressed. Pediatricians specifically warn that blaming teething for a fever has delayed care for ear infections, urinary tract infections, and in rare cases more serious illness. As a working rule, a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, diarrhea, a heavy runny nose, or a baby who simply seems unwell is a sign to look for another explanation, not to assume teeth are the culprit.

Soothing methods that are safe

The encouraging news is that the methods backed by pediatric guidance are also the simplest. The AAP recommends a few low-tech approaches that genuinely help:

• Gently massage the gums with a clean finger. Counter-pressure is one of the most reliable ways to ease the ache.
• Offer a firm rubber teething ring, chilled in the refrigerator but not frozen solid. A frozen-hard ring can bruise tender gums.
• Use a cool, damp washcloth for your baby to gnaw on, which combines pressure with a soothing cool surface.
• Wipe away drool regularly and apply a plain barrier ointment if the chin gets irritated.

If your baby is clearly uncomfortable, your pediatrician can advise whether an appropriate dose of infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for babies old enough) is reasonable for a rough night. That is a conversation to have with your own clinician rather than a default, since dosing depends on weight and age.

Remedies to avoid

A few popular products carry real safety warnings, and they are worth knowing by name.

Teething necklaces and jewelry

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned parents not to use teething necklaces, bracelets, or amber jewelry. The agency received reports of choking and strangulation, including the death of an 18-month-old strangled by an amber necklace during a nap. There is no reliable evidence these products relieve teething pain, and the risk is serious enough that the FDA advises against them outright.

Benzocaine gels and numbing products

The FDA also recommends against over-the-counter teething gels, creams, and sprays that contain benzocaine. In infants and young children these local anesthetics have been linked to methemoglobinemia, a rare but dangerous condition that lowers the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. Homeopathic teething tablets have also drawn safety concerns. When in doubt, skip the numbing route entirely and stick with pressure and cool surfaces.

When to call your pediatrician

Teething itself almost never warrants a call. The reasons to reach out are the signs that point away from teething:

1. A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, and especially any fever in a baby under 3 months, which is always a same-day call per AAP guidance.
2. Diarrhea, vomiting, or a notable drop in feeding or wet diapers, none of which teething causes.
3. Symptoms that last more than a few days or keep getting worse rather than easing after a tooth appears.
4. No teeth at all by around 18 months, worth a routine mention so a dentist can take a look.

Trust the bigger picture. A baby who is chewing everything, drooling, and a bit cranky but otherwise feeding and playing is almost certainly just teething. A baby who seems genuinely unwell deserves a closer look, regardless of how many teeth are on the way.

Caring for those first teeth

The moment that first tooth appears, oral care begins. The AAP recommends brushing twice a day with a soft infant toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice for children under 3. Just as important, the AAP and pediatric dentists advise scheduling a first dental visit by age 1, or within six months of the first tooth. Early visits are short, gentle, and mostly about prevention and getting your child comfortable with the dentist.

Teething is one of those phases that feels enormous in the middle of a hard night and tiny in the rear-view mirror. Knowing the timeline, the real symptoms, and the genuine red flags lets you soothe the discomfort that is teething and catch the things that are not.