When Do Babies Start Teething?

Key takeaways

• Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but a range from about 3 months to past 12 months can be normal.
• Teething gums often look slightly red, puffy or shiny, and you may see a small white bump just before a tooth appears.
• Drooling, chewing and fussiness are common, but a high fever or severe illness is not a normal teething sign.
• Clean your baby's gums and new teeth gently from the start, and plan a first dental visit by the first birthday.

When do babies start teething?

Most babies start teething at around 6 months old. The first tooth to appear is usually one of the two bottom front teeth, followed a few weeks later by the two top front teeth.

Teething is the process of baby teeth moving up through the gums. These teeth have been forming under the gum line since before your baby was born, so teething doesn't start suddenly. The tooth slowly makes its way to the surface over days or weeks, and you may notice signs of discomfort before anything is visible.

By around age 3, most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth. That means teething continues, on and off, for roughly the first two and a half years of life. It happens as a series of small events, not one big one.

What age do babies start teething, and is early or late normal?

The typical range is wide. Some babies show a first tooth at 3 or 4 months, while others do not get one until 12 months or later. Both can be completely normal.

Timing often runs in families. If a parent or sibling got teeth early or late, your baby may follow a similar pattern. Boys and girls, and babies of every background, can fall anywhere in the range.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Eruption charts are averages, not deadlines. A baby who is a few months behind the chart is not necessarily behind in any way that matters.
• Teeth do not always come in the exact order shown on a chart. Slight variations are common.
• If there are still no teeth after the first birthday, mention it to a dentist or your child's doctor, who can take a look and reassure you or explain next steps.

Can babies start teething at 2 months?

It is uncommon for a baby to cut a tooth at 2 months, but it is not impossible. Much more often, the drooling, drool rash, fist chewing and fussiness seen at 2 months are just normal developmental changes.

Around 2 to 3 months, babies begin discovering their hands and mouths. They drool more because their salivary glands are becoming more active, and they start bringing everything to their mouths. Parents naturally connect this with teething, but there is usually no tooth about to appear yet.

If you can see or feel a hard, white edge in your 2-month-old's gums, a dentist can check it. Rarely, babies are born with a tooth or get one very early, and someone should look at it. If your baby seems unwell, has a fever, or is not feeding well, contact your child's doctor rather than assuming it is teething.

What do babies' gums look like when teething?

Teething gums often look a little red, swollen or shiny right where a tooth is about to come through. You may also see or feel a small, firm bump under the surface.

Here is what many parents notice as a tooth gets close:

• Puffy, slightly red gums over the spot where the tooth is coming in.
• A white or whitish ridge beneath the gum surface, which is the tooth edge showing through.
• In some cases, a bluish or purplish bump. This can happen when a small pocket of fluid collects over the tooth, sometimes called an eruption cyst. It usually clears up on its own when the tooth breaks through, but you can mention it to a dentist if you are unsure.
• A bumpy or ridged feel when you gently run a clean finger across the gums.

Gums that are bright red all over, bleeding, or have visible pus are not typical teething and should be looked at by a professional.

What are the common signs of teething?

Common signs include extra drooling, chewing on hands or toys, irritability, and tender gums. Symptoms often show up a few days before a tooth appears and fade once it breaks through.

Many babies also:

• Rub their cheeks or pull at their ears (the nerves in the jaw and ear area are close together)
• Wake more often at night
• Refuse the bottle or spoon for a short while because sucking presses on sore gums
• Develop a mild rash on the chin or cheeks from drool

What is not usually caused by teething?

Teething can make a baby cranky, but it does not usually cause a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea or a serious illness. A slight rise in temperature may happen, but a true fever, a cough, or a baby who seems very unwell deserves a call to a doctor. It is easy to blame teething because it happens at the same age babies are exposed to many new germs, so it is safer to check than to wait.

How can I soothe a teething baby?

Gentle pressure is the simplest and safest comfort. Rubbing your baby's gums with a clean finger or offering a firm, chilled teething ring often helps.

Options many families find helpful:

• Gently massage the gums with a clean finger or a damp, cool washcloth.
• Offer a solid rubber teething ring that has been chilled in the refrigerator, not the freezer. A frozen ring can be too hard and uncomfortable.
• Wipe drool from the chin often and apply a gentle barrier balm if the skin is irritated.
• Give extra cuddles and a calm routine. Sometimes comfort matters as much as anything else.

It is best to avoid teething necklaces, bracelets and anything a baby could choke on. Ask a doctor or dentist before using numbing gels or teething tablets, because some products are not recommended for babies. If your baby is very uncomfortable, your child's doctor can advise on what is safe.

How do I care for new baby teeth?

Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears. Use a soft, baby-sized toothbrush and a very small smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice, twice a day.

Even before teeth arrive, wiping your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeding helps establish a routine. Once teeth appear, they can develop cavities just like adult teeth, which is why early habits matter. Baby teeth also hold space for the permanent teeth that will follow, so looking after them is worthwhile.

A few simple habits help:

• Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
• Introduce a cup as your baby approaches their first birthday.
• Limit sugary drinks and snacks as your child grows.
• Ask your dentist whether your child needs added fluoride, especially if your home water is not fluoridated.

Regular checkups and a routine dental cleaning become part of the picture as your child grows, and our team is happy to walk families through what to expect at each stage.

When should my baby first see a dentist?

A baby should see a dentist when the first tooth appears, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. This first visit is mostly about getting comfortable and learning what to do at home.

At a first visit, a dentist can look at your baby's gums and teeth, check how things are developing, and answer questions about teething, pacifiers, thumb sucking, feeding and cleaning. It is a calm, short visit, and nobody expects a baby to sit perfectly still.

Our team welcomes families at every budget. We accept most major dental PPO plans, and we offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and the Ultra Discounts plan for people without insurance. If your child has a sudden problem such as a knocked or broken tooth, same-day emergency care is available, and walk-ins are welcome.

This article is general education and not a diagnosis. Every child develops on their own schedule, so a dentist can advise you on your own child's situation and answer any questions you have about teething.

Part of our Family dental care articles.

Sources

1. Teething, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)
2. Eruption charts, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)
3. Baby teeth, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy)