When do babies start teething? A baby teeth chart and what actually helps

When do babies start teething?

Most babies cut their first tooth at around six months, but anywhere from about four to ten months is within the normal range, and a few babies are born with a tooth or do not get one until after their first birthday. Teeth generally keep arriving until about two and a half to three years, by which point a child has a full set of 20 baby (primary or deciduous) teeth. Girls tend to be slightly ahead of boys.

The order is more predictable than the timing. The two lower front teeth (central incisors) almost always come first, followed by the upper front teeth, then the teeth either side of them, the first molars, the canines and finally the second molars at the back. If your baby’s teeth arrive in a different order it is rarely a problem, but mention it at their first dental visit.

Teething is a long, stop-start process. Each tooth may bother a baby for a few days as it breaks through the gum, then things settle until the next one. Because the first year is also when babies pick up colds and ear infections, it is easy to blame every grizzly day on teeth. Try not to.

Baby teeth chart: when each tooth comes in and falls out

This chart uses the eruption and loss ages published by Victoria’s Better Health Channel. Ages are ranges, not deadlines; a tooth that is a few months early or late is normal.

A quick way to read it: by the first birthday most babies have somewhere between two and eight teeth; by two, around 16; by three, all 20. Upper teeth generally follow their lower counterparts by a month or two, except the lateral incisors, where the upper pair often comes first.

Keep the chart for later, too. Baby teeth start falling out at about six, in roughly the order they arrived, and the last baby molars go at around 10 to 12. Losing the first tooth up to two years earlier or later than six is considered normal.

Signs your baby is teething

Common signs in the days before a tooth appears include red, swollen gums over the tooth, more dribbling than usual, chewing on fingers, fists and anything within reach, crankiness or restlessness, on-and-off crying over a few days, disturbed sleep and a slightly raised temperature. Some babies get a mild rash on the chin from constant dribble. Many babies show few signs at all.

What teething does not do is make a baby ill. The Victorian Government’s Pregnancy, Birth and Baby service is clear that a fever of 38°C or higher, diarrhoea, vomiting, a cough, a widespread rash or seizures should not be put down to teeth. See a doctor for those. Babies are often teething and unwell at the same time, and the teeth get the blame when it is actually an infection.

What helps a teething baby

Pressure and cold are the two things that reliably soothe sore gums. Try these first:

• Gum massage: wash your hands and gently rub the sore gum with a clean finger.
• Something cool to chew: a teething ring cooled in the fridge (not frozen, which can hurt gums), or a clean washcloth dampened and chilled.
• A cold compress held gently against the cheek, or for babies on solids, chilled soft foods like yoghurt or puree.
• Wipe the dribble often and use a barrier cream to prevent chin rash.
• Extra comfort: cuddles and distraction do more than they sound like they should.

If a baby is clearly in significant pain, paediatric pain relief may be appropriate. Speak to a pharmacist, GP or maternal and child health nurse about what suits your baby’s age and weight, and follow the pack directions; this guide does not give doses.

What to avoid

Australian health authorities advise against several popular remedies. Teething gels containing local anaesthetic are not recommended for babies and young children. Amber or beaded teething necklaces and bracelets are a choking and strangulation hazard and should not be used, awake or asleep. Do not dip a dummy in honey, jam or anything sweet, which feeds decay from the first tooth, and do not rub alcohol on gums. Frozen teething rings can bruise gums; chilled is enough.

Caring for baby teeth from day one

Baby teeth matter. They hold space for the adult teeth, shape speech and chewing, and decay in a baby tooth can hurt, become infected and damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Early childhood decay is still common in Australia and almost entirely preventable.

• Before teeth: wipe gums with a clean damp cloth after feeds.
• From the first tooth: brush twice a day with a small soft toothbrush and water, or as advised by your dentist.
• From 18 months: use a pea-sized smear of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste twice a day for about two minutes, and teach your child to spit, not rinse or swallow. Your dentist may advise fluoride toothpaste earlier if your child is at higher risk of decay.
• Help with brushing until at least age seven or eight; small hands cannot do it well alone.
• Bottles and cups: only water or milk in a bottle, never juice or cordial, and no bottle in bed. Move to a cup from about 12 months.
• Snacks: limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes, and choose water between meals.

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The first dental visit

Australian guidance is to book a child’s first dental visit when the first teeth appear or by their first birthday, whichever is sooner. The visit is short and gentle: the dentist checks the teeth and gums, looks at how the teeth are coming through, talks through brushing, fluoride and diet, and gets the child used to the chair. Early visits catch problems while they are small and make later visits far less stressful.

For eligible families, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers basic dental services for children aged 0 to 17, paying up to $1,158 per child over two calendar years from 2026, bulk-billed by participating dentists. Public dental services also treat children in most states at no cost. See our guide to Medicare dental and the CDBS for who qualifies. Whoever you see, check the dentist is AHPRA-registered; the public register is searchable online.

When to see a dentist or doctor

See a doctor if your baby has a fever of 38°C or higher, is vomiting, has diarrhoea, is unusually drowsy or is not feeding; these are not teething. See a dentist if no teeth have appeared by about 12 to 15 months, if a tooth looks discoloured, chipped or has white or brown spots near the gum line, if the gums are bleeding or swollen beyond the usual teething redness, or if your child has a fall that knocks a tooth. Also see a dentist if a baby tooth is still firmly in place long after the adult tooth has appeared beside it.

What comes next, as the adult teeth arrive, is covered in our guide to how many teeth children and adults have, and if the adult teeth look crowded or crooked, braces for kids explains when an orthodontic assessment is worthwhile.

Common questions