When babies turn three months old, they will start producing more saliva and exploring the world with their mouths, but this does not mean that their first teeth are coming in. The first tooth usually appears around the sixth month, but this can also happen when the baby is one year old. Most children have all their baby teeth by the age of three.
Tooth Development by Age:
Age 6 to 12 months: Your baby’s first four teeth will begin to grow.
Age 9 to 16 months: By this age, your baby may already have their first eight teeth.
Age 13 to 19 months: By this age, your baby may have their first twelve teeth.
Age 17 to 23 months: By this age, your baby may have their first sixteen teeth.
Age 12 to 33 months: By this age, your baby may have their first twenty teeth.
The first teeth to appear are usually the two lower front teeth, also known as central incisors. Four to eight weeks later, they are typically followed by the four upper front teeth (central and lateral incisors). Approximately a month later, the lower lateral incisors (the two teeth surrounding the lower front teeth) will emerge).
Next, the first molars (back teeth used for grinding food) break through, followed by the canines (pointed teeth in the upper jaw). Most children have all twenty baby teeth by their third birthday. If your child’s teeth are growing much slower than this, consult your doctor.
In some rare cases, children are born with one or two teeth, or a tooth emerges within the first few weeks of life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to pose a choking hazard, it is usually not a cause for concern.
You can help relieve your baby’s teething pain by massaging their gums with clean fingers or by using gels that contain small concentrations of local anesthetic.
When your baby gets their first tooth, you can start cleaning it twice a day. We recommend buying a baby toothbrush with soft bristles. Squeeze a small amount of baby toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.
Also, when your baby gets their first tooth, it’s a good idea to start giving them tap water daily, as it contains the mineral fluoride, which prevents cavities by hardening tooth enamel. Fluoride is usually not found in most bottled waters.
Talk to your pediatrician to see if your child needs fluoride supplements.
Try to schedule your baby’s first dentist appointment after their first tooth appears and before their first birthday.
