Quick answer: The average age for the first tooth is 6 months, but the normal range is enormous — from 4 months to 12 months for the first tooth, with some healthy babies not getting their first tooth until 14–15 months.
The teething timeline
Primary (baby) teeth erupt in a broadly predictable sequence, though timing varies significantly between individuals: Lower central incisors (bottom front 2): typically 6–10 months — usually first. Upper central incisors (top front 2): 8–12 months. Upper and lower lateral incisors: 9–16 months. First molars (upper and lower): 13–19 months — often the most uncomfortable eruption. Canines: 16–23 months. Second molars: 23–33 months — full set of 20 primary teeth typically complete by age 3. If no teeth have appeared by 18 months, mention it at the next well-child check — though this is usually a normal variant, occasionally it warrants investigation.
What teething actually causes vs the myths
Evidence-based research has clarified what teething does and doesn’t cause. What teething definitely causes: mild irritability in the days around actual tooth eruption; slightly increased drooling; gum rubbing and chewing behaviour; very minor temperature elevation (up to 37.9°C / 100.2°F). What teething does NOT cause: high fever (100.4°F (38°C)+ is not a teething symptom and should always be investigated); diarrhoea; vomiting; significant respiratory illness; significant ear pulling (though mild ear touching from gum pain radiating is possible). The reason this matters: attributing a fever or diarrhoea to teething has led to delayed diagnoses of real infections in babies. Never blame teething for a fever without looking for an infection.
How to ease teething discomfort
Evidence-based approaches: chilled (not frozen) teething rings — the cold reduces inflammation and provides counter-pressure; firm, clean silicone teethers; your own clean finger firmly rubbed along the gum; chilled cucumber or carrot sticks (for babies on solids — ensure they’re not a choking hazard); paracetamol or ibuprofen at appropriate doses if baby is genuinely distressed from pain. Things to avoid: teething gels containing lidocaine or benzocaine — risk of overdose and cardiac effects, not recommended for infants; amber teething necklaces — strangulation and choking risk with no evidence of efficacy; homeopathic teething tablets containing belladonna.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t my 9-month-old have any teeth yet?
No teeth at 9 months is completely normal. The normal range for a first tooth extends to 12–14 months. If your baby is otherwise developing normally and eating well (gumming food effectively), the absence of teeth is not a nutritional or developmental concern. Consult a dentist if no teeth by 18 months.
Do earlier teeth mean more pain?
Not necessarily — the experience varies significantly between babies and even between individual teeth in the same baby. Some babies show almost no symptoms; others are clearly distressed. The molars at 13–19 months are often the most uncomfortable due to their larger surface area breaking through the gum.
When should I take my baby to the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends by the first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth. In the UK, register with a dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. The first visit establishes a dental home and catches early decay. Baby teeth matter — early decay in primary teeth affects jaw development and permanent tooth spacing.
Related Reading
- Teething timeline: when teeth come in and how to help
- How to soothe a teething baby at night
- 6 month old baby: starting solids — a complete first-foods guide
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