by Dr. Regina, pediatric dentist

It often seems that parents prepare for their little one’s first teeth from the moment their children are born. It’s common to see baby registries with requests for teething gels, teethers, and cute little toothbrushes. In fact, the first tooth is often a celebrated milestone for many parents. However, this poses the question, when do baby teeth come in? Can one be too early or too late in getting their teeth?

When do baby teeth come in?

On average, infants start to show signs of teething around 3 months. Typical signs of teething include excess drooling and saliva pooling in the mouth. Infants may start sucking or drawing their hand into their mouth at this point. However, on average, the first teeth erupt between 6-10months. The first teeth to erupt are often the central teeth on the lower jaw- known as the mandibular incisors. Shortly after, the following teeth to erupt are the central teeth on the top arch, creating an adorable “bunny rabbit” look. This often occurs when the child is around 10months old. On average, teeth erupt in the following order (see the diagram below):

What happens if my child’s teeth erupt out of order?

The diagram above highlights the average eruption pattern of baby teeth. It’s important to note that nature and our little babies do not read or follow textbooks. In some children, the teeth may erupt out of order, meaning that the side incisors (the lateral incisors) may erupt before the central incisors, or that the top teeth may erupt before the bottom teeth. Do not worry! As a pediatric dentist, I found it ironic that my children didn’t follow eruption charts either - their lateral incisors came in before their primary incisors (they’re now 2 and 4 with a full complement of baby teeth).

My child’s first tooth came out at 4 months, is this normal?

As a pediatric dentist, we always remind parents that the eruption sequence is a rough guide - some children’s teeth come in earlier, and others later. If your little one gets their first teeth before the recommended 6-10 months, congratulations! Start brushing regularly with a smear of fluoridated toothpaste and make sure you take them to a pediatric dentist by age 1. Do not be alarmed or worried and get the tooth fairy ready earlier than usual. In fact, children who get their teeth earlier in life, tend to get their permanent teeth in earlier and may start losing their baby teeth by the age of four to five years (as opposed to the average age of six years).

Help, my baby is almost 1 and doesn’t have any teeth!

Don’t worry! Eruption ages are an average and there are many factors that influence when an infant’s first teeth will come in. For example, prematurity at birth may cause a delay in the first teeth. Additionally, genetics play a strong role in influencing the eruption of the first teeth. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, visit a pediatric dentist by age 1 for a full exam to ensure that your little one’s teeth are nestled in the gums and getting ready to make their appearance shortly. 

When does my little one get all of his/her teeth?

Typically, a child has a full complement of baby teeth (also known as primary teeth) by the time that they are 3years old. This gives parents close to a 3 year break from teething until the child starts developing their permanent molars at age 6. At this point, your child will be excited to start getting visits from the tooth fairy!

Conclusion

In conclusion, teething is a dynamic and ever-changing process that will consume a large part of your little one’s first years of life. It is important to be prepared and have a pediatric dentist on call, to help alleviate any of your fears.Remember that all children are different and eruption time-lines are an average, and are individual for each child. Baby teeth allow your little one to explore different textures and try a whole slew of different foods in their first years, so treat them well and establish a great brushing routine as early as you can.