Baby teeth chart: when and how your baby's teeth grow

We've also got expert advice from MadeForMums' resident GP Dr Philippa Kaye on treating teething pain in babies at home and what to do if your child's baby teeth aren't coming through as you'd expect them to.

When do baby teeth start to appear?

You may be wondering if all that drool coming out of your three-month-old's mouth has anything to do with teething or perhaps you're looking at the gummy smile of your six-month-old and wondering where their teeth have got to? There's no exact timeline for when milk teeth erupt but generally they do follow a pattern and you can expect them within a certain timeframe.

"There is a lot of variation as to when your baby will start teething," says Dr Philippa Kaye. "It can be from as young as 3 or 4 months to over a year old, but on average it is around 6 months."

"Some babies are actually born with one tooth or more, called natal teeth. These are generally removed as they are a risk of choking or aspiration, can cause pain during feeding and more. Don’t worry your baby will still develop milk and then adult teeth as normal!

"The teeth tend to come through in the same order pattern, though of course not always. Generally this is the bottom front middle two teeth, the lower central incisors, followed by the top central incisors – the middle top two teeth and then the top lateral incisors, which are the two on either side of the middle top two. You might notice that they get a few at a time, one after the other, and then a gap before the next set appears."

Some people use the 7/4 rule for baby teeth eruption, however this is not a standardised rule or widely used by professionals. The 7+4 rule states that by 7 months a child should have their first teeth and then every four months that follow you would expect another eruption of teeth. However this can vary greatly between children.

Other rules or stages you may have heard about may include the 5 stages of tooth eruption, which refers to the five main stages of teething a baby or toddler goes through. The 5 stages of tooth eruption are:

1. 0-6 months, where baby may show signs of discomfort as the teeth get ready to erupt
2. 6 - 8 months, when the first teeth erupt
3. 9 - 16 months, when lateral incisors and primary molars start to erupt
4. 16 - 22 months, when the canines erupt
5. 23 - 33 months, when the second molars erupt

The third stage of teething, when your child is around one year is often said to be the most difficult stage – with the worst months for many babies being around 10 - 14 months. However some parents find that the most painful months for teething are when the larger molars erupt at around two years of age.

How many baby teeth are there in total?

"There are twenty milk, or primary teeth to come out, and generally children will have all of these by the time they are two or three years old," says Dr Philippa.

Signs your baby is teething

"Some babies will have more signs and symptoms of teething than others, in some you may just notice that a tooth has appeared!" says Dr Philippa. "Even in the same baby sometimes you may find that they are bothered by one tooth more or less than another coming through.

"Symptoms of teething include:

• Having a red or flushed cheek on that side
• The gum may look red and sore where the tooth is cutting through
• Your baby may rub their face on that side or pull at that ear.
• Your baby may be more irritable, want more comfort than usual and may dribble much more as well as gnaw on everything to try and relieve the discomfort.
• Your baby's sleep may also be affected.

However, teething doesn’t cause diarrhoea or a high temperature."

Baby teeth chart

Unless you're a dentist or have studied teeth before, the words incisor, molar and cuspid might mean very little to you. So below you'll find a helpful chart that shows the name of the tooth in relation to where you'll find it in your baby's mouth, along with the age your baby will typically get each set of milk teeth.

Every baby and toddler is different, and they may get their baby teeth in a different order or at different ages, so this chart is a guideline based on the average eruption time.

Baby teething timeline

6 to 10 MONTHS: lower central incisors

The bottom front teeth or 'bottom incisors' or ‘lower central incisors’ are usually the first to come through at around 6 to 10 months. The first to break can be one of the most painful for your baby and it will cause all the usual symptoms - red cheeks, grizzling, chewing and yanking on the ear.

8 to 12 MONTHS: upper central incisors

The top front teeth or 'top incisors' or ‘upper central incisors’ usually appear next from around 8 months. Sometimes, after the first two, these ones slip through quite easily, though it varies between children.

9 to 13 MONTHS: top lateral incisors

The teeth at either side of the top front teeth are called top lateral incisors and these come through between 9 and 13 months. It will take around a week for them to break the gum.

10 to 16 MONTHS: bottom lateral incisors

The top may have only just appeared, when the bottom ones decide to break through. The bottom lateral incisors are often next to break and these will come through at around 10 to 12 months.

13 to 19 MONTHS: first molars

The first molars - or the back teeth - usually appear after a child turns one and before they are 16 months. These are very big teeth and will be one of the most painful for your child so expect a few disrupted nights.

16 to 22 MONTHS: the canines (or cuspids)

The canines, also known as cuspids, often appear between 16 and 22 months, but this can vary between babies.

23 to 33 MONTHS: second molars

The second molars will generally be the last to appear, breaking through the gum anywhere between 23 and 33 months. Again, they are large teeth and may be very painful for your child.

Caring for your baby’s teeth

As soon as your baby has their first tooth it's time to start thinking about their dental hygiene and instilling an early understanding of the benefits of daily brushing. You'll also want to ensure you're weaning them with foods that help keep their teeth healthy. You can read more about weaning and dental health here.

"The age at which you start to brush your baby’s teeth is the day that your baby’s first tooth comes through!" says Dr Philippa. "Use a fluoride toothpaste and soft toothbrush twice daily, they may not like this at first – try putting them on your lap with their backs to your chest so you can lean their head back against you.

"You will also need to register them with a dentist (children are eligible for free dental care on the NHS) and start taking them for check ups. They may only have a few teeth but there can still be dental issues and it is also important to get them used to going to the dentist."

Teething pain in babies and toddlers

The excitement of seeing your baby's first teeth arrive can often be overshadowed by the worry and stress of the symptoms they may be experiencing. To help your baby cut their teeth with as little discomfort as possible there are some things you can do at home to ease the pain.

"While teething may be uncomfortable there are some things you can do to help," says Dr Philippa. "Giving your baby something to chew and gnaw on can be helpful in terms of the discomfort but also as a distraction. Using teething rings and toys can be helpful as these are chew safe and won’t break apart into pieces, which could be a choking hazard.

"You can get ones which go in the fridge and the cooling sensation can also be numbing and helpful. Don’t put them in the freezer though as this could cause problems with your baby’s gums.

"You can also give them food to chew on like soft fruits and vegetables but keep a close eye on them as always when they are eating. Even rubbing on their gums with a clean finger can be helpful.

"Medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be helpful, but be sure to check the dosage for your child’s age. While there are lots of teething gels available it isn’t really clear if they are effective. If you are going to use one then make sure you use one specifically for children as some of the adult oral gels are not suitable for child use.

"If they are dribbling lots this can cause a rash around their mouth, chin and neck. Wipe away gently, or use a bib to soak up saliva dripping onto the chest.

"Don’t forget, simply playing with, cuddling and comforting your baby will help!"

When do baby teeth fall out?

Not long after all the teething pain is done and dusted, you child will start the process of losing their baby teeth to make way for their adult teeth! For most children this happens not long after they've started school – you'll see lots of children in Years 1 and 2 (ages 6 and 7) with big gaps in their mouths! However the process of losing baby teeth and growing adult ones continues for quite a while, until your child is about 12 years old.

"Just like there is a lot of variation about when teeth come in there is also variation around when they fall out!" says Dr Philippa. "It tends to start at around six years old, the first teeth to fall out tend to be the lower and upper middle two teeth – the central incisors.

"All the twenty primary teeth are lost gradually and most children will have completed this by around age 12, making room for the adult teeth to come in."

Here's an approximate guide to when you can expect your child to lose their baby teeth.

Top teeth:

• Central incisors - 6 to 7 years
• Lateral incisors - 7 to 8 years
• First molars - 9 to 11 years
• Canines - 10 to 12 years
• Second molars - 10 to 12 years

Bottom teeth:

• Central incisors - 6 to 7 years
• Lateral incisors - 7 to 8 years
• First molars - 9 to 11 years
• Canines - 9 to 12 years
• Second molars - 10 - 12 years

When do permanent teeth erupt?

Adult teeth or permanent teeth start to erupt after a baby tooth has fallen out, so this process usually starts around the age of 6. However, sometimes an adult tooth will pop up quickly to fill a gap and other times it may take longer, up to around 6 months in some cases. If you're worried it is taking too long there may be a problem including a lack of space, an impacted tooth, incorrect growth or failure to erupt, and you'll want to make an appointment to see your child's dentist.

By age 12 to 14 your child will most probably have a full set of 28 adult teeth, excluding wisdom teeth (third molars), which come through anytime from ages 17 to 25.

When to see a dentist about your child's teeth

You should register your child with a dentist for regular check-ups as soon as their baby teeth start erupting. However, there may be some occasions when you need to make an extra appointment to discuss any concerns.

"While there is some variation between babies, if your baby does not have any teeth by twelve months or so it is best to see your dentist for advice," says Dr Philippa. "It may be that there is some tooth delay and generally this isn’t a problem.

"Tooth decay is the most common reason for children to be admitted to hospital in the UK between the ages of 5-9, for the teeth to be removed under general anaesthetic. This is why it is so important that you regularly take your child for dental check ups so that any problems can be identified and treated early on."

Other signs that you might need to take your child to see the dentist outside of their usual check-ups are: when you notice missing teeth, widely spaced teeth, very large or small teeth, signs of cavities or decay in baby teeth or if baby teeth fail to fall out when an adult tooth starts to come in (also known as shark teeth!).

Read more:

• Teething rash in babies: Symptoms and relief tips
• How to soothe your baby when they're teething
• 10 of the best baby teethers

Please note: this advice is not personalised or meant to replace individual advice given to you about your child by your doctor, dentist or medical team. As always, if you are concerned about your child’s health then please seek medical advice.