Baby - Everyday care
Teething and First Teeth
When teeth come, what helps the sore gums, what to skip, and brushing from the first tooth.
Ask Cradle about thisTLDRThe short version, if you only have a minute
- First teeth usually come around 6 months (anywhere from 4-15 months is normal). Drooling, chewing and fussiness are typical.
- Teething doesn't cause real fever (100.4°F+), diarrhea or a rash; look for another cause.
- Use a chilled teething ring or gum rub. Skip numbing gels and amber necklaces. Brush from the first tooth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste.
When teeth come
- Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but anywhere from about 4 to 15 months is normal. A few are born with one.
- The bottom front teeth usually come first, then the top front ones. All 20 baby teeth are usually in by about age 3.
- Molars, around 13 to 19 months and again around 2 years, are often the uncomfortable ones.
What you may see
- Drooling, chewing on everything, swollen or tender gums, fussiness and lighter sleep for a few days before a tooth comes through.
- Teething can make a baby a little warm, but it does not cause a real fever (100.4°F / 38°C or higher), diarrhea, a runny nose or a rash. If you see those, look for another cause.
What helps
- Rub the gums with a clean finger, or let your baby chew a firm rubber teething ring or a clean wet washcloth that has been chilled in the fridge (not frozen solid).
- Extra cuddles and patience; it passes in a few days per tooth.
- If your baby is very uncomfortable, ask the pediatrician about acetaminophen, or ibuprofen from 6 months, dosed by weight.
What to avoid
- Numbing gels or liquids with benzocaine or lidocaine. The FDA warns against them for teething.
- Homeopathic teething tablets.
- Amber teething necklaces, bracelets and other teething jewelry: they can choke or strangle.
- Teething biscuits that break into hard chunks, and anything frozen solid.
Caring for new teeth
- Brush twice a day from the first tooth with a soft brush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. Move to a pea-sized amount at age 3.
- Plan a first dental visit by the first birthday. The pediatrician may also paint on fluoride varnish at checkups.
- No bottle in bed, and no juice in a bottle, to protect against tooth decay.
When to check in
- Any fever in a baby under 3 months: call right away, whatever you think the cause is (see the newborn red flags guide).
- At any age, a high temperature, diarrhea, a rash, refusing to drink, or a baby who seems ill: these aren't teething, so check with the doctor.
- No teeth at all by about 18 months: mention it at the next visit.
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Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren guidance on teething and on baby teeth and fluoride, and FDA safety communications on teething gels, tablets and jewelry.
General information, not medical advice. If something feels wrong, trust that and call your pediatrician or provider. See Sources.
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