Twenty teeth in roughly two and a half years: that is the usual pace from the first tooth, often somewhere between 6 and 10 months, to the last baby molars at around age 2 to 3. The sequence is more predictable than the timing. One part surprises many parents: the first molars usually arrive before the canines, so there can be a gap beside the front teeth for a few months.
Ages for each baby tooth
The ranges below follow commonly used eruption charts. Lower teeth often appear slightly before their upper partners. A child who sits a few months either side of these ranges is usually still developing normally.
| Tooth | Upper jaw | Lower jaw |
|---|---|---|
| Central incisors (middle front teeth) | 8 to 12 months | 6 to 10 months |
| Lateral incisors (next to the middle) | 9 to 13 months | 10 to 16 months |
| First molars | 13 to 19 months | 14 to 18 months |
| Canines (eye teeth) | 16 to 22 months | 17 to 23 months |
| Second molars | 25 to 33 months | 23 to 31 months |
A full set is ten teeth in each jaw: four incisors, two canines and four molars. There are no premolars in the baby set. Those arrive later with the adult teeth.
Early, late and out of order
Some babies are born with a tooth, and others have none at their first birthday. Both can be normal. Family pattern plays a part, and children born prematurely often get their teeth a little later. Teeth occasionally come through in a slightly different order too, which on its own is rarely a concern.
It is worth asking a dentist or your child's doctor if there are no teeth at all by around 18 months, if teeth on one side arrive many months before the same teeth on the other side, or if a tooth looks an unusual shape or colour when it comes through.
Caring for each new tooth
Begin brushing twice a day as soon as the first tooth shows, with a small soft brush and no toothpaste. From about 18 months, Australian guidance is to use a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children's toothpaste. Our guide on how much toothpaste children need explains the right amount at each age. Spit, do not rinse, so the fluoride stays on the teeth.
The molars tend to cause the most teething discomfort because they are broad and push through a larger area of gum. Our article on teething symptoms and relief covers safe ways to help and products to avoid.
The first visit to a dentist is recommended when the first tooth appears or by the first birthday. It is short and relaxed, and is mostly about checking the teeth and talking through feeding and cleaning. Our first dental visit guide explains how it runs. Once the adult back teeth start arriving at about age six, your dentist may talk about fissure sealants.
Common questions
Is drooling a sign a tooth is coming?
Babies drool a lot from a few months old whether or not a tooth is near, so it is not a reliable sign on its own.
When will the baby teeth start to fall out?
Usually from about age six, often starting with the lower front teeth, roughly following the order they came in.
Do baby teeth really need fillings if they fall out?
Yes, if they are decayed. The back baby teeth stay until about age ten to twelve, and decay in them can cause pain and infection.
If you have a question about how your child's teeth are coming through, our dentists and oral health therapists see babies and toddlers for gentle first visits. You can view current family options on our offers page.
