Baby Tooth Eruption - Chart, Timeline & What to Expect
Most children get their first tooth around 6 months and finish their full set of 20 baby teeth by age 3. From there, the slow transition to permanent teeth begins around age 6 and finishes - minus wisdom teeth - around 12 to 13. Below is a complete chart of when teeth typically come in (and fall out), what’s normal variation, and the questions parents ask most as their child’s mouth changes.
Primary (Baby) Teeth Eruption Chart
| Tooth | Eruption Age | Shedding Age |
|——-|————-|————–|
| Lower central incisor | 6-10 months | 6-7 years |
| Upper central incisor | 8-12 months | 6-7 years |
| Upper lateral incisor | 9-13 months | 7-8 years |
| Lower lateral incisor | 10-16 months | 7-8 years |
| Upper first molar | 13-19 months | 9-11 years |
| Lower first molar | 14-18 months | 9-11 years |
| Upper canine (cuspid) | 16-22 months | 10-12 years |
| Lower canine (cuspid) | 17-23 months | 9-12 years |
| Lower second molar | 23-31 months | 10-12 years |
| Upper second molar | 25-33 months | 10-12 years |
Total baby teeth: 20. Most children have all 20 by age 2½ to 3.
Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart
| Tooth | Eruption Age |
|——-|————-|
| First molar (6-year molar) | 6-7 years |
| Central incisor | 6-8 years |
| Lateral incisor | 7-9 years |
| Canine (cuspid) | 9-12 years |
| First premolar (bicuspid) | 9-11 years |
| Second premolar (bicuspid) | 10-12 years |
| Second molar (12-year molar) | 11-13 years |
| Third molar (wisdom tooth) | 17-25 years |
Total permanent teeth: 32 (including wisdom teeth, which often emerge in the late teens to early twenties - and sometimes don’t emerge at all).
The 7-4 Rule of Tooth Eruption
A useful rule of thumb: the first four baby teeth typically come in around 7 months, and a new tooth tends to emerge every 4 months after that. The 7-4 rule is approximate - every child runs their own timeline - but it gives parents a reasonable expectation for the pace of eruption through the first three years.
Teething - What to Expect
Babies often show signs of teething for several days before a tooth actually breaks through. Common signs:
- Drooling more than usual
- Chewing on hands, toys, or anything they can reach
- Mild fussiness or sleep disruption
- Slightly elevated temperature (low-grade only)
- Visible gum irritation or a small lump where the tooth is coming through
What helps:
- A clean, slightly chilled (not frozen) teething ring
- A damp washcloth or your clean finger gently massaging the gum
- Children’s acetaminophen for significant discomfort, after consulting your pediatrician
What to avoid:
- Amber teething necklaces (AAPD and FDA warn against - choking and strangulation risk)
- Topical numbing gels with benzocaine (FDA warning for children under 2)
- Frozen-solid items that can damage delicate gum tissue
A fever above 100.4°F is not teething - call your pediatrician.
“Shark Teeth” - When Permanent Teeth Come In Behind Baby Teeth
Sometimes a permanent tooth erupts behind a baby tooth that hasn’t fallen out yet. The result is two rows of teeth - what parents call “shark teeth.” This is more common than you’d think, especially around ages 5-7 when the lower front incisors are coming in.
What to do:
- Encourage your child to wiggle the baby tooth several times a day. Most loose baby teeth fall out on their own within a few weeks.
- If the permanent tooth has fully erupted and the baby tooth still won’t budge, give us a call - we can usually help it along quickly and painlessly.
- Don’t force it. Pulling a baby tooth before its time can be painful and isn’t necessary for most cases.
When Eruption Patterns Are Worth a Conversation
Most variation is normal. Talk to a pediatric dentist if:
- Your child has no teeth by 18 months
- A tooth comes in unusually rotated, dark, or deformed
- A baby tooth is lost very early (under age 4) - a space maintainer may be needed
- A permanent tooth is significantly delayed (more than a year past expected age)
- You see a small bump or sac on the gum where a tooth is about to erupt - this is usually a normal “eruption cyst” and resolves on its own, but worth confirming
When in doubt, bring it up at your child’s next visit. We’d rather take a quick look than have you wonder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions we hear most often. Call us anytime if you do not see yours.
When Should My Baby’s First Tooth Appear?
At what age does my child get their first tooth?
Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 10 months. The lower central incisors usually come in first. By a baby’s first birthday, they typically have 4 to 6 teeth.
How Many Baby Teeth Do Children Have?
When does my child get all their baby teeth?
By around age 2½ to 3, most children have all 20 baby teeth.
Is Teething Painful for Babies?
When do permanent teeth start coming in?
The first permanent molars (the “6-year molars”) usually come in around age 6, often before any baby teeth fall out - they erupt in the back behind the last baby molars.
When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth?
My 6-month-old still has no teeth - is something wrong?
Not necessarily. Some children don’t get their first tooth until 12-14 months. If your child still has no teeth by 18 months, mention it at your next visit so we can check development.
When Do Permanent Teeth Start Replacing Baby Teeth?
My child has two rows of teeth (shark teeth) - should I be worried?
Usually not. Encourage the loose baby tooth to come out, and call us if it doesn’t fall out within a few weeks of the permanent tooth fully erupting. ## Your Child’s First Visit The eruption of the first tooth is your cue to schedule your child’s first dental visit - by their first birthday, or within 6 months of that first tooth, whichever comes first. Read more about what to expect at the first visit. Call (772) 494-6010 or request an appointment online. —
