When a baby starts teething they begin to transform.  Their first teeth are often comical resulting in goofy toothy grins and gaping smiles which can make fantastic photo opportunities. The little teeth almost resemble pearls appearing from the gums. Knowing the correct order that teeth come in can be handy. Your child’s dentist will start keeping track after your child’s first dental visit and they should be consulted if your child’s teeth come in the wrong order.

The Order of Baby Teeth

• Months 6 and 7
• You will see the 2 lower central incisors followed by the upper incisors
• Months 8 and 9
• You will see the top and bottom sets of incisors come in next to the central incisors which would have come in during months 6 and 7
• Between months 10 and 12
• You will see 4 back baby molars
• Between months 16 and 20
• You will see 4 canine baby teeth (2 upper and 2 lower)
• Between months 24 and 30
• You will see the last 4 back baby molars come in completing your child’s 20 primary teeth

When Baby Teeth Come Early

Some children start teething faster then others and get their first set of teeth as early as 3 months. In some rare cases babies are born with a tooth.  Although uncommon, if this happens to your child you should consult with your doctor to ensure development is on track.  For most parents this will not be a concern as most children start having their two lower central incisors start to come in as early as 3 months, but normally around 6 or 7 months and sometimes as late as 12 months. Having teeth come early is nothing to be worried about.  Did you or your spouse’s teeth come early? If so, your chances of having a child who is an early teether will increase as there are genetic links.

When Baby Teeth Come Late

Some children do everything on their own timeline. If your child is 12 months old and still has no teeth, they are still within the normal range for when teething can begin and although they may be starting later, their bodies will often play catch up, causing the rest of the teeth to come in faster. Do note that late teething is not a sign of malnutrition as increased calcium or vitamins will not cause their teeth to come any faster

Taking Care of your Baby’s Teeth

As your baby’s teeth appear.  It is important to begin good oral hygiene. Many are surprised to learn that breast milk and formula contain high quantities of sugar, which if not watched can cause baby tooth decay, which has been shown to have negative effects much later on in life. So although these teeth will eventually be replaced it is far better to not put your child through needless toothaches by simply brushing their teeth with appropriate baby toothbrushes.

If your child has a loose tooth, it needs to be removed.  Loose teeth can pose a choking hazard as they can be accidentally swallowed.

You can generally expect your baby’s teeth to start coming in around 6 months of age, starting with the two lower teeth and followed by the upper two. with the rest slowly progressing from there until your child is about two and a half years of age.  Teething can be a painful time for your little one so be sure to consider looking at various remedies to help your baby out and to help keep your sanity.