Teething or cutting teeth, when should your child expect to get their first tooth?

Just like any other developmental milestone, this is entirely dependent on the child, and cutting teeth isn’t a milestone they will reach all at once. For some it can take years to complete, but eventually your child’s gummy mouth will be transformed into a mouthful of pearly whites.

Rarely a baby is born with a tooth or two, or even grows a tooth within the first few weeks of life. The majority of children develop their first tooth between 4 and 7 months of age, but just like everything else, there are early bloomers and late bloomers. By age three, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth.

Your baby may be in pain and drool for a month or two before their first tooth appears. If your baby’s gums are hurting, you can soothe them by massaging them gently with one finger, or giving them something cold to chew on. The pressure of emerging teeth beneath the gums may be relieved by counter pressure, causing the want and need for babies to chew on things.

When your child’s first tooth peaks through, their gums can become inflamed which can cause their cheeks to appear red and swollen, but teething should never cause your baby illness, therefore if your baby does develop a fever or other symptoms, pay a visit to your doctor.

To give you an idea of the average teething timeline for infants, and when to expect certain teeth to appear:

• 6 months: lower central incisors
• 8 months: upper central incisors
• 10 months: lower and upper lateral incisors
• 14 months: first molars
• 18 months: canines
• 24 months: second molars

The development of a first tooth is a big milestone in a child’s life, make sure to monitor the development of each tooth, and if you notice anything abnormal to bring your child in for a visit to your dentist.