How many teeth do babies get?
20 in total — ten on top and ten on the bottom. These first “milk teeth” usually start arriving around 6 months and are all in place by about age three, before being replaced by the 32 adult teeth later on.
From first tooth to a full set of 20
Tap a stage to see which teeth arrive when — and how the count builds.
All 20 are usually in place by about age three.
When do babies start teething?
For most babies, the first tooth breaks through at around 6 months — though anywhere from about 4 months to after the first birthday is perfectly normal. The lower central incisors (the two bottom front teeth) almost always lead the way, with the top front teeth following a month or two later.
From there the teeth tend to arrive in pairs, one on each side, working roughly from the front of the mouth toward the back: front teeth, then the teeth beside them, then the first molars, the pointed canines, and finally the second molars right at the back. All 20 are usually present by about two and a half to three years. If a tooth or two arrives out of order, that’s common and rarely anything to worry about.
What’s normal — and what isn’t
Teething commonly brings drooling, fussiness, disrupted sleep, and sore, tender gums, and babies often want to chew on everything in reach. A very slight rise in temperature can happen — but here’s the important part that surprises many parents: teething does not cause a high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash or cold-like symptoms. If your baby has those, they’re more likely unwell with something else, and it’s worth checking with a doctor rather than putting it down to teeth.
For the genuine discomfort, simple comfort measures help: gently rubbing the gums with a clean finger, a solid (not liquid-filled) teething ring chilled — not frozen — in the fridge, or a cool, damp washcloth to gnaw on. Your dentist or doctor can advise on anything more, and is the right person to ask before using any teething gel or medicine.
Why baby teeth matter (they’re not just placeholders)
It’s tempting to think baby teeth don’t count because they fall out anyway — but they do a lot of work. They hold space in the jaw for the adult teeth lining up beneath, help a child learn to speak clearly, and let them chew the wider range of foods they move on to. Looking after them sets up the permanent teeth that follow.
Most dental guidance suggests starting to brush as soon as that first tooth appears — twice a day, with a soft baby brush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. The usual advice is also to book a first dental visit by the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth.
When do they fall out again?
Almost as soon as the set is complete, the countdown to losing them begins. Children typically start shedding baby teeth around age 6 — usually the lower front teeth first, in roughly the same order they came in — and finish up by about age 12, as the adult teeth push through. The roots of baby teeth gradually dissolve from below, which is why a wobbly tooth eventually comes away so easily.
One curiosity to finish on: roughly 1 in 2,000 babies is born with a tooth already showing — a “natal tooth” — a reminder that those 20 teeth have been quietly forming beneath the gums since well before birth.
Common questions
This page shares general information, not medical advice. Every child is different — for anything about your own baby’s teeth, teething or health, your dentist, health visitor or doctor is the right person to ask.
Sources
- American Dental Association & AAPD — 20 primary teeth, eruption chart, first dental visit by age 1.
- Cleveland Clinic, Children’s Hospital LA & AAP — teething timeline and the fact that teething doesn’t cause high fever or diarrhoea.
Related
Twenty little teeth, arriving two at a time from about six months — and gone again almost before you’ve got used to them.