Guide to Teething Symptoms and Remedies
Your extra-cranky baby could be showing teething symptoms. Learn what to look for and find the best teething remedies for little mouths. Plus, check out 9 great teething toys
Related Links
* Side Effects of Drooling
* Rx for Sore Gums
* Into the Mouths of Babes
Overview
When will your baby's first pearly white start to poke through? Most babies get their first tooth at around 6 months, but your child's chompers may appear as early as 3 months or as late as 14, depending on such factors as when Mom and Dad started sprouting teeth and whether or not your baby was a preemie (preemies tend to teethe on the late side). How babies experience teething can vary widely, too. Some have teething symptoms -- such as excessive drooling and crankiness -- weeks before a tooth actually emerges, while others show no signs at all.
Baby-tooth timeline
Typically, babies get their teeth in pairs. First come the middle two on the bottom. A month or so later, the two above those arrive. Still, it's not uncommon to see a baby with four bottom and no upper teeth, or the reverse. A general timeline:
- 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
