Teething Introduction

Teething
Introduction



A baby's first teeth (also known as milk teeth or deciduous teeth) usually develop while the child is growing in the womb. These teeth then start to emerge through the gums when a child is 6-9 months old. This process is known as teething.

When teeth emerge through the gums, they do not 'cut through' the flesh. Instead, special chemicals are released within the body, which cause some cells in the gums to die and separate, allowing the teeth to come through.
How long does the teething process take?

A baby's bottom front teeth usually come through first, followed by their top front teeth (central incisors) and then the top and bottom incisors either side (lateral incisors).

The first molars (back teeth) then start to come through at approximately 12-14 months of age, followed by the canines (next to the lateral incisors) at 16-18 months, and finally the second molars at 18-30 months. A child will normally have a full set of first teeth by the time they are two-and-a-half to three years of age.

In a small number of cases, some children may be born with one or two teeth which have already come through, or will have a tooth emerge within the first few weeks of birth. This should not cause a child any problems, unless it affects their feeding.

Some babies show very few signs or symptoms of teething, while others find it a more painful experience. However, there are lots of ways you can help make teething easier for your child (see the 'treatment' section)