A drooling, irritable baby with swollen gums is a telltale sign of teething. While baby teeth actually develop before birth, they start to erupt by the child’s first birthday. Although each baby’s teeth develop differently, there’s a general order of when specific types of teeth erupt. Our infographic shows the different types of teeth, where they are located, typical timeframes they emerge and includes tips on developing a healthy smile for your child.
Lower central incisors
- The first baby tooth to erupt and it occurs between 4 and 8 months.
- TIP – When the first tooth appears, or by the child’s first birthday, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist.
Upper central incisors
- The upper middle teeth erupt usually between 8 and 12 months.
- TIP – When teeth first come in, the gums are tender. Gently rub child’s gums with a clean finger, or a wet gauze pad to help soothe the soreness.
Upper lateral incisors
- The upper teeth to the right and left of your center teeth usually come in around 9 to 13 months.
- TIP – Prevent baby bottle tooth decay by having your child finish their bottle and wiping their teeth clean before bed.
Lower lateral incisors
- The lower teeth to the right and left of the center, appear around 10 to 16 months.
- TIP – As your child grows, they need more calcium to supplement healthy bone and tooth development.
Upper first molars
- The top molars erupt between about 13 and 19 months.
- TIP – Toddlers can learn to brush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and should eats lots of fruits and vegetables, high in water content, to help clean teeth.
Lower first molars
- The bottom molars emerge around 14 to 18 months.
- TIP – Schedule visits every 6 months with a pediatric dentist to monitor oral health
Upper cuspid
- Also known as canines, the cuspid appears between the incisors and first molars at 16 to 22 months.
- TIP – By the time a child is 3 years old, they should have all 20 of their primary teeth.
Lower cuspid/canines
- Appears between the lower incisors and first molars around 17 to 23 months.
Lower second molars
- The lower second molars usually erupt between 23 and 31 months.
Upper second molars
- The final teeth erupts around 25 to 33 months.
No matter what stage of tooth development your child is at, Jenkins & LeBlanc would love to be a part of growing their healthy smiles. Schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations today.