Which teeth come in first, and in what order does a child teethe?
Applies to age: 6–30 months
In short
The approximate order in which baby teeth come in: central incisors (around 6 months), lateral incisors (around 8 months), first molars (around 12 months), canines (around 18 months), second molars (around 24 months). Lower teeth often come in before the matching upper ones.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- The central incisors (front teeth) usually come in first, at approximately 6 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
central incisors (front teeth) – these are usually the first to come through, usually at around 6 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- The lateral incisors (on either side of the central incisors) come in at approximately 8 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
lateral incisors (either side of the front teeth) – around 8 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- The first molars (back teeth) come in at approximately 12 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
first molars (back teeth) – these come through at around 12 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- The canines (the pointed teeth between the lateral incisors and the first molars) come in at approximately 18 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
canines (pointed teeth between the lateral incisors and the first molars) – around 18 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- The second molars come in at approximately 24 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
second molars – around 24 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Lower teeth often come in before the matching upper teeth; for example, the lower front teeth usually start to come in before the upper front teeth.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Bottom teeth often emerge before the matching upper teeth – for example, the bottom front teeth will usually start to come through before the top front teeth.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Most children have all their baby teeth by 2–3 years of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most children will have all their milk teeth by the time they are 2 to 3 years old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Most babies start teething at around 6 months of age, but others start before 4 months, and some only after 12 months.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most babies start teething at around 6 months, but others start teething before they are 4 months old and some after 12 months.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Some babies are even born with their first teeth.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Some babies are even born with their first teeth.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- Teething symptoms that worry a parent are worth discussing with a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
- 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) should be called if life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
See a doctor
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the opening hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.