Baby Teeth Chart: When Each Tooth Comes In (and Falls Out)

How baby teeth arrive, in order

Baby teeth — dentists call them primary or deciduous teeth — begin forming before birth, tucked in the gums and waiting. They emerge in a sequence that is remarkably consistent from child to child, which is why a simple chart is so reassuring: you are usually watching a familiar pattern unfold, not a race against the calendar. The two lower central incisors — the bottom front teeth — almost always appear first, typically around six to ten months. The four upper front teeth tend to follow, then the remaining incisors, so that most children have their eight front teeth by their first birthday or soon after. Next come the first molars further back, then the pointed canines that fill the gap between the incisors and molars, and finally the second molars right at the back. By about age two to two and a half, the full set of twenty is usually in place. Teeth also tend to erupt in mirror-image pairs — a left tooth and its right partner arriving close together — which is part of why the whole process looks so orderly.

When baby teeth fall out, and why timing varies so much

Around age six, the same orderly process runs in reverse. Permanent teeth developing beneath the gums slowly dissolve the roots of the baby teeth above them, so a primary tooth loosens, wobbles, and is eventually pushed out by the adult tooth arriving behind it. The bottom front teeth usually loosen first — the same ones that erupted first — and the process continues, tooth group by tooth group, until about age twelve. The first permanent molars are the exception: they come in behind the baby teeth around age six without replacing anything, which is why they are sometimes missed. Why does timing vary so widely? Genetics is the strongest single factor, and children often follow a parent pattern closely. Sex plays a small role, and birth history matters too: babies born prematurely or at a very low birth weight tend to get their first teeth a little later when counted from their birthday, though they usually catch up once you account for their due date. Because so many normal influences push the dates around, dentists pay far more attention to the order and symmetry of eruption than to any single expected age.

How to support your child smile at every stage

You do not need to manage the schedule — teeth arrive on their own timetable. What you can do is keep the new teeth clean and comfortable, and know when to check in with a professional. None of this treats a medical condition; it simply gives little teeth the best start.

1. 1

   Clean from the very first tooth

   twice daily

   As soon as that first tooth appears, start cleaning it. A soft baby brush with a tiny rice-grain smear of toothpaste, or a clean damp cloth wiped over the gums, is enough. Building the habit early makes brushing a normal part of the day long before your child can do it alone.

2. 2

   Watch the pattern, not the calendar

   ongoing

   Use a chart as a rough guide, not a deadline. Teeth arriving in the usual order, in symmetrical pairs, is far more reassuring than any tooth hitting an exact month. A little early or a little late is usually just your child own rhythm.

3. 3

   Soothe teething the gentle way

   as needed

   A chilled (not frozen) teething ring, a clean finger to rub the gums, or a cool damp cloth can ease sore gums as teeth push through. Skip amber necklaces, which carry choking and strangulation risks, and avoid over-the-counter numbing gels in babies unless a clinician advises them.

4. 4

   Book a first dental visit by around age one

   yearly

   Seeing a dentist when the first teeth appear — or by the first birthday — sets up a dental home and a calm relationship with the chair. The evidence for a year-one visit is strongest for children at higher risk of decay, but an early, friendly visit also helps head off fear later on.

5. 5

   Keep sugary drinks and snacks occasional

   daily

   New enamel is more vulnerable than adult enamel, and it is how often — not just how much — sugar appears that matters most. Water and milk between meals, and putting your baby to bed without a bottle of anything sweet, go a long way to protecting those fresh teeth.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. 1.
   Savic Pavicin I, et al. Timing of emergence of the first primary tooth in preterm and full-term infants. Ann Anat, 2015.
2. 2.
   Zadzinska E, et al. Primary tooth emergence in Polish children: timing and sequence. Anthropol Anz, 2013.
3. 3.
   Al-Batayneh OB, et al. Timing and sequence of emergence of deciduous teeth in Jordanian children. Arch Oral Biol, 2014.
4. 4.
   Nystrom M, et al. Age estimation in small children: reference values from counts of deciduous teeth. Forensic Sci Int, 2000.
5. 5.
   Dashash M, Al-Jazar N. Timing and sequence of emergence of permanent teeth in schoolchildren. J Investig Clin Dent, 2017.
6. 6.
   Bhaskar V, McGraw KA, Divaris K. The importance of preventive dental visits from a young age: systematic review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent, 2014.
7. 7.
   Alshahrani NF, et al. Prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in children: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent, 2024.
8. 8.
   Uribe SE, et al. The global prevalence of early childhood caries. Int J Paediatr Dent, 2021.

Related reading

• When Do Molars Come In? Baby & Toddler Molar Timeline
• How Long Does Teething Last? Timeline by Tooth
• Two-Year Molars: Timeline, Symptoms & How to Soothe Them
• When Do Kids Lose Teeth? Age and Order Explained