Bright red cheeks, a chin soaked with drool, a baby who chews on everything and wakes at night? The first teething is on its way. It is an often uncomfortable stage, but rarely serious, and there are simple, safe ways to soothe your child.
What is teething?
Teething is the moment when a tooth pushes through the gum to appear in the mouth. This passage can irritate the gum locally and cause discomfort for a few days, the time it takes for the tooth to come in.
Every baby tooth follows this path, one after another. The discomfort comes and goes with each eruption: some pass almost unnoticed, others are more noticeable, especially the molars, which are wider.
At what age do the first teeth come in?
The first tooth appears on average around 6 months, but the range is wide: some babies are born with a tooth, others wait until 12 to 18 months. This pace is mostly genetic and has no impact on the child's health.
Teeth generally come in in this order, in pairs:
| Approximate age | Teeth coming in |
|---|---|
| 6 to 10 months | Lower central incisors |
| 8 to 12 months | Upper central incisors |
| 9 to 13 months | Lateral incisors |
| 13 to 19 months | First molars |
| 16 to 23 months | Canines |
| 23 to 33 months | Second molars |
Bottom line: by age 3, a child usually has all 20 baby teeth. These ages are averages, the exact order and timing vary from one child to the next.
What are the symptoms of teething?
The most commonly reported signs are:
- red cheeks, sometimes warm, on the side of the erupting tooth;
- heavy drooling, which can irritate the chin;
- swollen, tender or red gums at the eruption point;
- irritability, crying, a changeable mood;
- the urge to bite and to put objects in the mouth;
- disturbed sleep, with night wakings;
- sometimes a slight rise in temperature, below 38 °C.
Teeth alone, however, do not cause high fever, significant diarrhea, vomiting or a body rash. If these signs appear, they have another cause that needs to be looked into.
How to soothe your baby during teething
A few simple steps bring real relief:
- Cold and pressure. Offer a clean teething ring that has been chilled (never frozen: a hard, icy ring can injure the gum). Cold soothes and the pressure of chewing helps.
- Massage the gum. With a clean finger, apply gentle circular pressure on the sore spot.
- Age-appropriate cold foods. For a baby who has already started solids, a cool compote or yogurt from the fridge can help.
- Keep the chin dry. Wipe drool regularly and, if needed, apply a barrier cream to prevent irritation.
- Paracetamol if necessary. For marked pain, it can be used at the dose suited to your baby's weight, preferably on the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
What is best to avoid
- Teething gels: they can reduce the swallowing reflex and carry a choking risk.
- Amber or teething necklaces: unproven effectiveness and real risks of strangulation and choking.
- Sugary teething biscuits: they do not soothe and promote cavities as soon as the first teeth appear.
This information is for general guidance and does not replace medical advice. A fever above 38.5 °C, unusual crying or significant pain should not be blamed on teeth: see your doctor to look for another cause.
Keeping track while your baby teethes
Between broken nights, red cheeks that come and go, and the question "is it teeth or something else?", it is easy to lose track. Noting what you observe helps you see more clearly and spot whether a symptom is setting in.
That is exactly what Ambrette is for: built by real parents, the app logs symptoms, wakings and naps in two taps, shows trends across several days and helps you tell passing discomfort from a sign that lasts. The shared log lets your co-parent, the grandparents or the nanny follow along without a long debrief. Your data stays yours, never sold.
Because teeth often disrupt sleep, read our guide to sleep regressions and how many naps by age. And to prepare for your next visit, see our pediatric appointment checklist.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does a baby's first tooth come in?
On average around 6 months, but it varies widely: some babies have a tooth at birth, others wait until 12 to 18 months. As long as growth is normal, a late first tooth is nothing to worry about and needs no special workup.
Is fever a symptom of teething?
Teething can come with a slight rise in temperature, below 38 °C. A true fever above 38.5 °C, however, is not caused by teeth alone: look for another cause (cold, ear infection, infection) and see a doctor if it persists.
Do amber necklaces help with teething?
No, their effectiveness is not proven and they are not recommended: risk of strangulation and choking if a bead comes loose. Use a clean, chilled teething ring (never frozen) instead, and also avoid teething gels and sugary biscuits.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), Teething and dental health for babies.
- Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (mpedia.fr), Teething.
