Baby teething: safe comfort and care for the first teeth

What teething can look like

Teething is the process of baby teeth coming through the gums. Tender gums, drooling and wanting to chew can occur. These signs alone do not prove that a tooth is coming, and they do not explain a child who is seriously unwell.

The first tooth often appears between 6 and 12 months, but timing varies widely. Some babies have no teeth at their first birthday. A calendar cannot diagnose delayed development; discuss your child’s pattern with a dentist and keep the first dental visit even if no tooth has appeared.

Symptoms to assess separately

Call your local emergency number for severe trouble breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, an ongoing seizure, or fever with a rash that does not fade under pressure. Do not attribute these signs to teething or wait to complete this diary.

A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher needs urgent medical assessment, even if the baby seems well. Contact a clinician now; do not delay assessment to try fever medicine or finish this diary.

Teething does not explain a fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, diarrhea, marked sleepiness or severe illness. Contact a clinician about these symptoms rather than assuming they are caused by teeth.

Seek prompt medical advice if your child drinks much less, has fewer wet diapers, cries inconsolably, has persistent or worsening pain, or seems unwell. Contact a dentist for a painful or swollen area, tooth injury or concerns about tooth development. If you are unsure whether symptoms are from teething, ask a clinician; the diary cannot rule out illness.

Comfort without numbing products

Try gentle gum massage with a clean finger. Offer a firm, solid rubber teether that is cool, not frozen, and not liquid-filled. Stay with your baby while it is used, and check it for damage. Hard frozen objects can hurt the gums.

Products to avoid

Do not use benzocaine or lidocaine on the gums, homeopathic teething tablets or gels, alcohol on the gums, or amber or other teething necklaces. Numbing products can cause serious harm; teething jewelry can choke or strangle a child. Ask a clinician before using pain medicine for a baby; this tool does not provide doses.

Care from the first tooth

AAP and AAPD guidance recommends brushing from the first tooth, twice daily, with fluoride toothpaste: a rice-grain smear before age 3 and a pea-sized amount from ages 3 to 6. An adult should put the toothpaste on a small soft brush and brush or help the child. Encourage spitting when able, and ask the dentist about the right product locally.

Prepare for the first dental visit

Arrange the first dental visit when the first tooth appears and no later than age 1 year, even if no tooth is visible yet. Ask about brushing, fluoride varnish, feeding habits and any concerns about eruption. Do not put a baby to bed with a bottle; discuss a tooth-friendly bedtime routine.

Use observations to prepare a conversation with your child’s clinician or dentist. There is no score or tooth timetable that can confirm teething or show that staying home is safe. Seek advice if symptoms change, persist or worry you, even after reassuring answers here.

Common questions

Sources

• AAP: Baby’s first tooth
• AAP: Teething pain relief
• FDA: Safely soothing teething pain
• AAPD: Prevention of early childhood tooth decay
• NHS: Fever in children

Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked October 2026. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.