When to expect the first tooth

Most babies get their first tooth between 4 and 7 months, usually a bottom front tooth, though anywhere from 3 months to a year is normal. By age 3, most kids have all 20 baby teeth. If nothing has come in by 18 months, mention it at your next visit — it’s usually nothing, but worth checking. Teething signs include drooling, gum swelling, and a mild desire to chew on things; fever and diarrhea are not typically teething symptoms and are worth a call to your pediatrician. A soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste can start as soon as the first tooth appears.