At what age do babies start teething?

Most babies start at around six months. But the normal range is wide: a few are born with a tooth, some start before four months, and some do not get their first tooth until after twelve months. A late first tooth on its own is not usually a concern.

What are the first signs of teething?

Red, sore or swollen gums where the tooth is coming through, more dribbling, a flushed cheek, chewing and gnawing on things, rubbing their ear on the same side, and being more unsettled than usual. Some babies show almost no signs at all.

Does teething cause fever or diarrhoea?

No. There is no evidence that teething causes a high temperature, diarrhoea or other illness. A slightly raised temperature can happen, but a fever of 38C or more, or diarrhoea, points to something else and should be treated as such, especially in a young baby.

What helps a teething baby?

Something cool to chew on, like a teething ring chilled in the fridge rather than frozen. Rubbing the gum gently with a clean finger. Healthy things to gnaw on if they have started solids. For real discomfort, sugar-free paracetamol from two months or ibuprofen from three months, at the dose on the pack for their age, if the medicine is suitable. Ask a pharmacist if unsure.

Are amber teething necklaces safe?

No. Health authorities including the US FDA have warned against teething necklaces and bracelets because of the risk of strangulation and choking, and there is no good evidence they relieve pain. Numbing gels containing benzocaine are also advised against for young children.

Do twins get teeth at the same time?

Often not, even identical twins. One may be weeks ahead of the other. That is normal, and it is one reason a single rough night is not always teething: sometimes it is one twin's tooth and the other twin simply being woken up.

When should I start brushing my baby's teeth?

As soon as the first tooth appears. Use a baby toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day, and keep sugary drinks and snacks to a minimum. Registering with a dentist early and taking your baby along helps them get used to it.

When do babies start teething? Signs and relief

When do babies start teething? Signs, what helps, and what to avoid

Charlotte Sep 24, 2026 6 min read

Quick answer

Most babies start teething at around six months, but the range is wide: some are born with a tooth, some start before four months, and some do not get one until after their first birthday. Common signs are sore, red gums, dribbling, a flushed cheek, chewing on everything and being more fretful than usual. Teething does not cause a high temperature or diarrhoea, so if your baby has those, look for another cause. Cold teething rings, gentle gum rubbing and, for genuine pain, sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen at the right dose for their age can help. Avoid amber teething necklaces and numbing gels containing benzocaine.

Teething gets blamed for a lot. Bad nights, grumpy afternoons, a runny nose, a funny nappy. Some of that is fair. Some of it is a tooth taking the credit for something else entirely, and knowing the difference saves a lot of worry.

When it starts

Most babies start teething at around six months. That is the average, and the range around it is wide:

a small number of babies are born with a tooth
some start before four months
some do not get a first tooth until after their first birthday

All of those are normal. A late first tooth, on its own, is rarely anything to worry about. If your baby is well past their first birthday with no teeth at all, mention it to your health visitor or dentist, but do not lose sleep over it before then.

The bottom front teeth usually come first, then the top front ones, then the rest over the following couple of years. Most children have their full set of 20 milk teeth by about two and a half.

What teething actually looks like

The common signs:

red, sore or swollen gums where a tooth is coming
more dribbling than usual, sometimes with a rash on the chin from it
one flushed cheek
chewing and gnawing on hands, toys, anything
rubbing their ear on the same side as the tooth
being more fretful and clingy, and sometimes sleeping worse

Some babies get almost all of these. Some cut a tooth with no fuss at all and you only notice when it appears.

What teething does not do

This is the part worth getting right. Teething does not cause a high temperature, and it does not cause diarrhoea. A slightly warm baby is possible, but a fever of 38C or more, diarrhoea, or a baby who seems genuinely unwell needs looking at as its own thing, especially in a young baby. Putting it down to teeth can mean missing an ear infection or a tummy bug.

What helps

Cold, not frozen. A teething ring chilled in the fridge is soothing to chew on. Frozen ones can be hard enough to hurt the gums.

Pressure. Gently rubbing the sore gum with a clean finger helps a surprising number of babies.

Something to gnaw. If your baby has started solids, cool, safe finger foods like chilled cucumber or a piece of bread crust give them something to work on, with you right there.

Wipe the dribble. Keeping the chin dry heads off the rash that dribbling causes.

Pain relief for real pain. If your baby is clearly in pain, sugar-free paracetamol (from two months) or ibuprofen (from three months, if they weigh enough and the medicine is suitable) at the dose on the packet for their age can help. It is fine to use it for a rough night. Check with a pharmacist if you are unsure what is right for your baby.

What to avoid

Amber teething necklaces and bracelets. They are sold everywhere, and health authorities including the US FDA warn against them because of the risk of strangulation and choking. There is no good evidence they do anything for pain.

Numbing gels with benzocaine. These are advised against for young children. If you want to try a teething gel, ask a pharmacist for one that is suitable for your baby's age.

Homeopathic teething products. There is no good evidence they work, and some have had safety problems.

With twins, teeth rarely arrive together

Even identical twins often get their teeth weeks apart. It is common for one to have four teeth while the other has none, and it does not mean anything about either baby's development.

The practical effect is that a bad night is not always a shared teething night. Quite often one twin has a tooth coming and the other is simply being woken up. If both are unsettled, it is worth checking whose gums actually look sore before giving medicine to both, and keeping a note of which baby had a rough night makes the pattern easier to see over a few weeks.

Looking after the new teeth

Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, twice a day with a baby toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste. Keep sugary drinks and snacks to a minimum, and do not put your baby down to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. Taking your baby along to your own dental appointments is an easy way to get them used to the dentist before they need one.

Frequently asked questions

At what age do babies start teething?: Most babies start at around six months. But the normal range is wide: a few are born with a tooth, some start before four months, and some do not get their first tooth until after twelve months. A late first tooth on its own is not usually a concern.
What are the first signs of teething?: Red, sore or swollen gums where the tooth is coming through, more dribbling, a flushed cheek, chewing and gnawing on things, rubbing their ear on the same side, and being more unsettled than usual. Some babies show almost no signs at all.
Does teething cause fever or diarrhoea?: No. There is no evidence that teething causes a high temperature, diarrhoea or other illness. A slightly raised temperature can happen, but a fever of 38C or more, or diarrhoea, points to something else and should be treated as such, especially in a young baby.
What helps a teething baby?: Something cool to chew on, like a teething ring chilled in the fridge rather than frozen. Rubbing the gum gently with a clean finger. Healthy things to gnaw on if they have started solids. For real discomfort, sugar-free paracetamol from two months or ibuprofen from three months, at the dose on the pack for their age, if the medicine is suitable. Ask a pharmacist if unsure.
Are amber teething necklaces safe?: No. Health authorities including the US FDA have warned against teething necklaces and bracelets because of the risk of strangulation and choking, and there is no good evidence they relieve pain. Numbing gels containing benzocaine are also advised against for young children.
Do twins get teeth at the same time?: Often not, even identical twins. One may be weeks ahead of the other. That is normal, and it is one reason a single rough night is not always teething: sometimes it is one twin's tooth and the other twin simply being woken up.
When should I start brushing my baby's teeth?: As soon as the first tooth appears. Use a baby toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day, and keep sugary drinks and snacks to a minimum. Registering with a dentist early and taking your baby along helps them get used to it.