The fact of the matter is that there is not a specific time that every infant will start cutting teeth. Some babies have been born with a tooth or two already poking through, while other infants may not start cutting teeth for many months. While every parent wonders, at one point or another, about when their infant will start cutting teeth, this is especially common for women who are breastfeeding. In addition to the obvious implications for breastfeeding, infants who start cutting teeth may also find themselves being rather fussy, and often in pain.

Generally speaking, an infant will start cutting teeth some time around the ages of five to seven months. Again, not every infant will fall into this time frame. However, most infants will start cutting teeth around that time. Typically, an infant will start cutting teeth with his incisors. First the lower central incisors tend to come in, and then the upper central incisors. These teeth will typically fall out around the ages of six to eight years old. Next come the lateral incisors. The upper lateral incisors start to show around eight to eleven months of age, and will fall out around the age of eight or nine. The lower ones come in at around 7 to 10 months, and will come out at age 7 or 8. Upper and lower cuspids/canines will come in at around 16 to 20 months of age. Uppers disappear around age 11 or 12, and lowers go around nine and eleven. The last teeth to come in are the first molars at ten to sixteen months, and the second molars at the ages of twenty to thirty months. These will all come out between the ages of 10 and 13 years old.

Having said all of that, if you are concerned that your infant has not started cutting teeth and are worried that it may indicate a dental problem of some sort, you should speak with your health care provider. If necessary, your health care provider can refer you to a pediatric dentist who may be able to tell if there is indeed some sort of problem that has kept your infant from starting cutting teeth.

This entry was posted in About Your Baby.