Baby Teething Guide: Timeline, Symptoms & Safe Relief

Most babies get their first tooth between about 6 and 10 months, usually one of the bottom front teeth. The normal range is wide, though, from around 4 months to past the first birthday. Teething can cause drooling, gum rubbing and some fussiness. It does not cause high fever, diarrhoea or real illness, so if your baby seems unwell, look for another cause.

This guide covers the typical order teeth appear in, the real symptoms, safe ways to soothe sore gums, what to avoid, and when to book your baby’s first dental visit in Singapore.

Baby teething timeline

Babies have 20 baby (primary) teeth, and they usually come through in a similar order. Most children have all 20 by about age 3. The ages below are averages. Being a few months either side is common and rarely a concern.

Occasionally a baby is born with a tooth, or has none by 12 months. If there are no teeth at all by about 15 to 18 months, mention it to your doctor or dentist. Most of the time it’s just a late start.

Teething symptoms: what’s real and what’s myth

Common signs

• Extra drooling, sometimes with a rash on the chin or chest
• Chewing and gnawing on fingers, toys or anything within reach
• Red, swollen gums where a tooth is coming through
• Irritability and clinginess for a few days around each tooth
• Rubbing the cheek or pulling at the ear on the same side
• Slightly disturbed sleep or less appetite for a day or two

A small rise in temperature can happen, but it stays below fever level (under 38°C).

Myths to be careful of

“It’s just teething” is not an explanation for a fever of 38°C or higher, diarrhoea, vomiting, a runny nose, a cough or a rash across the body. Research hasn’t linked teething to these. Teething lasts for about two years, so it’s easy to blame it for an unrelated infection. Babies from around 6 months also pick up more viruses, especially once they start infant care or childcare.

If your baby has a fever, check our guide on baby fever and when to see a doctor. For babies under 3 months, a temperature of 38°C or higher always needs prompt medical attention.

Safe ways to soothe teething pain

• Gum massage: with a clean finger, gently rub the sore area for a minute or two.
• Chilled teethers: solid silicone or rubber teething rings cooled in the fridge (not the freezer, as frozen teethers can be too hard and cold for gums).
• A cold, damp washcloth for your baby to chew on, under supervision.
• Cold foods for babies already on solids: chilled yoghurt, cold fruit purees, or soft cold cucumber sticks for older babies who manage finger foods well. Always supervise.
• Keep the chin dry: wipe drool gently and apply a barrier cream to prevent drool rash, which humid Singapore weather can make worse.
• Comfort and routine: extra cuddles and keeping bedtime routines consistent help more than you might expect.

If your baby is very uncomfortable and over the minimum age on the label, age-appropriate infant paracetamol can help. Follow the label or your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice on dose, and check with them first if your baby is under 3 months. Don’t use pain relief routinely for every tooth.

What to avoid

• Liquid-filled teethers that can split or leak
• Hard foods such as raw carrot or rusks that break into chunks, which are a choking risk
• Rubbing alcohol, salt or traditional remedies on the gums
• Sugary biscuits or dipping a pacifier in honey or sweet drinks. Honey is unsafe before 12 months and sugar harms new teeth.

Caring for new teeth

Tooth decay in young children is common in Singapore and is largely preventable. Start good habits with the very first tooth:

• Brush twice a day, including before bed, with a soft infant toothbrush
• Use a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste (1,000ppm) for children under 3, as recommended in HPB guidance on HealthHub
• Before teeth arrive, you can wipe the gums with a clean, damp cloth
• Don’t put your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice, and avoid prolonged sipping from a bottle through the day
• Offer water in an open or straw cup from around 6 months, and aim to move away from bottles at around 12 to 18 months
• Avoid sharing spoons or “cleaning” a pacifier in your own mouth, which can pass on decay-causing bacteria

Your baby’s first dental visit in Singapore

HealthHub advises booking the first dental visit when the first tooth comes through or by the first birthday, whichever is earlier. It’s usually short and gentle: the dentist looks at the teeth and gums, checks for early decay, talks through brushing, diet and bottle habits, and may apply fluoride varnish.

You can see a private family or paediatric dentist, and some polyclinics have dental clinics. Ask at your child’s developmental check if you’re unsure where to go. HealthHub’s oral care guide for toddlers is a good reference.

When to see a doctor

• Fever of 38°C or higher (under 3 months: see a doctor urgently)
• Your baby refuses feeds or has fewer wet nappies than usual
• Diarrhoea, vomiting or a rash, which shouldn’t be put down to teething
• Swelling, pus or a bump on the gums that looks infected
• Your baby is inconsolable, drowsy or seems unwell

For anything that looks serious, such as difficulty breathing, unusual drowsiness or a seizure, call 995 or go to KKH Children’s Emergency or your nearest paediatric A&E.

Key takeaways

• First teeth usually arrive at 6 to 10 months, and the range is wide
• Teething causes drooling and fussiness, not high fever or illness
• Chilled teethers, gum massage and cuddles are the safest relief
• Avoid amber necklaces and numbing gels for infants
• Brush from the first tooth with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste, and see a dentist by age 1

For more on development, visit our milestones hub or the month-by-month milestones guide. Our guides to daily tummy time and whether baby walkers are safe answer two other common questions in the first year.