You can predict what your baby will put into his mouth—everything—but you can't predict exactly what will happen inside his mouth. All babies' teeth appear in the same general order, but the time it takes for babies to go from gummy grins to toothy smiles varies. As long as your baby's teeth appear within a general time period, worry more about what he chews than how many teeth do the chewing.
Year One: A Quick Start
The 7+4 Rule
Life is hectic with a growing baby, and keeping a neat calendar marking his tooth eruptions is probably not at the top of your to-do list. If you find yourself wondering whether he's on track, just remember what the American Academy of Pediatrics calls the "7 + 4 rule." Your baby's first teeth will probably arrive by the time he's about 7 months old. For every four months after that, expect four new teeth to appear. The typical baby will have four teeth at 11 months, eight teeth at 15 months, 12 teeth at 19 months, 16 teeth at 23 months and 20 teeth at 27 months. These are just general guidelines (his second molars might not arrive until he's 30 months old or older) but they'll help you remember the typical timeline.
Greeting New Chompers
Each new tooth brings the possibility of discomfort for your infant. Massaging his tender gums with a clean finger, providing a cold washcloth or hard rubber teething ring for chewing and feeding your baby pea-sized bites of teething biscuits can ease some of his suffering. Tooth decay is also a concern. Twenty-eight percent of children have cavities by age 3, says HealthyChildren.org. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends brushing an infant's teeth daily with a soft child's toothbrush and a smear of fluoridated toothpaste after the first tooth appears. Once he turns 2, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
