Oral Health›Life stages

Teething: Signs, Safe Relief and What to Avoid

When baby teeth usually come through, which signs are and are not down to teething, what safely helps, and the teething products that health bodies and medicines regulators warn against.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • For most babies the first tooth appears at around 6 to 10 months, but anywhere from about 3 months to after 12 months can be normal. Most have all 20 baby teeth by around 3 years.
  • Teething can cause sore gums, dribbling and irritability. Health bodies say it does not explain diarrhoea or a high temperature.
  • Try simple things first: rubbing the gums with a clean finger, a chilled (not frozen) teething ring, and comfort.
  • If your baby is in pain, the NHS says sugar-free paracetamol can be given from 2 months and ibuprofen from 3 months, following the instructions.
  • Avoid teething necklaces, homeopathic teething products, and gels containing benzocaine or salicylate. Lidocaine gels are discouraged in the US and Australia; in the UK they are pharmacy-only and a second choice.

Teething is the process of baby teeth breaking through the gums. It is normal, and some teeth arrive with no fuss at all. This guide goes further than our overview of children's teeth, and where countries' advice differs, we set each out.

When do baby teeth come through?

Babies are born with all 20 baby teeth in the jaw. Sources give different typical ages for the first tooth:

  • NHS (UK): most babies start at around 6 months, but some before 4 months and some after 12 months.
  • Australian Dental Association: often around 9 months, with a range of 3 to 12 months. It suggests a dental check-up if there are no teeth by 12 months.
  • Raising Children Network (Australia) and American Academy of Pediatrics: 6 to 10 months for most babies. The Academy says discomfort may start weeks or months earlier, possibly from 3 months.
  • American Dental Association: typically 6 to 12 months.

The bottom front teeth usually come first, followed by the top front teeth, according to the NHS, the Raising Children Network and the Better Health Channel. Most children have all their baby teeth by 2 to 3 years (NHS) or by 3 years (Australian Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics).

What are the signs of teething?

Signs listed by the NHS, the Australian Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics include:

  • sore, red or swollen gums where the tooth is coming through
  • dribbling more than usual, sometimes with a rash on the face or around the mouth
  • chewing, gnawing or rubbing the gums together
  • being more fretful or irritable, and sleeping poorly

The Better Health Channel says teething symptoms usually last around 48 hours, and the NHS says mild symptoms may last a few days.

What teething does not cause

  • Diarrhoea: the NHS says there is no evidence teething causes it. The American Academy of Pediatrics says teething does not change how a baby's gut works.
  • Fever: sources word this differently. The NHS says the temperature may be slightly raised but below 38C. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby lists "a slight fever" as a possible sign, but says to see a doctor for 38C or more. The American Academy of Pediatrics goes further and says studies show fever is a false sign of teething, and the American Dental Association says fever is not a normal teething symptom.
  • Other illness: the Australian Dental Association says poor sleep, loss of appetite, coughing, rashes, diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures or a very high fever should not be put down to teething straight away. The Better Health Channel says symptoms of common illnesses are often wrongly linked to teething.

What helps a teething baby?

The NHS, the MHRA (the UK medicines regulator) and the FDA all say to start with simple, non-medicine options:

  • Rub the gums gently with a clean finger, or, as the Australian Dental Association suggests, the back of a cold spoon.
  • A teething ring. The NHS says some can be chilled in the fridge but must never go in the freezer, and must never be tied around the neck. The FDA advises a firm rubber teether rather than a liquid-filled one, and supervision in case of choking.
  • Comfort: cuddles and play (NHS, Australian Dental Association).
  • Something to chew: from 6 months, if your baby has started solids, the NHS suggests raw fruit and vegetables, always watched in case of choking.

Sources differ on two details:

  • Frozen items: the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a damp washcloth chilled in the freezer, but says not to let your baby chew on anything frozen solid. The NHS, the FDA and Australian sources say cold but not frozen.
  • Rusks: the NHS advises avoiding rusks because nearly all contain some sugar. The Raising Children Network suggests a sugar-free rusk, and the Better Health Channel unsweetened rusks for babies over 6 months who have started solids.

Pain relief medicines

  • UK: the NHS says sugar-free paracetamol can be given from 2 months and ibuprofen from 3 months. Follow the instructions, never give aspirin to anyone under 16, and ask a GP or pharmacist if unsure.
  • Australia: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says paracetamol can be given if your child is in a lot of pain, following the dose on the pack. The Better Health Channel says ibuprofen may also help but is not as well tolerated in infants.
  • US: the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking your paediatrician about paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US), noting that moderate use is considered safe but frequent use can cause problems.

What to avoid

Teething necklaces and bracelets

The FDA has reports of deaths and serious injuries, including strangulation and choking, from teething jewellery such as amber necklaces. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against necklaces of amber, wood, marble or silicone, and the Australian Dental Association says beaded necklaces are a choking hazard and unlikely to help with pain.

Numbing gels

The advice differs by country.

  • US: the FDA warns that gels and creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine (local anaesthetics) offer little to no benefit for teething and carry serious risks. Benzocaine can cause methaemoglobinaemia, where the blood carries much less oxygen, which can be fatal. Prescription lidocaine solution can cause seizures, heart problems, brain injury and death in young children.
  • UK: the MHRA found a lack of evidence that lidocaine teething gels help, and since 2019 they have been sold only in pharmacies. It says they should be a second option, after non-medicine methods, with guidance from a pharmacist or other health professional. The NHS adds that general oral pain gels are not suitable for children. Gels containing salicylate (a relative of aspirin) should not be used by anyone under 16: the MHRA made this change after a 20-month-old became ill following heavy use of a salicylate teething gel, and because of a theoretical risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
  • Australia: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says teething gels should be avoided and gels containing anaesthetic are not recommended for babies or children. The Raising Children Network says gels probably do not ease pain and can cause poisoning because the dose is hard to control.

Other things to avoid

  • Homeopathic teething products: the NHS does not recommend them and says some unlicensed products sold online have been linked to serious side effects. The FDA also warns against homeopathic teething tablets.
  • Alcohol on the gums: the American Academy of Pediatrics says this is not safe for babies.
  • Dummies dipped in honey, jam or other sugary spreads, which raise the risk of decay (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, Australian Dental Association). See sugar and your teeth.
When to see a doctor
  • Your baby has diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash, a cough or seems unwell, or any symptom worries you. The NHS says to call NHS 111 or contact a GP; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says to see your doctor.
  • Your baby has a temperature of 38C or more. The NHS says to call 111 if a baby under 3 months has 38C or higher, or a baby of 3 to 6 months has 39C or higher.
  • Symptoms last longer than about 48 hours, which the Better Health Channel says is worth checking for other causes such as ear infections.
  • Your baby still seems unhappy after simple measures. The Raising Children Network says teething might not be the problem.
When to see a dentist
  • Your child has no teeth by 12 months (Australian Dental Association).
  • Book the first dental visit when the first teeth appear, or by the first birthday, as Pregnancy, Birth and Baby and the Raising Children Network advise. See children's teeth for how to start brushing.
Get help urgently
  • Call 999 (or your local emergency number) if your child has a high temperature and a fit for the first time, a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, difficulty breathing, blue, grey or blotchy skin or lips, or is drowsy and hard to wake. (NHS).

Frequently asked questions

Does teething cause a fever?

Not a high one. The NHS says any rise stays below 38C, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says fever is not a sign of teething at all. Get 38C or more checked.

Are amber teething necklaces safe?

No. The FDA has reports of deaths and serious injuries from teething jewellery, and Australian and US health bodies call them a choking and strangulation hazard.

How long does teething last?

Symptoms for each tooth usually last around 48 hours (Better Health Channel) or a few days (NHS). Teething overall continues until the last baby teeth arrive, usually by about 3 years.

Sources

  1. Baby teething symptoms, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. Tips for helping your teething baby, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. High temperature (fever) in children, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Teething gels for babies and children to be sold in pharmacies only, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), accessed September 2026
  5. Oral salicylate gels: not for use in those younger than age 16 years, MHRA Drug Safety Update, accessed September 2026
  6. Teething and baby teeth, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (healthdirect Australia), accessed September 2026
  7. Baby teeth development, dental health and dental care, Raising Children Network, accessed September 2026
  8. Teeth development in children, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  9. Baby and toddler oral health, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  10. Safely soothing teething pain in infants and children, US Food and Drug Administration, accessed September 2026
  11. Teething pain relief: how to soothe your baby's discomfort, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), accessed September 2026
  12. Teething, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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