Teeth do not all appear at once. They come through the gums in stages.

These times are a guide – every child is different, and small differences are normal.

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Baby (milk) teeth

Baby teeth usually start to come through at about 6 months of age.

Most children have all their baby teeth by around 2½ years.

There are 20 baby teeth in total.

Typical order of baby teeth:

• Central incisors (front teeth) – around 6 months.
• Lateral incisors – around 8 months.
• First molars – around 12 months.
• Canines (pointed teeth) – around 18 months.
• Second molars – around 24 months.

Lower teeth often come through before the matching upper teeth.

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Permanent (adult) teeth

Adult teeth usually start to appear around age 6.

The first permanent teeth to come through are the first molars at the very back. These appear behind the baby teeth and do not replace any teeth. They are very important and need careful cleaning.

There are 32 adult teeth, including wisdom teeth.

Typical ages for adult teeth:

• First molars – around 6 years.
• Central incisors – around 7 years.
• Lateral incisors – around 8 years.
• First premolars – around 9–10 years.
• Canines – around 9 years (lower), 11 years (upper).
• Second premolars – around 10–11 years.
• Second molars – around 12 years.
• Wisdom teeth – usually between 18 and 25 years (sometimes later or not at all).

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Protecting new adult teeth

New adult molars have deep grooves where food and plaque can collect.

Dentists may recommend fissure sealants. These are protective coatings placed on the biting surfaces to help prevent tooth decay.

Brushing carefully as soon as these teeth appear is very important, as they need to last a lifetime.

If you are worried about how your child’s teeth are coming through, speak to your dental team.