How Many Teeth Should a 1-Year-Old Have?
Definition: what is a baby tooth?
Baby teeth are a child's first teeth. They have several functions: they help the toddler to chew and eat, to speak, they define his face and they guide the permanent teeth so that they grow in the right direction. They are also called "temporary teeth" because they leave room, between 6 and 12 years on average, for permanent teeth.
Which baby tooth comes out first and at what age?
Generally, the first teeth appear as early as 5-6 months. But in some infants, they can pierce as early as 3 months. Usually, the lower central incisors push out first. By 10 months, babies may already have eight small teeth (four incisors at the top and bottom). However, there is no rule. Indeed, the first baby tooth can also appear around one year. On the other hand, those who already have small incisors at a few months will quickly see their two premolars of the upper jaw pierce! Generally, when your baby is between 12 and 24, the lower and upper canines will appear. Up to 30 months, the last molars will grow: 2 at the bottom then 2 at the top.
It is the order of appearance and the symmetry that really matter: if a small canine is born on one side of the jaw, its companion must come out within 6 months. The teething will be followed closely by your pediatrician, who counts and notes the date of appearance of each baby tooth. They will alert you to the slightest problem and advise you to consult a dentist if they are concerned. In total, around 3 years old, your child's 20 baby teeth should have erupted. If not, talk to your pediatrician.
Teething is a series of successive stages sometimes leading to pain and inconvenience for your baby. The date of teeth eruption and the order in which they appear vary greatly from child to child. This is very important to remember. Just because your child isn’t following the general guidelines found here, doesn’t mean something is wrong. If you are concerned, you can talk to your child’s pediatrician about your concerns. In some babies, the first teeth, usually the lower incisors, grow at around 4 or 5 months, while other perfectly normal and healthy children will not have their first teeth until around 8 or 9 months and sometimes after the age of one. The number of teeth your one-year-old will have depends on many factors, including genetics.
Baby teeth (or milk teeth) appear on average in the following order:
- 4-5 months : the two lower median incisors
- 6-7 months : the two upper median incisors
- 8-12 months : the two upper lateral incisors
- 9-12 months : the two lower lateral incisors
- 12-18 months: the first four molars
- 18-24 months : the four canines
- 24 months or more : the four second molars
Please remember that every baby is different, and try not to worry too much if your child deviates from these averages. Oftentimes, how many teeth a one-year-old will have depends on genetics and other factors that are beyond your control.