Question
Is it normal for a baby to not have any teeth by nine months?
Answer
Babies usually start to sprout milk teeth as early as 4 months, but most begin teething after 6 months. Teeth typically emerge in pairs. The first to appear are the lower incisors (front teeth), followed by the upper incisors, then the lateral incisors, and then the canines, with the molars coming last. Generally, all 20 milk teeth are fully erupted by the age of 3. The timing of the first tooth can vary greatly, with 4 to 12 months considered normal. If a baby has not grown any teeth by the age of 1, as long as their other development is normal, there is no need to worry too much. Only in very rare cases is delayed teething due to metabolic disorders, and this usually manifests in more than just teeth. The order of tooth eruption is related to genetics, the amount of calcium in the body, and whether there are any missing milk teeth.