When Does Teething Hurt the Most and How Long Does It Last?

Teething can be frustratingly unpredictable. One tooth may seem to arrive without any fuss, while another leaves your baby chewing everything, dribbling and struggling to settle.

There is no exact number of days that teething pain lasts for every baby, and NHS guidance does not give a fixed duration for discomfort around each tooth. Symptoms tend to be associated with the period when a tooth is moving through the gum, but babies vary considerably in how much discomfort they experience.

Most babies start teething at around 6 months, although some start before 4 months and others after 12 months. The full teething process then continues gradually as the rest of the milk teeth appear, usually until around 2 to 3 years old.

That does not mean your baby will be in pain throughout that time. Teething tends to come and go as individual teeth emerge.

When does teething hurt the most?

There is no reliable rule saying that teething always hurts most on a particular day.

Discomfort is generally linked with a tooth moving towards and through the gum. You may notice a red, sore area where a tooth is appearing, along with increased chewing or fretfulness.

Some babies seem particularly uncomfortable shortly before a tooth becomes visible. Others show very few symptoms even as the tooth emerges.

Rather than trying to predict an exact “worst day”, look at your baby’s current symptoms.

A visibly sore area of gum, lots of chewing and increased fussiness can suggest that a tooth is close to appearing.

How long does teething pain last for each tooth?

There is no NHS timetable for exactly how long an individual tooth should cause discomfort.

Babies are different, and symptoms do not necessarily begin and end neatly around the moment a tooth breaks through.

You may notice a few unsettled periods before a tooth becomes visible, followed by improvement. Another tooth may appear with almost no obvious discomfort.

If symptoms are persistent, severe or do not seem consistent with ordinary teething, consider whether something else could be making your baby uncomfortable.

Teething should not become an explanation for weeks of unexplained illness or distress.

How long does the whole teething stage last?

Teething as a developmental stage lasts much longer than the discomfort associated with one tooth.

According to the NHS, most babies start teething at around 6 months, although the timing varies.

The NHS gives this general order for milk teeth:

Bottom front teeth often appear at around 5 to 7 months
Top front teeth often appear at around 6 to 8 months
Top lateral incisors often appear at around 9 to 11 months
Bottom lateral incisors often appear at around 10 to 12 months
First molars often appear at around 12 to 16 months
Canines often appear at around 16 to 20 months
Second molars often appear at around 20 to 30 months

These ages are only a guide.

The NHS says most children have all 20 milk teeth by the time they are between 2 and 3 years old.

Does every tooth hurt?

No.

Some babies have very noticeable teething symptoms, while others have few or no symptoms.

Even within the same child, one tooth may cause more obvious discomfort than another.

The NHS notes that some teeth come through without pain or discomfort at all.

This variation can make teething difficult to predict, but it also means that a long teething period does not necessarily mean years of repeated severe pain.

Are molars more painful?

Parents often describe molars as particularly difficult because these teeth are larger than the front teeth.

However, pain is subjective and babies respond differently.

NHS guidance provides the approximate order in which different teeth appear but does not state that a particular type of tooth will always be the most painful.

It is therefore better to respond to the symptoms your child is actually showing rather than assuming a molar will necessarily cause more discomfort.

What are the usual signs that a tooth is coming through?

The NHS lists several possible teething symptoms.

You may notice:

A sore, red gum where the tooth is emerging
One flushed cheek
More dribbling than usual
Increased chewing and gnawing
Ear rubbing
A facial rash
Greater fretfulness
Poorer sleep
A slightly raised temperature below 38°C

Some babies have several signs together.

Others may simply chew more or have a small red area on the gum.

A temperature of 38°C or higher is considered a fever rather than a normal teething temperature.

Why can teething seem worse at night?

Teething discomfort can feel much more noticeable at night, especially when everyone is tired and there are fewer distractions.

The NHS lists poorer sleep as one possible teething symptom.

A baby who is uncomfortable may wake more often or find it harder to settle.

However, disrupted sleep is not specific to teething. Babies wake for many reasons, including hunger, illness, developmental changes and changes in routine.

If your baby is waking repeatedly but does not have other signs of teething, keep an open mind about what might be causing it.

What can help when teething is painful?

Simple comfort measures are a sensible place to start.

The NHS recommends teething rings as one option. Some teething rings can be chilled in the fridge according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Do not put a teething ring in the freezer because the NHS warns that frozen rings could damage a baby’s gums.

You can also gently rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.

If your baby is already eating solid foods, suitable healthy foods to chew may sometimes help, provided they are prepared safely for your baby’s age and eating abilities and your baby is supervised.

Comfort does not have to be complicated

Sometimes a teething baby mainly wants closeness and reassurance.

Extra cuddles, a quiet environment and familiar routines can help you respond to an unsettled baby without needing to try several products at once.

You may find that your baby wants to chew constantly one day and seems completely unbothered the next.

That variation is normal.

There is no need to keep treating teething symptoms when your baby appears comfortable.

What about teething medicines?

If your baby is in pain, appropriate pain relief may sometimes be considered.

The NHS says sugar-free paracetamol can be used for teething symptoms in babies and young children from 2 months, while ibuprofen may be used from 3 months. However, individual medicines have specific age, weight and health restrictions.

Always read the instructions for the exact product you have.

Do not guess a dose or use a medicine that is not suitable for your baby’s age.

If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist, GP or health visitor.

What about teething gels?

The NHS says there is a lack of evidence that teething gels are effective and recommends trying non-medical options such as teething rings first.

If you are considering a teething gel, choose one specifically designed for young children and check that it is suitable for your baby’s age.

General oral pain-relief gels are not suitable for children.

A pharmacist can advise if you are uncertain about a particular product.

Avoid homeopathic teething products

The NHS does not recommend homeopathic teething products.

It states that there is no evidence that these products are effective and notes that some unlicensed homeopathic products advertised online have been linked with serious side effects.

“Natural” does not automatically mean safe for a baby.

If you are considering any remedy and are unsure about its ingredients or suitability, ask a pharmacist before using it.

When discomfort lasts longer than expected

There is no precise deadline after which teething discomfort becomes abnormal.

What matters is the pattern and severity of your baby’s symptoms.

If your baby seems persistently distressed, is struggling to feed, is unusually sleepy or has symptoms that do not fit typical teething, it is sensible to seek advice.

A tooth can be emerging at the same time as an unrelated illness.

Seeing a swollen gum or new tooth should not stop you considering other explanations if your baby seems genuinely unwell.

Teething should not cause a high fever

The NHS says a slightly raised temperature below 38°C can occur with teething.

A temperature of 38°C or higher is a fever.

Do not assume a true fever is simply part of a difficult tooth coming through.

This is especially important in young babies. NHS guidance says a baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs urgent medical advice.

For babies aged 3 to 6 months, a temperature of 39°C or higher also needs urgent advice.

Teething should not explain diarrhoea

Loose nappies are often associated with teething in conversation, but NHS guidance says there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

If your baby develops diarrhoea, consider it separately.

Watch for signs of dehydration, particularly if diarrhoea is accompanied by vomiting or reduced feeding.

If your baby has fewer wet nappies, seems unusually sleepy or you are worried about their fluid intake, seek medical advice.

How to tell if the discomfort is probably teething

Teething becomes a more likely explanation when several familiar signs appear together.

For example, you may notice a sore red area on the gum, increased dribbling, constant chewing and more fretfulness than usual.

If your baby remains alert, is feeding reasonably normally and otherwise seems well, you may feel comfortable using simple teething comfort measures and watching how things develop.

If the symptoms are severe, persistent or accompanied by signs of illness, do not assume teeth are responsible.

When to get professional advice

Speak to your health visitor, GP, dentist or pharmacist if your baby’s teething discomfort seems unusually severe, persists without improvement or you are unsure whether their symptoms are actually caused by teething.

Seek medical advice if your baby is feeding much less than usual, has fewer wet nappies, has persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, seems unusually sleepy or develops a fever.

The NHS advises urgent medical advice if a baby under 3 months has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or if a baby aged 3 to 6 months has a temperature of 39°C or higher.

Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby has serious warning signs such as difficulty breathing, blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, is difficult to wake, is not responding normally, has a first seizure or has a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.

Teething discomfort usually comes in phases rather than lasting continuously throughout the entire teething stage. There is no fixed duration for every tooth, so follow your baby’s symptoms rather than the calendar and seek advice if something feels more significant than ordinary sore gums.