When Will My Child’s Molars Come In?

Right around the time your toddler gets used to chewing and you think the teething process is over, you see a new set of molars poking through in the back of their mouth. And the whole routine you had perfected gets thrown off again. Sore gums, fussy meals, and a kid who wants to gnaw on everything in sight are some signs that molars are coming in.

We see this exact pattern at Silicon Beach Pediatric Dental almost every week. Dr. Ray Klein and Dr. Hayley Botwin have watched hundreds of toddlers go through this stage. Molars tend to show up in two waves. The first set grows in around 13 to 19 months on average. The second set is between 23 and 33 months. But timing varies a lot from kid to kid and almost always it is “normal”.

What Age Do Baby Molars Usually Show Up

The first primary molars usually come in between 13 and 19 months and they usually show up before the canines, which can feel backwards since we tend to picture teeth arriving in an orderly row, front to back. The second molars follow later, after the canines, usually between 23 and 33 months. By around age 3, most kids have a full set of 20 baby teeth.

The order can look different for every child. We’re just quoting the averages here. Studies on tooth eruption have found that timing between teeth varies naturally, not just the age each tooth shows up. So if your child’s molars come in a few months early or late, rarely is that a red flag. We care more about how the teeth look and work once they’re in than whether they hit an exact date on a chart. Patience, patients!

Signs Your Toddler Is Cutting a Molar

Molars have to push through more gum tissue to break through. A few signs tend to show up together, and knowing what to expect can make this stretch feel less alarming. Although by the time the molars grow in you may already be an expert on what signs your child shows just before, or when, a new set of teeth are erupting.

• Drooling and chewing: More drooling and a strong urge to bite down on toys, fingers, or crib rails – sometimes anything they can get in their mouth!
• Gum swelling: Puffy, raised, tender gum tissue in the back of the mouth
• Sleep disruption: Restless nights or more waking as discomfort peaks
• Appetite changes: Less interest in food, especially anything that needs chewing

A fever over 101 degrees, a rash, or severe appetite loss aren’t typical teething symptoms. If those show up alongside the usual fussiness, consult your pediatrician instead of chalking it up to new molars.

Helping Your Toddler Through Molar Teething

Cold helps sore gums. A chilled, not frozen, teething ring or a clean, damp washcloth from the fridge can offer relief without any added ingredients. Light pressure from a clean finger along the gumline helps a lot of kids too, especially before a nap or bedtime when discomfort tends to spike.

Once molars come in, just know they’re going to need attention during brushing. The grooves on top are a perfect spot for food and bacteria to get stuck. The second molars (“two-year molars”) are especially hard to clean so we always encourage parents to keep helping with brushing well past the point where a child wants to do it themselves. It’s also worth asking us about if your child should be flossing once those back teeth are in which is part of our dental exam and discussion. And this is a good time to talk with us about dental exams and cleanings, so we can check that new molars are coming in properly.

Why Silicon Beach Pediatric Dental Is a Good Fit for This Stage

Dr. Ray and Dr. Hayley take a straightforward approach without a lot of black-and-white rules. No jumping to interventions, no overwhelming parents with worst-case scenarios. If your toddler’s molars are coming in a little differently than a friend’s kid or what an internet search says, that’s the kind of question we love discussing with you. We won’t make it a bigger deal than it is. It’s the same reassurance we give around a child’s first dental visit, when parents usually show up with more questions than the appointment takes to answer. Molars are just one stop on a longer road. Building good habits now, brushing well, coming in for regular visits, sets the stage for that next step too.

If your toddler is drooling more than usual, gnawing on everything in sight, or just seems off, it’s worth having someone take a look. Silicon Beach Pediatric Dental welcomes new patients from Playa Vista, Culver City and the surrounding area. We’re happy to check on those emerging molars and answer whatever questions come up along the way. Reach out through our contact page to get on the schedule.