Quick answer: Between ages 1 and 3, toddlers typically get their first molars, canines, and second molars, completing their full set of 20 baby teeth by around age 3. This period also brings big habit changes: switching from bottle to cup, weaning off pacifiers, and moving from a smear to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste at age 3. It’s also when dental checkups every six months become the routine.
The first birthday is often treated as a finish line for teething, but there’s actually more happening in the two years after it than in the first year itself. Here’s what typically unfolds month by month, and which habits are worth building now.
Ages 1 to 3, At a Glance
| Age Range | What’s Erupting | Big Habit Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 12 to 18 months | First molars | First dental visit, bottle-to-cup transition begins |
| 18 to 24 months | Canines | Pacifier and thumb-sucking weaning window |
| 2 to 3 years | Second molars | Toothpaste moves from a smear to pea-sized |
12 to 18 Months: First Molars Arrive
Teeth erupting: First molars · Also happening: First dental visit, more solid foods
The first molars, the flatter back teeth used for grinding food, typically arrive between 13 and 19 months. Since molars have a larger surface to push through the gum, this round of teething can feel more intense than earlier ones, and some toddlers go through a rougher few days than they did with their front teeth.
This window usually overlaps with your child’s first dental visit, if it hasn’t happened already. Our guide to molar teething covers what symptoms to expect and how to help, and our first dental visit guide walks through what that appointment looks like.
18 to 24 Months: Canines and Pacifier Weaning
Teeth erupting: Canines · Also happening: Ideal window to begin pacifier weaning
Canines, the pointed teeth next to the lateral incisors, typically come in between 16 and 23 months. This is also the age the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry points to as a good time to start limiting pacifier and thumb-sucking habits: their policy notes that use beyond 18 months can begin to influence how the bite and jaw develop, and they recommend habits be fully phased out by 36 months.
This doesn’t mean panic if your two-year-old still has a pacifier at nap time. It means this is a reasonable window to start gently reducing it rather than waiting until it becomes a harder habit to break. Our guide to thumb sucking and pacifiers covers practical weaning strategies.
2 to 3 Years: Second Molars Complete the Smile
Teeth erupting: Second molars · Also happening: Full set of 20 teeth, toothpaste amount increases
The second molars, the very back teeth, typically arrive between 23 and 33 months, completing the full set of 20 primary teeth: 8 incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars. Our guides to second molar teething and the full eruption order cover what to expect as these last teeth settle in.
Turning 3 also marks a change in toothpaste. According to the American Dental Association, children move from a smear or rice-grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to a pea-sized amount at age 3. It’s a small change, but worth marking on the calendar since more isn’t better here; too much swallowed fluoride at this age can affect how permanent teeth develop.
Brushing and Fluoride: What Changes as They Grow
A few things shift as your toddler grows into these years:
- Toothpaste amount increases from a rice-grain smear to a pea-sized dab at age 3
- Flossing should start as soon as any two teeth touch, since a toothbrush can’t reach between them
- The right toothbrush matters more than parents expect; our guides to choosing the best baby toothbrush, cover the details
- Parents should still do the brushing, or closely supervise it, since toddlers don’t yet have the coordination to brush effectively on their own
Our full brushing routine guide covers building this habit step by step, and our guide to fluoride toothpaste goes deeper into how much and when.
Ditching the Bottle: Why the Switch to a Cup Matters
Somewhere around the first birthday is the recommended time to start moving away from the bottle entirely, ideally finishing the transition by 18 months. A bottle used well past this age, especially at bedtime with milk or juice, is one of the more common causes of early childhood cavities, since the liquid pools around the teeth for hours overnight.
The switch doesn’t have to happen overnight. Swapping one bottle feeding at a time for a cup, starting with the one your toddler is least attached to, tends to go more smoothly than stopping all at once. Our guides on preventing baby bottle tooth decay and whether breastfeeding can cause cavities cover the specific risks worth knowing.
Diet and Cavity Risk in the Toddler Years
With a full set of teeth and a much wider diet than a year ago, this is also when cavity risk starts to climb if habits aren’t in place. Frequent grazing on sugary snacks and juice does more damage than the same amount eaten in one sitting, since it keeps the mouth in an acidic state for longer.
When to Worry: Signs Worth a Call
Most of this period runs smoothly, but a few things are worth mentioning at your next checkup rather than waiting it out:
- No teeth at all by 18 months
- A tooth that looks discolored, chipped, or unusually positioned
- Ongoing pain, not just mild teething fussiness
- A pacifier or thumb-sucking habit that hasn’t budged by age 3
- Reluctance to chew on one side, which can sometimes point to a sore tooth
None of these are emergencies on their own, but they’re worth flagging rather than assuming your child will simply grow out of it.
FAQ
Should all 20 baby teeth be in by age 3?
For most toddlers, yes, though a few months of variation on either side is still considered normal.
Is it normal for molars to be harder on my toddler than earlier teeth?
Yes. Molars are larger and push through more gum tissue, so this round of teething is often more uncomfortable than the front teeth were.
When should I start weaning my toddler off a pacifier?
Somewhere between 18 months and their third birthday is a reasonable window, according to pediatric dental guidelines, though every child’s timeline looks a little different.
Why does the toothpaste amount change at age 3?
Younger children tend to swallow more toothpaste than they spit out. A smaller amount before age 3 limits how much fluoride they ingest while they’re still learning to spit.
My toddler refuses to give up the bottle. Is that a problem?
It’s worth actively working on, especially if it’s happening at bedtime with milk or juice, since prolonged bottle use is one of the most common causes of early cavities in this age group.
The Bottom Line
The toddler years bring more dental change than most parents expect: a full set of teeth, several habit transitions, and the start of real cavity risk if daily routines aren’t in place yet. None of it needs to happen perfectly on schedule, but knowing what’s coming makes it much easier to catch small issues before they become bigger ones.
Due for a checkup, or noticing something that doesn’t look quite right? Come see us at The Shine Dental in Lalitpur.