The first teeth

The joy of the first tooth is usually great. However, the teething period is often associated with sleepless nights, restlessness and a slight fever. Here you will find the most important information about teething and your child's dental health to help you support their development as well as possible.

The first milk teeth usually appear at the age of 6 to 8 months. They usually start with the two lower incisors. At around two and a half years of age, the primary dentition is complete with a total of 20 teeth.

The teeth are already in place before they erupt in the jaw. They advance slowly and can cause pain even before they are visible. During teething, the gums are often reddened. Some babies are particularly restless during this time, cry and have a slightly elevated temperature or diarrhea.

It is wrong to believe that milk teeth do not need to be cared for so thoroughly because they will fall out anyway. Milk teeth need careful care right from the start. This is because every diseased tooth, and this also applies to milk teeth, causes your child great pain.

Milk teeth also have important tasks for maintaining dental health:

• Milk teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth.
• Chewing promotes the development of the jaw.
• And if the milk teeth have caries, there is a risk that the caries bacteria will be transferred to the permanent teeth.

Regular dental care should begin as soon as the first teeth break through at around 6 months of age. Use an age-appropriate, very soft children's toothbrush with a small head. This allows you to gently clean the teeth. Teeth should be cleaned twice a day. This will help your baby get used to the morning and evening brushing routine right from the start. First clean the chewing surfaces with short forward and backward movements, then the outer surfaces with circular movements and finally the inner surfaces of the teeth.

You can take advantage of the free early dental check-ups Z1-Z6 from the 6th month of life:

• Z1: 6th to 9th month of life
• Z2: 10th to 20th month of life
• Z3: 21st to 23rd month of life
• Z4: 34th to 48th month of life (around 3 to 4 years)
• Z5: 49th to 60th month of life (4 to 5 years)
• Z6: 61st to 72nd month of life (5 to 6 years)

Dentists can detect abnormalities in teeth, mucous membranes and jaw growth at an early stage during the appointments and treat them if necessary. You will also receive helpful information on age-appropriate oral hygiene and a tooth-friendly diet.

From January 1, 2026, the results of early dental check-ups will be documented in the Yellow Child Health Booklet or in the electronic eU booklet. If your child already has a yellow booklet, you will receive insert pages for the booklet and a sticker with information on the respective examination periods. New booklets issued from mid-February 2026 already contain all the required documents.