25 Apr Everything You Need to Know About Dog Teeth

You may see that your puppy bites whatever he catches. You should know that it happens because he’s cutting his teeth. Dogs have two types of deciduous and permanent teeth. 28 deciduous teeth begin to erupt at about 3-week-old, and by about 6 to 8 weeks they all erupt. The time for a dog’s deciduous tooth to fall begins at about 12 weeks. All permanent teeth erupt about 6 to 7 months. Puppies don’t have Molar teeth like humans. We have to take care of the dog’s permanent teeth because they don’t fall out and your dog has to have them for the rest of his life. It’s important to have information about the number of teeth, their types, the time of teething, and so on. Stay tuned to learn everything about dog teeth and how to care for them.

When do dog teeth become permanent?

The dog’s permanent teeth begin to erupt at 4-month-old. Permanent teeth are developing under the gums. When they’re ready to germinate, they put pressure on the deciduous teeth. This pressure causes the teeth to fall out. After this process, the crown of permanent teeth appears.

How many teeth does a puppy have?

Puppies usually don’t have teeth until 3-week-old. But about 1-month-old, deciduous teeth erupt. The puppy has 28 teeth;

• 12 incisor teeth (6 jaws each)
• 4 canines (2 jaws each)
• 12 premolar teeth (6 jaws each)
• Puppies don’t have molar teeth.

Puppies typically begin to lose their deciduous teeth at 12 to 16 weeks old (3 to 4 months). By 6 to 8 months old, all deciduous teeth should be falling out, and permanent teeth should be replaced. After eight months, the puppies lose all their deciduous teeth and have 42 permanent ones. Of course, these times slightly vary in different breeds. Larger breeds have permanent teeth sooner. In some adult dogs, deciduous teeth remain and cause dental problems such as increased tooth mass. These extra teeth must be removed by a veterinarian.

Incisor teeth

These teeth are located in front of the mouth. The dog’s incisor teeth are present in both the upper part and the jaw. Each jaw has 6 anterior teeth. So in total, an adult dog has 12 incisors. They’re small and sharp. These teeth are used for pulling, scratching and grasping objects.

Canine teeth

Dog canine teeth are long and pointed. The number of canine teeth is 4 (2 in each jaw). These teeth are used to tear and grab something.

Premolar teeth 

There are 8 premolar teeth in the jaw after the canines (16 in total). Premolars are mostly used for chewing food.

Molar teeth

The main function of the molar teeth is to chew food. Molar teeth are larger and sharper than premolars. These teeth are 6 in the mandible (3 on each side) and 4 in the maxilla (2 on the sides). So in total, each adult dog has 10 large molar teeth.

Falling and erupting of teeth

There may be bleeding when the dog’s teeth fall out, but it’s very small and you will only notice small red spots on his equipment. You may also find some deciduous teeth on the ground, but puppies usually eat these teeth with their food, which isn’t a problem. Sometimes it can be difficult for a dog to erupt teeth, meaning puppies have sore and swollen gums, lose their appetite and have intermittent mild diarrhea ( his diarrhea gets better but it comes back). But fortunately, it’s very rare for puppies to have serious problems with their deciduous teeth and have to seek help from a veterinarian.

Plaque and mass of dog teeth

Bacteria in a dog’s mouth form an invisible layer called plaque on the teeth. A part of the plaque disappears spontaneously with the help of the dog’s tongue and chewing food or other things. But the remaining part becomes a mass that is hard and rough. The more plaque accumulates on the tooth mass. Plaque bacteria cause inflammation of the gums or gingivitis when they come in contact with the gums.

The best way to prevent tooth mass is to brush your dog’s teeth daily using dog toothpaste (which is also safe for dogs to eat). Chewing gum may also help reduce plaque and mass tooth. Some foods help remove plaque mechanically or chemically. Some substances can be added to water and have the same effect. Once the plaque has formed, the only way is to anesthetize and scale the teeth, because it isn’t easily removed by chewing food or brushing.

What to do for puppy tooth itching?

At the age of 4 months old, due to the dog erupting his teeth, he becomes very interested in chewing relatively soft objects. So at this age, get chewing toys for him. You can also give him things like raw leather (not tanned), ears or tails of cows or other animals, bones or tennis balls to chew. Sometimes these things can cause gastrointestinal obstruction, intestinal ulcers or suffocation, it’s better to be careful when chewing. Chewing equipment is used to relieve toothache. You can stop your dog from chewing on furniture, carpets and shoes by teaching him the command (no!). Train him that he must first ask your permission to do anything.

What to do if the dog’s deciduous teeth don’t fall out?

In some breeds, especially those with small bodies or brachiocephalic (short snout), some deciduous teeth may remain in the mouth, which is more common for upper canines. If the dog’s deciduous teeth don’t fall out, it can cause the permanent teeth to become disordered. As a result, the dog is annoyed and his biting power is reduced too. In addition, dental problems are more likely to occur in the future. Food can remain between deciduous teeth or stuck between the permanent teeth and the dog’s gums causing periodontal disease. Therefore, the remaining deciduous teeth should be removed. This removal is usually convenient and veterinarians do it when spaying dogs.

Oral Health

It’s better to get puppies used to brushing from an early age. It reduces the risk of dental problems (one of the most common and costly problems for dogs). When they get older, you can brush their teeth, look inside their mouth or pull something out of their mouth whenever they need to. Don’t force the puppies to brush their teeth. In the beginning, just gently insert the toothbrush and toothpaste into their mouths and let them smell and lick it. A dog toothbrush is different from ours. Toothpaste can also make dogs sick. Another important way to take care of your teeth is proper nutrition. It’s better to get dogs accustomed to brushing from their birth so that you don’t get into trouble in adulthood.

Dog’s oral and dental diseases

The most common oral problem in dogs is periodontal disease. Tooth decay in these animals is so rare that it accounts for less than 10% of all dental problems. The most common problem in them is teeth fracture. Periodontal disease means infection and inflammation of the tissues around the tooth. This problem starts with gingivitis and if we don’t treat it, the infection will go deeper and eventually destroy the bone. it’s the most important reason for loose dog teeth.

Dog teeth fractures

The top layer of the tooth is enamel, which is very strong. The bottom layer is dentin, which is softer. Beneath the dentin, the teeth pulp exist which is completely soft. The nerves and veins are inside it. If the fracture is deep enough to reach the pulp, the only way is through root canal therapy or tooth extraction. Failure to treat a broken tooth can cause the infection to spread to the entire tooth very quickly.

To wrap up

Teeth are very important for dogs and we should take care of them. Brushing, feeding properly and not giving too hard things to the dog is the best way to take care of their teeth. Ensure the health and longevity of your dog’s teeth by taking timely care of them. Beware of the dog’s deciduous teeth falling out, so that neither the dog will be harmed nor you will have trouble caring for him. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming and much more. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have groomed your dogs carefully and accurately so that they count the moments for the next session.