Table of Contents
How Many Sets of Teeth do Dogs Have?
Similar to humans, dogs have two sets of teeth. Their baby teeth and permanent adult teeth.
Between 4 and 6 weeks old, your puppy’s teeth begin to erupt.
The scratch on the puppy’s teeth is a sign that the puppy is old enough to be fed solid food.
The incisors first, followed by the canines, and finally the premolars. Dental photos and x-rays are included in an in-depth breakdown of dental anatomy for dogs.
Puppies don’t grow molars with their first set of teeth as they don’t need to grind food at that age, so they have a total of 28 baby teeth.
How Many Teeth do Dogs Have?
Adult dogs have 42 teeth, which come in at around 4 months of age. The incisors are first, followed by the canines and premolars, and finally the molars, which erupt at some point between 6 and 7 months old.
Before the adult teeth come through, your dog has to lose their baby teeth. There is no dog version of the tooth fairy.
The baby teeth go throughexfoliation when the adult teeth start to grow.
The roots of your dog’s baby teeth are absorbed by the tissue surrounding it, causing the visible tooth to fall out. Adult teeth can be grown in their place.
When do Puppies Start and Finish Teething?
Once adult teeth start to grow in at around 4 months of age, puppies should stop teething once all the new teeth have grown in around 7 months.
As the new teeth grow through the gums, they will cause some pain.
You will know if your puppy is teething because they will be chewing everything in sight.
Some of their dental pressure is relieved by chewing. They may start drooling more than usual and show signs of being upset. Their appetite levels may be low.
Provide teething puppies with plenty of chew toys so they don’t destroy a lot of your home and possessions.
There is a video on the puppy teeth cycle and how to deal with teething.
Can Dogs Suffer From Tooth Problems?
The dental health of your dog can be affected by a number of issues, some of which can be avoided with proper care.
One of the most common problems is when one or a number of baby teeth don’t fall out and stay within the gum line.
These teeth are calledtained deciduous teeth. This happens when the adult tooth doesn’t grow directly beneath the baby tooth.
This can cause adult teeth to grow in your dog’s mouth and cause overcrowding in the jaw. The problem needs to be fixed quickly by a vet.
Similar dental issues to those that affect humans are included in other problems. All of these can be avoided with proper dental care.
How do I Best Care for My Dog’s Teeth?
Dog teeth can be kept clean by ensuring your dog eats a mainly hard kibble diet, with minimal soft foods (these can leave debris in the teeth which can gather bacteria in the mouth).
Similar to hard rubber, bully sticks or rawhide chews, scrapers will help to keep teeth clean.
If you are giving your dog rawhide to chew on, make sure it is USDA-inspected and not cooked bones which could break off in your dog’s throat.
You can learn more about the bully sticks that dogs love.
Many vets recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily with toothpaste and brush to remove plaque before it becomes a problem.
Bad breath in dogs is a sign of a dental problem like tooth decay or gum disease. If you notice your dog, make a vet appointment. The smell of breath is a little stronger than usual.
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