Is your puppy approaching teething? If so, it’s important to understand what’s considered normal; and when to seek veterinary advice. Is it normal for my dog to still have puppy teeth? Let’s take a look!

How many teeth do puppies have?

A puppy’s baby teeth (also known as milk or deciduous teeth) start to erupt around 3 weeks of age, and are all present by around 6 weeks. Puppies have 28 baby teeth in total. 

Just as with human children, taking care of the milk teeth is as important as the adult teeth! Dogs are also more likely to tolerate teeth brushing when it’s introduced at an early age. Once your puppy has settled in at home, you can start to introduce gentle teeth brushing with a soft brush and puppy-safe toothpaste.

When do puppy teeth fall out?

Puppies will start to lose their baby teeth around 4 months old, with all 42 adult teeth being present in most puppies by 7 months. 

Your puppy will have a full set of deciduous teeth by the time they join your family, and these are razor sharp! At around 4 months of age, you may notice your puppy excessively chewing on things, as teething begins. You may also notice them dribbling a bit, or spots of blood in their food bowl. Puppies will often swallow their baby teeth, so you may not actually see them fall out.

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Remember, puppies explore with their mouths, so chewing is also normal puppy behaviour! Be sure to offer plenty of puppy safe chews (ask your vet for advice if you aren’t sure). 

Why are my puppy’s teeth not falling out?

A ‘retained deciduous tooth’ is a baby tooth that is still present when the adult tooth erupts. This means that the baby tooth is still taking up the space that the adult tooth should occupy. The most commonly retained baby teeth are the canines.

Retained deciduous teeth are more common in small breeds, such as chihuahuas, and brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds, such as bulldogs. However, they can happen in any breed. Sometimes retained deciduous teeth run in the family, so if the parents had retained deciduous teeth, their puppies are more likely to. 

What if my dog’s baby teeth don’t fall out?

Retained baby teeth are relatively common, especially in certain breeds, but they do need treatment. 

If left alone, they cause the adult teeth to erupt in the wrong place and / or angle, and cause overcrowding. This causes food to become trapped between the teeth, increasing the chances or plaque, tartar, gum disease and tooth decay. They can also cause abnormal wear on the teeth they are in contact with. 

When the adult teeth erupt in an inappropriate position, this often results in them sticking into the roof of the mouth (soft palate), gums or inside of the cheeks, causing pain and potentially difficulty eating. 

Lingually displaced deciduous / adult teeth is a common bite defect seen in puppies, and can be caused by retained baby teeth. If deciduous lower canines are left untreated, the adult teeth can become ‘lingually displaced’. This means they are forced to erupt on the inside of the baby teeth, closer to the tongue. This usually results in the adult canines digging into the hard palate, which is very painful. 

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If you noticed that your puppy’s baby teeth aren’t falling out, or an adult tooth is coming through while the baby tooth is still there, then it’s time for a veterinary check up! The sooner the better.

How are retained baby teeth treated?

Retained baby teeth need to be removed (extracted). Their extraction requires a general anaesthetic, so the advice used to be to wait until neutering, meaning the retained baby teeth could be removed at the same time. However, we now know that it is better not to wait. 

Retained deciduous teeth should be removed as soon as possible, to allow the adult teeth to come through in their proper place. Following extraction, there are things you can do at home to help the adult teeth to grow appropriately too, depending on the teeth involved. An example would be ball therapy for lingually displaced lower canines (only under veterinary direction).

Not all retained baby teeth require extraction. For example in the rare cases that there is no adult counterpart to erupt.

If you notice an adult tooth starting to poke through the gum while the baby tooth is still in place (and it’s not about to fall out), or you have any concerns about your puppy’s teeth, book a veterinary check-up as soon as you can. Your vet will be able to advise you on the best treatment (and timing of) for your pup.

Further reading:

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