Puppy Teething: Everything About Baby Teeth
Complete guide to puppy teething: when it happens, normal symptoms, how to relieve discomfort and what to do if a baby tooth does not fall out.
Between 3 and 7 months of age, puppies go through one of the most important processes in their development: teething. The 28 baby teeth are replaced by the 42 permanent adult teeth. This process, though completely natural, causes discomfort that explains many behaviors that puzzle new owners: constant chewing, more drooling than usual, or being more irritable than normal.
Teething Timeline
- 3-4 weeks: first baby teeth (incisors) appear. The puppy is still with their mother.
- 3-4 months: baby incisors begin to fall out and permanent ones emerge. Many owners find the tiny teeth around the house or in toys.
- 4-5 months: baby canines fall out — the largest and those that cause the most discomfort.
- 5-7 months: premolars fall out and permanent molars emerge. By 7 months, adult dentition is usually complete.
Normal Symptoms During Teething
- Intense need to chew — everything within reach.
- Increased salivation.
- Reddened or slightly swollen gums.
- Small traces of blood on toys (normal; baby teeth have small roots).
- Slightly more irritability or lower tolerance for rough play.
- Temporary loss of appetite in some puppies.
How to Help Your Puppy Through Teething
- Rubber chew toys: different textures to relieve different areas of the mouth.
- Frozen toys: wet a cloth, roll it up and freeze it. Cold reduces gum inflammation immediately.
- Frozen stuffed Kong: relieves gums and entertains at the same time.
- Cold raw carrot: firm but chewable, the cold helps. Always supervise to avoid choking on large pieces.
Retained Baby Teeth: When to Worry
Sometimes the baby tooth does not fall out once the permanent one has already emerged. This is especially common in the canines of small breeds (Yorkshire, Chihuahua, Maltese). If the baby tooth persists more than 2 weeks after the permanent one has erupted, consult your vet: retention can displace the permanent tooth from its correct position and cause bite and dental hygiene problems.
Protecting the Permanent Teeth from the Start
Once the permanent teeth have come in, it is the ideal time to start dental brushing. Use dog-specific toothpaste (human toothpaste contains fluoride, which is toxic to dogs) and an appropriately sized brush or silicone finger brush.
