By the time your puppy is six weeks old he will have all 28 of his ‘baby’ (milk) teeth. The adult teeth have usually come through by the time the dog is between four and six months old.
As with a baby, you can make your teething puppy happier during this uncomfortable phase by providing him with lots of tough, safe toys and chews on which to work his teeth and gums. Your vet will check his teeth at his annual check-up and may advise professional teeth cleaning, but in the meantime you can help him stay a ‘happy mouth’ dog by learning how to brush his teeth.
Why Brush?
Brushing your dog’s teeth is the best way you can help to prevent gum disease. It’s important to do this, because if your dog has untreated gum disease the bacteria that cause the inflammation can enter the bloodstream and may cause or aggravate problems with other organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.
How To Brush
If you have a puppy, you can accustom him to having his mouth and teeth handled from an early age. Check for broken teeth and that the adult teeth are coming through when his baby teeth have fallen out.
Put on a rubber glove or a special tooth-cleaning tip and gently rub your finger over your dog’s gums and teeth. Put a tiny blob of pet toothpaste on your finger and rub this over his teeth. You can gradually get him used to having his teeth brushed with a pet toothpaste. For effective cleaning, do this a couple of times a week.
Chewing Problems
Ask family members to tidy up their toy, socks, slippers and so on, so that your puppy can’t chew them. Provide them with firm, non-crumbly dog chews and toys on which to work his baby teeth. He may also enjoy gnawing at a carrot or celery stick. Avoid giving your dog bones to gnaw on as they can splinter and get stuck in his throat.
Signs of a Sore Mouth
Your dog could be experiencing problems with his teeth or gums if he:
1. Is eating his food gingerly, using only one side of his mouth or if he picks at his food.
2. Loses weight because it’s painful for him to eat.
3. Is pawing at his mouth.
4. Is drooling excessively.
5. Has Halitosis (bad breath).
Seek veterinary advice for any of the above symptoms, and especially if you find a broken tooth or his gums are raw and bleeding.