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As a pet owner, it is important to know how many teeth do dogs have so that you can offer the best possible care.
It is important for us dog parents to understand the basic principles of dog teeth, general oral development, and good oral hygiene so that you can have a healthy and happy dog with lots of licks and kisses – without the extreme bad breath!
Unlike young children, dogs lose their first teeth very quickly due to their rapid maturation.
Depending on the size and breed of the dog, Dr. Lucas White of Sunset Veterinary Clinic that the incisors first fall out at an age of about 4 months, followed by the teeth, usually after 5-6 months.
Then the premolars arrive within 5-8 months and eventually left 42 permanent teeth for adult dogs, It is highly recommended to brush your dog’s teeth as regularly as possible to avoid dental problems that we will discuss later.
Now let’s get to know how many teeth do dogs have in more detail.
Table Of Contents
How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have?
Dogs have 42 teeth in total compared to 32 in humans. However, the total number of baby teeth and the total number of permanent teeth is not the same, because the puppies only have 28 teeth.
In that sense, they are comparable to humans because the puppies have deciduous teeth that fall and give way to permanent teeth.
Development Of Dog Teeth
Dogs are born without teeth. At about 21 to 30 days of age, puppies begin to get their milk teeth, also known as the deciduous teeth or temporary teeth.
This can be painful or uncomfortable, the exact age can vary between breeds and can even vary within puppies of the small breed dogs.
The exact teeth of dogs can vary with the breed and may even differ between dogs within the breed, most dogs will eventually have 42 adult or permanent teeth.
Below are the different types of teeth in a dog.
Types of Dog Teeth
1. Incisors
The incisor teeth are small in size and are located at the front of the mouth, mainly used to tear meat and chew the fur, each dog has six incisors at the top and six at the bottom.
2. Canines
Also called fangs, these are the long pointed teeth on the sides of the incisors on the side of the dog’s mouth.
canine teeth are located right next to the incisors and they are long and pointed four teeth, two on each jaw, right next to the four angular incisors, used to tear and grasp things.
3. Premolars
There are 16 premolars in the mouth of a dog – 8 at the top and 8 at the bottom, placed next to the canines and have sharp edges.
They are mainly used to divide and chew food into small pieces.
4. Molars
These are the furthest placed teeth that are only visible when the dog’s mouth is fully opened by a veterinarian, they are ten in number – four at the top and six at the bottom.
These teeth are flat and are mainly used for grinding and chewing food and bones.
How Strong Are My Dog’s Teeth?
Dog teeth are powerful, but not indestructible. Like humans, dogs can break their teeth from chewing hard things or from injury. However, dogs are much less likely to have cavities than humans, because their saliva prevents them from forming.
The biggest concern to keep in mind with your dog’s teeth is gum disease. Dogs can develop gingivitis, an infection of the gums that, if not treated, can progress to periodontal disease. This disease is a chronic infection of the gums and bone in the mouth. Without strong gums and bones, healthy teeth can fail, and the presence of gum disease increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Common Dental Diseases in Dogs
There are a number of diseases that affect dogs teeth, with the most common:
- Tooth Root Abscesses is an infection that occurs around the tooth root usually occurs in the upper fourth premolar.
- Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums around the tooth. More information about Gingivitis in dogs.
- Gum disease is an inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the associated gums and bone.
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How Do You Brush a Dog’s Teeth?
We all know that dogs can hesitate to take a regular brushing, tolerate much less regular dental care.
However, home care for dog teeth is essential and you should try brushing them at least once a week or at least once a month.
The first step is to buy the right toothpaste. Never use your own toothpaste on a dog – dog-specific toothpaste is available in pet stores, or you can make your own toothpaste with baking soda and warm water.
The same applies to toothbrushes. If you cannot get a toothbrush for dogs, the toothbrush for children, smaller with soft hair, is suitable.
gauze around your forefinger and use it to massage the paste into your dog’s teeth and gums may be more beneficial for a dog that is not used to pushing a completely foreign object into its mouth.
There are also special toothbrushes that fit over your finger so that you can stroke and calm a dog while keeping control of the brush safe.
Because dental care for dogs is unusual or uncomfortable for them, you should let them get used to the taste of toothpaste for a few days to a week.
The sooner you can brush your dog’s teeth, the less time your dog needs to feel uncomfortable.
FAQs About Dog Teeth
I Heard That Dogs Could Get Mouth Cancer: Is That True?
Unfortunately, many dogs are diagnosed with oral tumors.
It is estimated that one in four dogs dies of cancer, malignant oral tumors in dogs can be very aggressive and spread quickly through the body if they are not treated.
If you notice swelling, lumps, or dark and unusually colored tissue in your dog’s mouth, you should investigate this immediately.
early diagnosis, many oral cancers have a relatively good prognosis.
When Do Dogs Start Losing Their Baby Teeth?
Your puppy starts losing his first teeth when he is only three months old, most must-have disappeared by the time your puppy is four months old. Adult canines also start to erupt during this time frame.
Finally, only seven months old, your puppy should have its full set of permanent adult teeth.
Small or Large Dogs Have More Problems With Their Teeth?
Dogs, both large and small, can develop serious oral and periodontal problems.
With small breed dogs with short cramped jaws, we tend to see more problems with the construction of plaque, tartar, and tartar. This leads to gums and periodontitis and ultimately painful loose teeth.
small teeth can breakdown if they are allowed to chew hard toys. Larger breeds tend to experience more traumatic injuries to teeth and gums, such as broken tooth tips, broken jaws, and worn tooth surfaces.
Exposing the tooth root leads to severe pain and death of the tooth.
Larger dogs can also build the same plaque and tartar, as well as the gums and periodontitis of their smaller siblings.
How Many Teeth Does a Dog Lose?
Dogs have 28 baby teeth and end up with 42 permanent teeth. You may find deciduous on the floor, but your puppy is more likely to ingest the teeth harmlessly while feeding.
Can dogs live without teeth?
You will be happy to know that while it does require some adjustment and extra care, dogs can live without teeth, and in most cases, it is better than living with teeth causing pain.
Can You See How Old a Dog is by Looking at Its Teeth?
The answer is, it depends. If dogs are young, you can estimate their age by observing which teeth have erupted.
For example, the deciduous incisors of a puppy usually erupt between 4 and 6 weeks of age and the permanent incisors are in place after 12 to 16 weeks. The canines or (canines) appear after 3 to 5 weeks and the permanent canines after 12 to 16 weeks. By the time the permanent molars are present, the dog is 4 to 6 months old.
In general, once a dog reaches the age of six months, all or at least most of its permanent teeth are visible.
What Else Can You Do to Ensure That Your Dog’s Teeth Stay Healthy?
Oral care for dogs goes beyond brushing your teeth. A dog’s gums should look pink and their teeth white; red, inflamed gums can indicate gingivitis and turn yellow, or turn brown on top of the teeth are signs of plaque and accumulation of bacteria.
Is Your Dog Resistant to Brushing?
There are other options to keep the 42 teeth, the gums of the dog, and the breath from his mouth fresh and clean, including chew toys and specially formulated food.
Chew toys may seem like a harmless way to keep your dog occupied, but it also serves important goals for dogs who are not patient with dental care that is not administered by a veterinarian.
Search for chew toys that are safe and recommended for your dog based on age, size, and breed.
Nylon, rawhide, and rubber toys are most frequently mentioned because of the advantages it offers to keep a dog occupied, remove the build-up and process the gums.
Conclusion
It is now up to you to know how many teeth do dogs have and check your dog’s oral health.
Go out, buy that toothbrush, buy that chew toy, buy those special dental treats, and ensure a high level of oral hygiene for your dog to maintain healthy gums.
The puppy teeth are also important, so after every developmental phase in your puppy’s life, you ensure that your dog is on the right track to a healthy life and that no one likes bad breath now.
