As a pet parent, taking care of each and every one of your dog’s chompers is an essential step in maintaining their overall health. And you do have quite a few teeth to care for, since most adult dogs will have 42 teeth.
Good dental hygiene practices for dogs can involve regular brushing with a special dog toothbrush and even dog mouthwash. But before we dig into those details, we’ll cover types of dog teeth and their main functions, along with some breed-specific tooth facts.
Read on to learn everything you ever wanted to know about your dog’s pearly whites—and brush up on dog dental hygiene!
Do All Breeds Of Dogs Have 42 Teeth?
While 42 is the general number of teeth adult dogs should have, not all dogs will have 42 teeth, says Dr Jamie Whittenburg, veterinarian director at Senior Tail Waggers and director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Some dogs experience delayed eruption, which means their teeth become entrapped by their bone or gum tissue instead of coming through the gums as they should. These teeth may never erupt through the gums at all, which means your dog may be missing a tooth or two from the full set of 42.
Fun fact: Chow Chows are born with an extra pair of molars, giving them 44 teeth in total!
Types Of Dog Teeth And Their Function
| Type of Tooth | Number of teeth in the jaw | Function |
| Incisors | 12, with six on top and six on bottom. | These small front teeth help dogs scrape meat off bones, groom, and pick fleas or other parasites from their fur. |
| Canines | Four, with two on top and two on bottom. | Dogs use these long teeth at the front of the mouth for tearing apart meat. Sharp with a slight curve, these teeth can puncture, grip, and securely hold objects. |
| Premolars | 16, with eight on top and eight on bottom. | Set behind the canines, these teeth have sharp edges and flat surfaces. They help your dog chew on the side of the mouth, as well as shred food. |
| Molars | 10, with four on top and six on bottom. | These large, flat teeth at the back of your dog’s mouth help them crush, chew, and grind down hard foods into small pieces that are easier to swallow and digest. |
What Are A Dog’s Teeth Made Of?
According to Dr Whittenburg, each tooth—incisors, canines, and molars alike—consists of different layers. First comes the pulp, and then a layer of dentin, cementum, and finally enamel on the outside.
- Pulp. The inside of the tooth is made up of nerve fibres, blood vessels, collagen, and immune cells. A breach in this layer can lead to infection and pain.
- Dentin. This yellow, soft layer of the tooth covers the pulp. Thin tubules in this layer contain nerves from the pulp, so exposure can cause pain.
- Cementum. This outer layer of the tooth covers the roots where they’re anchored into the jaw bone. In a healthy tooth, the gingiva (gums) completely cover this layer.
- Enamel. This layer is the white, outer part of the tooth that you see in your dog’s mouth. It protects the inner tooth layers. Once broken or damaged, enamel can’t grow back.
It’s Natural For Puppies To Lose Their Teeth
Puppies begin teething at around three weeks of age, Dr Whittenburg says. By approximately six weeks of age, all of their deciduous (puppy) teeth will have erupted. The incisors erupt first, then the canine teeth, and finally the premolars.
Your puppy will initially have 28 teeth, but these puppy teeth fall out—starting when they’re about 12 weeks old—to make room for their adult teeth. As a general rule, all of your puppy’s deciduous teeth will have fallen out by six months of age, and all permanent teeth will have erupted.
In some cases, however, a puppy’s teeth may not fall out and instead stay in their mouth as retained teeth. Known as ‘overcrowding’, this concern is usually genetic and more common in small breeds.
Since overcrowding can cause abnormal positioning of adult teeth and increase your puppy’s risk of dental issues, your vet will have to remove the extra teeth to make room for the adult ones. They’ll pick up on signs of overcrowding at your puppy’s regular check-up, so it’s important to keep these appointments!
When do dogs get their adult teeth?
Toy and small breed dogs—like Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahuas—tend to take longer to develop puppy and adult teeth, according to Dr Whittenburg. She adds that a delay in the adult teeth is more common, but occasionally baby teeth have difficulty erupting as well.
This delay in eruption usually happens because a thick fibrous gingival tissue on top of the gums prevents typical eruption. If your puppy’s baby teeth don’t erupt by the time they’re about six weeks old, you’ll want to visit your vet. They can perform a procedure that will allow your puppy’s teeth to break through the gums successfully.
Other Reasons Why Dogs Might Lose Their Teeth
Dogs may lose teeth in their adult life for a few different reasons.
Periodontal disease
In adult dogs, advanced dental disease is the most common cause of tooth loss. Periodontal disease can lead to diseased gums and decaying teeth, but this condition isn’t just painful for your dog. It can also pose a serious threat to their health. The bacteria in your dog’s mouth can cause infection elsewhere in the body.
If your dog has advanced periodontal disease, your vet may recommend a full tooth extraction. This may sound alarming, but your dog can survive—and thrive!—without their teeth. What’s more, they’ll feel much more comfortable with no teeth than with painful diseased ones.
You’ll just need to make some changes to their diet, with help from your vet. For instance, you might soften kibble with water or dog-friendly broth and mash it up. You can also offer canned (wet) food.
Trauma to the tooth
Most dogs love to chew. But chewing something they shouldn’t—like rocks and other things too hard for safe chewing—can lead to tooth loss or injured teeth. Examples include fractured tooth tips, broken jaws, and worn tooth surfaces.
Dogs of any size can experience tooth trauma, but traumatic injuries to the teeth and gums tend to happen more often in larger dogs. This is because:
- They have stronger jaws, which puts their teeth at higher risk under force (including chewing on very hard objects)
- Their teeth are taller and more slender, which means they can fracture more easily
- They’re more likely to fight with other dogs and get hit by cars
A break in the tooth exposes its inner layers and allows bacteria to enter. This can lead to decay, infection, and abscesses. If you see or suspect an injury to your dog’s tooth, you’ll want to make an appointment with your vet right away so they can take steps to prevent infection.
It’s best to use caution when giving your dog hard chews, like antlers, bully sticks, and hooves. Save these for larger dogs with strong jaws and offer smaller dogs chews that match their size. Monitoring chewing sessions is always wise, too!
Tooth decay
According to Dr Whittenburg, tooth decay remains relatively rare in dogs, since they don’t regularly consume sugary and acidic foods that wear down tooth enamel.
That said, smaller and brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds, like French Bulldogs, tend to have more rapid accumulation of tartar and more dental issues. This is because:
- They have smaller mouths and short, blunt noses, a head shape that can make crowding more likely
- Their teeth often erupt too close together and at abnormal angles due to lack of space
- More accumulation of food residue in a tighter space can cause tartar and plaque buildup
- They have differences in tooth root length and jaw bone density
How To Take Care Of Your Dog’s Teeth
More than 80% of dogs have some type of dental issues, including gingivitis or fractured teeth, by the time they reach the age of three.
But diligent dental care can go a long way toward stopping these dental problems in their tracks.
- Brush your dog’s teeth daily. Brushing can prevent both plaque buildup and dog breath! To get started, you’ll need a dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste, which you can find online and at your local pet shop.
- Choose chews carefully. Sticking with safe chew toys and vet-approved dental chews can help prevent tooth trauma while boosting your dog’s dental health and minimising plaque build-up.
- Schedule routine dental check-ups. Like people, dogs need regular dental check-ups. Your vet can spot signs of tooth decay and other dental problems and recommend any necessary treatment to improve your dog’s dental health.
Without a doubt, caring for your dog’s dental health can take some patience and commitment. But whether you have a puppy, adult dog, or senior pooch, good dental hygiene can go a long way toward helping keep their teeth stronger and their mouth healthier!
