Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies | VCA Animal Hospital

My puppy has started biting my hands, my legs, my children’s legs – pretty much any object he can get his mouth on. What is going on?

Your puppy is teething, the same way that human babies and children grow new teeth during their development. Like a human, your pup first grows a set of baby teeth (also called primary or deciduous, meaning they fall out). These teeth are pointed and sharp, which is why they are sometimes referred to as needle teeth.

Dogs have 28 deciduous teeth and end up with 42 permanent teeth. You may find deciduous on the floor, but more likely, your puppy will harmlessly swallow the teeth while he is eating. It is not unusual for some bleeding to occur when the teeth fall or are falling out, but the amount is minuscule and owners usually notice it only if there is some mild red staining on a chew toy.

Why is everything being attacked?

Puppies will chew on people, furniture, and other objects (including ones you value) that are within their reach; this is part of normal puppy behavior. Dogs learn much about the world around them through how things feel, and a dog’s main means of touching and grabbing things is with its mouth.

This tendency is particularly pronounced in breeds known to be “mouthy,” such as retrievers. Chewing also seems to alleviate what is assumed to be discomfort associated with the teething process.

When will my dog’s baby teeth fall out?

Puppies begin teething at around 3 weeks, and by approximately 6 weeks, all of their deciduous teeth will have erupted. The incisors (at the front of the mouth) and the canine teeth (the fangs) erupt first, followed by the premolars. Dogs do not have any baby molars. At around 12 weeks, the deciduous teeth begin to fall out, and the permanent teeth begin to erupt. Normally by 6 months of age, all permanent teeth have erupted, and all deciduous teeth have fallen out.

Are there any common dental problems in young dogs?

Problems with deciduous teeth are few and far between. It is rare that a pup will have a dental problem that is serious enough to require advanced intervention or referral to a veterinary dentist. Some breeds, particularly smaller breeds and brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, have a tendency to retain some of their deciduous teeth. The most usual site is the upper canine teeth, although it can happen anywhere. Retained deciduous teeth can cause malocclusion (misaligned teeth leading to a poor bite) and discomfort. They also predispose dogs to future dental problems. Food can get trapped between the retained deciduous teeth, the permanent teeth, and the gingiva (gums), which can lead to periodontal (dental) disease. Retained deciduous teeth need to be removed. Usually a simple procedure, it is commonly performed at the time of the pet’s neutering or spaying.

What are acceptable chew toys, and which ones should be avoided?

Because dogs tend to chew nearly everything, nearly everything has been found to cause problems. This goes for rawhides, pigs’ ears, or other parts of animals given to dogs to chew (some owners swear by the “bully stick,” which is the dried or cooked amputated penis of a bull), bones, synthetic toys, tennis balls, etc. Some of these objects have caused gastrointestinal blockages or intestinal punctures, which often require surgery and can be life-threatening; others have blocked the throat, causing dogs to asphyxiate.

Notwithstanding these facts, consider that millions of dogs have been chewing millions of objects for years, most without incident. So while the risk does appear to be low, as with most activities, it cannot be eliminated. Watch your puppy when he begins chewing, and talk to your veterinarian about which chew toys are the safest for your puppy. It is important to supervise your puppy even when he is chewing on recommended toys as no toy is 100% safe.

“It is important to supervise your puppy even when he is chewing on recommended toys as no toy is 100% safe.”

Bear in mind that some objects that are safe from the point of view of ingestion or inhalation, may still not be very good for your dog’s teeth. Most veterinary dentists recommend against allowing puppies and older dogs to chew anything hard. That would include objects made of nylon, as well as bones and antlers. Veterinary dentists often sum up this recommendation with, “Don’t let your dog chew anything that won’t bend.”

What should I do about my puppy’s chewing behaviors that I don’t like?

Do not reward behavior you do not want, and do not let others reward it either. If your puppy is chewing on your hands or any other body part, yelp a high pitched shriek like a puppy makes, pull your hand away, and go play elsewhere.

“Do not reward behavior you do not want, and do not let others reward it either.”

There is no consensus about the best way to teach puppies not to chew. Some methods may even seem contradictory because what may work for one dog may be inappropriate for another. Check with your veterinarian for a personalized recommendation.

Puppies are naturally energetic and curious, so try to redirect that energy elsewhere by including lots of exercise, training, and try feeding from puzzle toys rather than a bowl. Do not leave tempting items like clothes, shoes, or children’s toys where your puppy can reach them. At the same time provide lots of safe chew toys. Keep chew toys “fresh” by rotating them, only having a few out at any one time. Supervise your puppy so he does not have the opportunity to chew something he shouldn’t.

My children like playing rough with the puppy, and they say that they don’t mind the occasional scratch or gentle bite. Is this okay?

No! Permitting this behavior teaches your pet that hands are acceptable toys to use as he or she pleases. Your dog is not only learning that it is okay, but the pup is even being rewarded for this behavior when your children continue playing after being bitten or scratched.

Will my dog ever stop chewing everything?

Excessive chewing behavior seems to subside around 18 months of age but will continue to some degree, depending on the dog, for his or her whole life. Remember that chewing, licking, and mouthing are normal behaviors for dogs as a way of exploring and learning, and carrying objects from one place to the next. If chewing is excessive or aggressive, consult your veterinarian for behavior modification advice.

Should I brush my dog’s teeth?

Getting your puppy used to having something in his or her mouth other than food or a chew toy is a good idea. You also want to be able to retrieve objects from your dog’s mouth or look in there without risk of injury to your hand. In addition, because dental problems are among the most common (and costly) problems seen in dogs, getting your dog to tolerate brushing at an early age will get you started on a path that will help prevent many of these problems.

Buy a toothbrush and toothpaste suitable for dogs (human toothpaste is not appropriate for dogs and can make them sick). Start by just gently introducing the brush and paste, allowing your pup to sniff and lick the brush. However, do not force the matter. Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate brushing a technique and give you advice for getting your dog used to the routine. Most dogs can be taught to tolerate or even enjoy daily teeth brushing. For more information, see the handout “Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth”.

Baby teeth – teething and how to care for baby teeth

Key facts

• Baby teeth start to come through when your child is about 6 months old.
• Most children will have all their teeth by the time they turn 3.
• You can care for your child’s teeth by keeping them clean.

Babies are usually born with 20 baby teeth (also known as primary teeth). They start to come through the gums at about 6 months of age. This process is called teething.

By the time your baby is 2 to 3 years old, all their teeth will usually have appeared.

About baby teeth

Babies are born with the following teeth:

• 4 second molars
• 4 first molars
• 4 canine teeth
• 4 lateral incisors
• 4 central incisors

There is one set on each side of the upper jaw, and one set on each side of the lower jaw.

Diagram showing the 5 sets of temporary teeth.

Your child’s jaw will continue to grow as they do.

When your child is about 6 years old, their adult teeth will start to replace their baby teeth. Adult teeth are also known as permanent teeth.

Baby teeth are different from adult teeth in a couple ways. The outer covering of baby teeth is made of thinner enamel than the enamel of adult teeth. This makes the baby teeth look whiter.

Baby teeth also have narrower, different shaped roots to adult teeth. This allows space for adult teeth to grow underneath them.

What is teething?

When your baby’s teeth start to come through, this is called teething.

The teeth in the centre of the bottom jaw often come through first, sometime between 6 months and 10 months of age. Your child should have at least one tooth by the time they turn one.

Your child should have all baby teeth by the time they are 3 years old. Every child is different. Don’t worry if your baby’s teeth appear earlier or later. Talk to your dentist if you are worried.

Why are baby teeth are important?

Baby teeth are important, as they:

• help your child to chew food easily
• help your child pronounce (say) words properly
• keep a place in their jaw for their permanent teeth

It is important to keep baby teeth clean. This will protect against:

• infection
• cavities (holes caused by decay)
• pain

Serious injury to baby teeth can damage the permanent teeth underneath.

How to care for baby teeth

Baby teeth can start to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.

You should wipe your baby’s gums with a wet facecloth or a clean gauze pad after each feed. You can brush your baby’s first tooth as soon as it appears. To do this, use a soft toothbrush and a little water.

Older children should be supervised while they are cleaning their teeth. Children over 18 months can use a pea-sized amount of children’s low-fluoride toothpaste. Try to teach them to not swallow it. They should rinse with water after brushing.

Your child’s diet

If your child has a lot of sugar, this can destroy their teeth.

To reduce the risk of tooth decay, the best drinks for your baby besides breastmilk are milk and water. However, remember that babies under 12 months old should only have breastmilk or infant formula.

Do not bottle feed with cordial or juice. Before bed, you should only bottle feed with water.

As your child grows, limit their intake of sugary foods such as:

• lollies
• cakes
• cereals
• flavoured yoghurt

Be sure to keep their dummy or pacifier clean, and don’t dip it in honey.

Be sure to supervise younger children when they‘re learning to walk. This is because they can injure their teeth by bumping into things.

Visiting the dentist

You should take your child for their first dentist appointment when their first teeth appear, or by their first birthday.

Dentists can give you and your child tips on how to keep their teeth and gums healthy. They can also advise you on what to expect as your child’s mouth develops.

If you are worried about your baby’s tooth development, call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

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How to understand that a baby is teething

Cutting the first teeth is an important stage in the life of any baby and his parents. The task of adults during this period is to support the child and make his life as easy as possible. Today we will look at the main signs of the beginning of the teething process and ways to help the baby at such a moment.

When teething starts

Every baby has his own time period for the appearance of the first teeth, as all children are individual. According to the World Health Organization, most babies begin to grow teeth at the age of 6-7 months. The last one is closer to a year.

Thus, a baby aged 1 to 1.5 years should have 8 milk teeth.

Formation of the dentition

The formation of a number of dental units in babies occurs in several stages:

• At the age of 3, a child should already have 20 milk teeth (10 units on each jaw). They can overlap each other, be too close.
• By the age of 6, gaps may appear between the teeth. At this point, the formation of the bite and permanent dental units begins. This process continues until the age of 12-14.
• By this age, about 8 out of 10 children have malocclusion. During this period, parents begin to think about installing braces.

What affects the timing of teething

As we have already said, each child is individual, so the timing of teething is different for everyone. It is influenced by the following factors:

• genetics;
• maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation;
• negative factors that affect the baby during pregnancy (for example, taking medications).

How to tell if your baby is teething

For some babies, this stage goes by almost without symptoms and unnoticed by adults. Most children become whiny, restless. And this is not surprising, because teething is accompanied by pain and discomfort.

If your baby has any of the following symptoms, it may indicate the appearance of the first teeth:

• slight fever;
• loss of appetite;
• increased salivation;
• restlessness day and night;
• swelling and redness of the gums;
• the constant desire of the baby to gnaw something, to put pens in his mouth.

How to help a baby when teething?

There are many medications available to help relieve pain in your baby. Before using them, you need to consult a pediatrician. Consider ways to help a child without the use of drugs.

One of the most effective ways is to massage the gums: a little pressure reduces the pain for a while. You need to massage with clean fingers or brushes made of high-quality silicone. Rinse the instrument well and sterilize it. Massage your gums gently.

Pharmacies sell special teethers made of soft material. There are ribbed models and silicone rings with a gel liquid inside for cooling. They are placed in the freezer and then applied to the gums.

Possible problems

Among the problems associated with the appearance of the first teeth in infants, the following can be distinguished:

• late eruption;
• early eruption;
• wrong order of appearance of teeth;
• abnormal formation of a dental unit;
• formation of rudiments behind the arch of the dentition.

What time should you start brushing your teeth

Oral hygiene should be carried out even before the appearance of the first teeth in the baby. The gums should be wiped twice a day with a clean cotton pad. They also sell special gauze nozzles on the fingers for this purpose.

Milk teeth are very vulnerable and sensitive to external factors, so you can start cleaning them from the appearance of the first teeth.

Toothpaste and brush selection

The right toothbrush for toddlers should have many bristles with a low level of stiffness. If the child has already grown up and is not afraid of loud sounds, you can purchase an electric model.

Toothpaste should be purchased according to the child’s age. It should have a low level of abrasiveness, it should contain fluorides (an essential component for the proper development of milk teeth), calcium, hydroxyapatite. Make sure that the toothpaste does not contain dangerous ingredients, as the baby may accidentally swallow it. Also, the paste should taste good.

How to brush your teeth properly?

1. Take a toothbrush and soak it in warm water.
2. Then apply some toothpaste. A pea-sized serving is sufficient.
3. Cleaning with circular and “sweeping” movements. Don’t forget to brush the inside of your teeth.
4. Rinse your mouth with warm water. My brush.
5. Floss what is left between the teeth.

Brushing your teeth takes 3 to 5 minutes on average.

Building a healthy habit

Some babies may resist brushing their teeth. It’s very easy to form a good habit. All children love games, so they can be interested in the game form. Come up with a fairy tale about brushing your teeth, do a hygiene procedure together (for example, for speed and quality).

What trace elements are needed for tooth growth?

• Calcium,
• phosphorus,
• magnesium,
• fluorine and boron,
• zinc, manganese, copper.

How do I take my child to the dentist?

Before going to the dentist, prepare your baby in advance. Here are some tips:

• Take your future meeting calmly and do not focus on it.
• Do not discuss with your child your negative experience of going to the dentist.
• Try all day before visiting the doctor to cheer up the baby, avoid conflicts with him.
• Talk honestly about the upcoming procedure, do not deceive the child.

You can tell about the reception with the help of an interesting fairy tale, watching thematic cartoons.

Food and dental health

Sea fish, walnuts, beans, dried fruits and green vegetables are very useful for teeth. Do not forget about the main source of calcium – dairy products. Iron and vitamin B12 for teeth can be obtained from meat products.

Foods that destroy tooth enamel:

• sweet,
• carbonated drinks,
• very hot or cold food,
• sweet chewing gum.

Healthy teeth are what you can get without constant operations and procedures for brushing your teeth. The main thing is to instill in your child the habit of caring for the oral cavity from childhood.

When a puppy’s teeth change – when a puppy’s teeth change

11/27/2020

This period is very important in the development of the body, so you need to be especially attentive to the animal.

The change of teeth is an important moment in a puppy’s life. During this period, you need to be especially attentive to his health, since this process affects many physiological processes in his body.

The first milk teeth appear in different breeds in the period from the 20th to the 30th day of life. A puppy receives a complete set of 32 milk teeth by two to three months.

Canines grow first – two in the upper and lower jaws. After the fangs, incisors appear – 6 on each jaw. The last to come out are premolars – false-rooted teeth. There are 8 of them on the upper and lower jaws. Molar teeth – molars – are absent in puppies.

Between the ages of 3 and 7 months, a puppy’s milk teeth gradually change into permanent teeth. The order in which a puppy’s teeth change does not occur in the same order in which milk teeth grew. First change the incisors. At about 3 months, the central milk incisors fall out, and then the entire line changes to a permanent one. At the age of 4 to 5 months, the premolars change.

Separately, you need to pay attention to the change of fangs, especially in small breeds of dogs. At 6–7 months, milk fangs begin to change and permanent ones grow. At this moment, the owner needs to carefully monitor that the milk fangs are removed in time. Quite often, the permanent canine sprouts even before the milk canine has fallen out. If this moment is not tracked in time, the dog’s bite may deteriorate or the entire dental ruler will be uneven. Having noticed both fangs growing side by side in a puppy, the owner should consult a doctor to remove milk fangs that have not fallen out, which prevent permanent ones from growing properly. This story very often happens with incisors.

Molar teeth are the last to appear. Thus, by 9 months, the puppy should have completed the change of milk teeth to permanent ones. By this age, the puppy should have a complete set of 42 permanent teeth.

Noticing any deviations from the normal course of this process – bleeding gums, the growth of extra incisors or the absence of incisors, canines and premolars by the due date of their appearance, the owner must show the puppy to a veterinary dentist. Extra teeth, as well as the absence of several teeth, can affect the correct structure of the jaws and the formation of a correct bite.

The period of changing teeth for a puppy is accompanied by severe itching and painful gums. During this period, he can gnaw and spoil things. The task of the owner is to alleviate the condition of the puppy with the help of gum massage. Special toys, non-solid, elastic, which do not injure the puppy’s mouth, will also help with this. Massage will reduce discomfort and protect things from damage.

Complete feeding during this period is also important. Small but firm pellets of food will help speed up the change of teeth.

During the change of teeth, the puppy’s immunity may decrease. There is a noticeable malaise, appetite worsens. The puppy may be lethargic, sometimes the temperature rises slightly. As a rule, the puppy is not vaccinated during this period. It is wiser to do all vaccinations before the start of the change of teeth.