Learning relevant information on how to care for your beloved pooch is essential as a dog owner. One of the most asked questions is how many teeth do dogs have and all other related inquiries about your dog’s teeth.

In taking care of your dog’s teeth, you must know how many teeth do dogs have. Like humans, dogs also have a phase in their lives that their deciduous or milk teeth fall out. However, in their case, their deciduous teeth fall out earlier at around 4 to 8 months of age, depending on the size and breed. Their milk teeth fall out earlier than humans because they have a rapid maturation.

How Many Teeth Does a Dog Have?

Ultimately, puppies are born without any teeth. By the time they are 3 to 4 weeks, their deciduous or milk teeth begin to erupt – from Incisors, Canines, to Premolars. When they are 3 to 5 months old, most puppies will now have a complete set of baby teeth.

A puppy has a total of 28 deciduous teeth, and when it grows as an adult dog, it will have a total of 42 permanent teeth by then.  But what happens during the change of teeth for puppies? What teeth fall out first? Do all the dog teeth fall out? There are a lot of questions we need to address. Before diving into the answers, let’s talk about what are the kind of teeth do dogs have.

How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have on Top and Bottom?

The dog’s upper jaw is also called maxilla, which has 20 teeth, while the lower jaw is also called the mandible, which has 22 teeth.

What Kind of Teeth Do Dogs Have?

Incisors – These are the little teeth in front of your dog’s mouth. Their function is for grasping and self-grooming. As you will notice, your dog has a total of 12 incisors. There are six incisors on its top jaw and another six incisors on its bottom jaw.

• Puppy Incisors Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 4 to 6 Weeks
• Adult Incisor Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 2 to 5 Months

Canines – These are the pointy teeth on both sides of your dog’s mouth. These canine teeth are sometimes called “fangs.” There is a total of four canines, two on the upper jaw, and another two on the lower jaw. Their function is for tearing and grasping of certain things, which is a reason why dogs are useful in a tug-of-war.

• Puppy Incisors Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 3 to 5 Weeks
• Adult Canine Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 5 to 6 Months

Premolars – These are the teeth behind your dog’s canines. They are composed of eight teeth on the upper jaw and another eight teeth on the lower jaw, totaling to sixteen premolars. Their primary function is for grinding and shearing. If there are times you see your dog chewing on a particular thing on the side of his mouth, then he is using his premolars.

• Puppy Incisors Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 5 to 6 Weeks
• Adult Premolar Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 4 to 6 Months

Molars – These are the heavy-duty dog teeth than can be found at the back of your dog’s mouth. There is a total of eight molars, four molars each on upper and lower jaws. Their function is for chewing and grinding.

• Adult Molar Teeth
• Age of Eruption: 4 to 6 Weeks

What teeth fall out first?

According to Dr. Lucas White of Sunset Veterinary Clinic in Oklahoma, the dog teeth that fall out first are the Incisors, which takes place around four months. The next teeth that fall out are the Canines, which fall out at around 5 to 6 months. The last baby teeth that fall out are the Premolars.

Do all deciduous teeth fall out?

Not all deciduous teeth fall out in puppies. There are instances that some dogs would have the so-called retained teeth – those deciduous teeth that don’t fall out. Retained deciduous teeth are common among smaller breeds, such as Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, and Pomeranian.

When your adult dog happens to have retained deciduous teeth, you have to bring him to the veterinarian for teeth extraction. Removal of the retained teeth is required to avoid overcrowding (the deciduous teeth fight with the newly erupted adult teeth for space) because it can cause abnormal teeth positioning in your dog’s mouth. Your adult dog will be susceptible to periodontal problems if retained teeth are still there.

Can Dogs Regrow Their Adult Teeth When They Lose?

The direct answer is no. Dogs are like humans, that whenever an adult tooth falls out, it’s gone forever. These adult teeth, which are sometimes called permanent teeth, are irreplaceable.

How Many Teeth Does a Dog Lose?

There are several reasons which include trauma and periodontal disease. Example of an incident that can cause injury is vehicular accidents.  Moreover, periodontal disease is an advanced type of dog dental concern that is caused by teeth decay and diseased gums.

With that said, there is no average number of dog teeth that a dog can lose. It depends on the dog’s experiences, especially if we are talking about permanent teeth.

Can dogs get cavities?

Yes, they can. However, acquiring cavities in dogs is very rare. Remember, they don’t consume a lot of sugar as human counterparts would do.

Well, if your dog’s teeth have cavities, your dog’s vet will most likely recommend a tooth extraction with an application of a dental compound after the surgery.

How to care for dog’s teeth?

Now that you’re already familiar with how many teeth do dogs have and other information about them, it’s time to know how to take care of them.

• Regular brushing – You have to use a toothpaste specially made for dogs. Avoid using human toothpaste because it usually contains xylitol ingredient that’s toxic for dogs. If your dog cannot tolerate brushing, which can happen, you can opt for hard chew toys to ensure that your dog has excellent dental hygiene.
• Consistent oral exams – This is vital, especially if your adult dog is suffering from a periodontal problem with symptoms like bleeding gums, plaque, thick saliva, bad breath, facial swelling, and red gums.

You may also purchase some chew treats or chew toys to remove tartar and plaque. Of course, consider treats and toys that are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Clinic or VOHC. Another option is dental dog wipes, which can also remove plaque in dogs.

• Occasional dental cleanings – Tooth decay is also prevalent among dogs, especially with smaller breeds. That said, it is essential to schedule an appointment for an occasional dental cleaning. Dental cleaning for dogs uses general anesthesia with the extraction of a diseased tooth. You might also consider an oral x-ray for your dog because it will allow you to see hidden dental problems in your dog’s mouth.

Do People Brush Their Dog’s Teeth?

The most recommended dog dental care is brushing your dog’s teeth. However, only a few dog owners brush their teeth. In fact, according to a poll survey conducted by Ipsos, only seven percent of dog owners reported that they are brushing their teeth’s dog.

Other Info

Below are some of the additional information you should need to know as a dog owner.

• The most massive tooth in the upper jaw is the carnassial tooth, which is the upper fourth premolar. Its purpose is to crush, hold, and shear various objects.
• Mouth cancer is, unfortunately, common among dogs. Watch out for any lumps, swelling, and unusual dark tissue in your dog’s mouth, because they can be symptoms of an oral tumor in your dog.

In a Nutshell

Dealing with a dog’s dental health is not complicated for as long as you have regular dental health care. Always do regular brushing and schedule check-ups to ensure that your dog’s teeth are clean, healthy, and intact.

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