Puppy teeth: when they fall out and how to start brushing early

The easiest dog to brush is the one that learned as a puppy. A dog that has had its lip lifted and a soft finger run along its teeth since it was ten weeks old does not think of brushing as strange; it thinks of it as the bit before the treat. This is the timeline of a puppy's teeth and how to use it.

The timeline

• Birth to 2 weeks: no teeth.
• 3 to 6 weeks: the 28 baby (deciduous) teeth come through, incisors first, then canines, then premolars. Puppies have no baby molars.
• 8 weeks: most puppies arrive home with a full set of baby teeth. This is the moment to start handling the mouth.
• About 4 months: baby incisors start to loosen and fall out as the adult incisors push through.
• 4 to 6 months: adult canines, premolars and the molars arrive. Teething can make the gums sore and the breath smell different for a few weeks.
• 6 to 7 months: 42 adult teeth, all in. Any baby tooth still present alongside its adult replacement is worth showing your vet.

What teething looks like

Expect more chewing than usual, a little blood on toys, a puppy that is slightly off its food for a day or two, and the occasional tiny tooth on the carpet. Most baby teeth are swallowed without anyone noticing. Cold, soft things to chew help; hard things do not, because the new adult teeth are still forming and can be damaged. Our natural rubber and rope tyre flosser gives under thumb pressure and is soft enough for a teething puppy, with supervision.

If your puppy drools heavily, refuses food for more than a day, or you can see a baby tooth and its adult replacement side by side, ask your vet. Petdentist® products are for daily care of a healthy mouth and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

Weeks 8 to 12: handling, not brushing

Once your puppy is settled at home, spend ten seconds a day touching the muzzle, lifting the lip and running a fingertip along the outside of the teeth, then give a treat. That is the whole exercise. You are teaching that hands around the mouth are normal and end well. Do it after a walk or play, when the puppy is calm.

Weeks 10 to 14: taste first

Put a tiny dab of pet toothpaste on your fingertip and let your puppy lick it off, once a day. Petsmile Say Cheese is the flavour most puppies take to first; it is mild, made to be swallowed and contains no fluoride or xylitol. Once licking is a game, rub a little paste on the front teeth with your finger while you lift the lip.

From about 14 weeks: the brush

Choose a brush with a small, soft head. Our bamboo charcoal toothbrush suits puppies, small dogs and cats; a large breed puppy can move to the long-handled large breed brush once it has grown into its jaw. Put a pea of paste on the bristles, let the puppy lick it off, then brush two or three outer surfaces at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and stop. Add a few teeth each day. By the time the adult teeth are in, daily brushing is simply what happens before dinner.

During teething: go gentle, keep going

Sore gums are a reason to be softer, not a reason to stop. Keep the sessions to taste and a light touch for a week or two, then return to the brush. Puppies that take a long break from handling during teething often have to start again from scratch.

The habits that last a lifetime

• Same time every day, after exercise, before food.
• Outer surfaces only; the tongue does the inside.
• Stop before the puppy objects, then treat and praise.
• A weekly look at both sides of the mouth, so you notice change.
• Chews that give under your thumb, always supervised.
• A vet check at the six-month mark to confirm all 42 adult teeth are in.

Questions people ask

Can I use toothpaste on a puppy with baby teeth?

Yes, once your puppy is weaned and eating solid food. A pet toothpaste that is made to be swallowed, such as Petsmile, is suitable; never use a human toothpaste.

My puppy chews everything. Does that clean the teeth?

Chewing gives teeth and gums something to work on, but it does not replace brushing, and hard objects can damage new adult teeth. Soft, supervised chewing plus a daily brush is the combination.

How long does a tube of toothpaste last a puppy?

Puppies use very little. A 119 g tube of Petsmile typically lasts a small dog two months or more with daily use.

Read next: Caring for your dog's teeth at home, Choosing a toothpaste flavour for a fussy dog, Shop for dogs.

About the author. Dr Deepak Songra BDS (GDC 68552) is a dental surgeon with more than 35 years in clinical practice and the founder of Petdentist®. He is not a vet. He lives with Merlo, the Cavapoo you will see across this site.

This article is general information about daily care, not veterinary advice. Petdentist® products are non-medicinal daily-care products for dogs and cats and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are worried about your pet, please see your vet. Petdentist® is the trading name of Pet Dentist L.L.C-FZ, Meydan Grandstand, 6th Floor, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE. UK orders are dispatched from Northampton.