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As a proud pet parent, you may wonder if puppy teeth cleaning is necessary. Puppies start teething at about three weeks. By the time they are six weeks old, most of a puppy’s deciduous (first set) of teeth emerge. So why bother cleaning them?

Although they start with 28 baby teeth, it’s important to get puppies used to having their teeth and mouth handled and touched. The sooner your pup gets accustomed to having their teeth and mouth cleaned, the easier it becomes. 

Your puppy will visit the veterinarian a number of times in his first year of life for vaccines, checkups, and routine care. The more you can teach your puppy that mouth and teeth touching are good things, the better off you (and your vet) will be in the long run.

Here’s what you need to know about caring for and cleaning your puppy’s teeth followed by a dental care oral products giveaway.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I am also an Etsy and Chewy affiliate.

When Should I Start Puppy Teeth Cleaning?

Whether your puppy just came home from a breeder or you rescued your puppy from a shelter, teeth cleaning should become a regular part of their care.

Have you ever felt a puppy’s teeth? We’re talking razor-sharp, piranha-like little weapons. Start by gently touching your pup’s mouth. Use sensible caution when putting your clean fingers in a puppy’s mouth. 

Most veterinary professionals recommend you start oral care training on a puppy as early as six weeks of age. I’ve always started my Cocker Spaniel puppies on a toothbrush and oral care training at about four months. 

FACT: Less than 4% of pet parents brush their pet’s teeth every day. Periodontal disease addressed in earlier stages can be treated and sometimes even reversed. ~Dr. Judy Morgan~

How to Get Puppies Used to Mouth Handling 

It is important to start dental and oral care training off the right way. By starting this task early, your puppy will start looking forward to the process. I tell my dogs, “let’s brush your teeth” and they get excited because a treat is in store afterward.

Here’s how to get a puppy used to oral care and mouth handling:

1. Play with your puppy and tire him out a bit. 
2. Start by touching your puppy’s lip with a yummy treat. Feed him the treat and repeat this process a few times. Your pup may be confused, but make sure he understands touching the lip gets him a tasty reward.
3. After your puppy gets used to having his lips touched, you will work on raising his lip with a treat for a few days. Do this a few times for a day or two. This is a fun game, so reward him with praise. Be sure the treats are safe and puppy-sized.
4. Use some inexpensive gauze and wrap a piece around your finger. Gradually rub your pup’s gums and teeth with the dry pad. Reward and praise.
5. Once your pup is used to this, apply a small amount of a high-quality enzymatic brushless gel like Zymox’s Oratene gel to the gauze. It is safe for puppies and requires no brushing. Place a tiny strip on your pup’s gums once a day, preferably before bed and after they are done eating for the day.
6. You don’t have to use a toothbrush with Zymox products, but if you plan to use a product that requires brushing, you’ll introduce a baby toothbrush here. I use a combo of Zymox Oratene products and toothbrushing for my dogs. The choice is yours. 

If your puppy isn’t fond of the process, go back one step and stay with it for a day or two. Never scold or yell at your puppy. You want oral care to be enjoyable for you and your pup throughout his life. 

If you are reading this and have an adult dog who hates teeth brushing, consider Zymox Oratene products to help promote good oral hygiene. 

Puppy Teething Basics 

Puppies are born without teeth, but as stated above, most pups have teeth breaking through at about three weeks old. 

Puppies have 28 teeth total, 14 on the top and 14 on the bottom. By the time your pup reaches two months old, he will likely have most of his baby teeth. 

Fun fact: Puppies don’t big molars because they don’t grind their food. But they will get canines, incisors, and pre-molars. 

At around 12 to 16 weeks, baby teeth start falling out. In just a few days, you’ll see adult teeth appearing. I am fortunate enough to have found many of my dogs’ baby teeth on the floor or around the house. Otherwise, puppies will generally swallow baby teeth and excrete them.

Ask any puppy parent about teething, and you’ll hear stories about holes in shoes, socks chewed up, or depending on the puppy’s size, furniture that suffered the wrath of puppy teeth.

Puppies learn their world with their mouths. They are feeling discomfort and pain in their mouths and will chew and mouth,trying to alleviate the pain.

Most puppies have their adult teeth by the time they reach six months of age. He’ll have twenty permanent teeth on the top and 22 on the bottom, for a total of 42 teeth, which is more than adult humans who have 32 total as adults.

What Are Signs My Puppy is Teething?

Adult teeth are on the way when your puppy exhibits behaviors such as:

• Extra chewing or nipping 
• Pawing at their mouth or you find small bloody spots on toys and the floor/carpeting
• Appears uncomfortable eating their food
• Whining or crying from pain or discomfort
• Reddened, swollen gums
• Drooling
• Sometimes a fever

You can help ease your pup’s pain by offering puppy-specific toys that you freeze first such as a Chilly Bone. I bought my pup a teething toy that had to be dampened and placed in the freezer. He loved to rub his gums on it. 

Some pet parents offer safe puppy toys that have different textures to accommodate different mouth sizes and needs. 

Using Oral Care Products As Puppies Grow Up

By the time your puppy hits six months, he should have a dental routine in place. If you are reading this after the fact, it’s never too late to get started. 

Use the mouth-handling techniques above and start incorporating these extras into your routine:

1. Add Zymox Oratene brushless water additive to your puppy’s daily water supply. It freshens breath, prevents plaque buildup, and promotes healthy teeth and gums. Since it contains no alcohol, Xylitol, detergents, or chlorhexidine, you can feel safe using it as part of your puppy’s dental care routine. Of note, this product cannot be used with self-watering systems with filters. 
2. Use Oratene breath freshener for in-between moments. This product is recommended for pups in need of gentle, non-drying oral care. Shake well and spray three pumps onto teeth, gums, and inside cheeks. A four-ounce bottle provides up to 900 pumps. 
3. Provide age-appropriate safe puppy chews and toys that can help ease the pain of teething. Just like human babies have teething rings, there are products available for puppy gum and teeth pain. I am not a fan of Nylabone products, but I do like safe puppy toys. I used all the products on that list during my puppy’s first year of life. 

Puppy Teeth Problems To Watch For

Just because you have a puppy 12 months of age or less doesn’t mean they are immune to dental problems. Here are a few things to watch (and smell) for in your puppy:

• Unexplained stinky breath. Puppy breath is undeniable in those first few months, but it should never smell rancid. Talk to your veterinarian about this.
• Brown spots or tartar on teeth. Believe it or not, plaque and tartar can start forming by age one. 
• Smelly mouth. It could be canine lip fold dermatitis.
• Retained baby teeth. This happened to my Cocker Spaniel pup, Alvin. He still had three baby teeth that didn’t fall out. Right before he turned one, they fell out. I talked to my veterinarian about this, and we monitored my dog. In some cases, the baby teeth can cause alignment issues, so always check with your vet in case about potentially removing them. 
• Fractured teeth. Giving a puppy a hard bone or a plastic toy can lead to tooth damage such as fractures and breaks. Fractured teeth need to be addressed ASAP with a veterinarian, as they are painful.
• Missing teeth. Some pups are born without all their teeth, which may or may not be a problem. If the teeth are hidden in the gum line and doesn’t erupt by the time the pup is 8 or 9 months, it may need to be x-rayed. Your vet may choose surgery so a painful cyst doesn’t form.
• Malocclusions. Some puppies develop crooked teeth or improperly aligned teeth. If your pup is in pain, a veterinary orthodontist will need to be consulted. 

Here’s a general overview of when you can expect your puppy’s teeth to emerge. By the time he reaches six to seven months old, he will have his adult teeth. Think of how fast that is considered to how long it takes human kids to get their full set of adult teeth. Tooth fairy, anyone?

It is very important to care for your puppy’s teeth during these stages to ensure good oral health.

Do Puppies Require A Professional Dental Cleaning?

In most cases, no. Unless there is a major problem requiring dental work under anesthesia, your puppy won’t require a professional cleaning in his first year of life.

Some breeds are more prone to dental issues, such as Yorkshire Terriers. Depending on your dog’s individual situation, a dental cleaning may occur by the time the dog is two years old. 

You can understand why at-home dental care using products from Zymox can greatly reduce the chances your puppy will have dental issues.

FAQs About Puppy Teeth Care

Giveaway Closed

Zymox is giving away two dental health kits to two lucky winners.

The two lucky winners are: James Moritz and Pat Conmy. Congrats and thanks to everyone who entered!

Simply comment below with the name of the dog or puppy who will be using Zymox dental products if you win. Enter one time per email address. One winner will be selected at random on Tuesday, February 28th. Good luck. USA only.

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