Deciduous teeth are a puppy’s first set of temporary teeth, commonly called baby teeth or milk teeth. Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth, which begin erupting in the first few weeks of life and are eventually replaced by 42 permanent adult teeth. Understanding this process helps you recognize what’s normal during your puppy’s development and spot potential problems early.
How Many Deciduous Teeth Puppies Have
A puppy’s 28 deciduous teeth break down into three types on each side of the upper and lower jaw: three incisors (the small front teeth), one canine (the pointed fang), and three premolars (the broader teeth behind the canine used for gripping and breaking down food). That formula repeats across all four quadrants of the mouth.
Notably, puppies have no deciduous molars. The molars only appear as part of the permanent set, which is one reason the adult count jumps to 42. The 14 additional permanent teeth include those molars plus an extra premolar on each side of the upper and lower jaw.
When Deciduous Teeth Come In
Most puppies have all 28 deciduous teeth erupted by about 8 weeks of age. The incisors tend to appear first, typically visible by 3 to 4 weeks, followed by the canines and premolars over the next several weeks. If a puppy has fewer than 28 teeth and no adult teeth yet, it’s a good indicator the puppy is younger than 8 weeks, which is one way shelters and veterinarians estimate age in young dogs.
The Teething Timeline
Starting around 3 to 4 months of age, deciduous teeth begin loosening and falling out as the permanent teeth push up from beneath the gumline. This process works front to back: incisors are typically the first to go, followed by canines and premolars. By 7 to 8 months, most dogs have their full set of 42 adult teeth in place.
You may never notice the baby teeth falling out. Puppies often swallow them while eating, which is completely harmless. Occasionally you’ll find a tiny tooth on the floor or in a chew toy.
Signs Your Puppy Is Teething
The most obvious sign is an intense desire to chew everything in reach. Puppies chew to relieve the discomfort of teeth loosening and new ones breaking through the gums. Other common signs include:
- Increased drooling
- Decreased appetite, since sore gums can make eating uncomfortable
- Mild bleeding from the gums, which you might notice on chew toys
- Bad breath, often caused by gum inflammation (gingivitis) during the transition
- Low-grade fever or general fussiness
These symptoms are normal and temporary. Providing safe chew toys gives your puppy appropriate outlets and helps soothe irritated gums. Frozen washcloths or rubber teething toys work well. Avoid hard objects like antlers, bones, and hooves, which can fracture both deciduous and permanent teeth, and also pose a choking or intestinal blockage risk.
When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out
Sometimes a deciduous tooth stays in place even after the permanent tooth has erupted beside it. These are called persistent deciduous teeth, and they’re more than a cosmetic issue. Retained baby teeth are associated with malocclusion (a misaligned bite), soft tissue trauma to the gums or roof of the mouth, and a significantly increased risk of periodontal disease. When two teeth crowd into a space meant for one, food and bacteria pack into the narrow gap between them, accelerating plaque buildup and gum infection.
Persistent deciduous teeth are especially common in small and toy breeds. A large study of purebred dogs in the United States confirmed a strong link between smaller body size and higher rates of retained baby teeth. Regular veterinary exams during the first year of life are the simplest way to catch the problem. If a permanent tooth is already visible alongside a baby tooth that hasn’t budged, the retained tooth typically needs to be extracted to prevent damage to the adult tooth and surrounding structures.
Bite Problems That Require Early Intervention
In some puppies, the lower deciduous canines angle inward toward the tongue instead of pointing outward as they should. This condition, called linguoversion, can cause the lower canines to dig into the roof of the mouth, creating pain and soft tissue damage. When this happens, veterinary dentists recommend extracting the problem deciduous teeth promptly, sometimes as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age and ideally before 12 weeks. A dental X-ray is taken first to locate the developing permanent tooth bud and avoid damaging it during extraction.
Caring for Your Puppy’s Teeth
Even though deciduous teeth are temporary, the habits you build now matter. Getting your puppy comfortable with having its mouth handled sets the stage for lifelong dental care. Start by gently lifting the lips and touching the gums with your finger. Once your puppy tolerates that, you can introduce a soft-bristled toothbrush or finger brush with dog-safe toothpaste.
Brushing is the single most effective way to prevent dental disease, according to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. If brushing isn’t realistic every day, dental chews, specially formulated dental diets, and water additives can help reduce plaque buildup. The Veterinary Oral Health Council maintains a list of products that have been tested and shown to actually work, which is worth checking before spending money on marketing claims.
Chewing itself is beneficial for dental health and mental enrichment, but the material matters. Stick with toys that have some give to them. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t dent the surface with your fingernail, it’s too hard for your dog’s teeth.