Puppy Dental Care Guide UK: Teeth Cleaning and Dental Health

What Is the Puppy Teething Timeline and What to Expect?

Puppies are born without teeth. Their 28 baby (deciduous) teeth begin to emerge at around 2 to 4 weeks of age, starting with the incisors at the front, followed by canines and premolars. By 6 to 8 weeks, all baby teeth are usually present. These tiny, needle-sharp teeth are a normal source of concern for new puppy owners but serve an important developmental purpose.

Between 3 and 7 months of age, puppies lose their baby teeth and grow their 42 permanent adult teeth. The incisors are usually the first to be replaced (around 3 to 4 months), followed by canines (4 to 6 months), and premolars and molars (4 to 7 months). You may find baby teeth on the floor or in your puppy’s toys, or your puppy may swallow them, which is completely normal and harmless.

During teething, puppies experience discomfort and an increased urge to chew. Providing appropriate chew toys helps soothe their gums and directs chewing away from furniture and belongings. Frozen wet flannels, rubber teething toys, and specifically designed puppy chews are all suitable. Avoid very hard items like antlers and bones during teething as they can damage emerging adult teeth. See our behaviour development timeline for a full guide to what happens at each age.

How to Brush Your Puppy’s Teeth?

Start by getting your puppy comfortable with mouth handling before introducing a brush. For the first week, gently lift their lips and touch their gums and teeth with your finger while giving treats. Once they accept this calmly, introduce a small amount of dog-safe toothpaste on your finger for them to lick. Never use human toothpaste as it contains fluoride and foaming agents that are harmful if swallowed.

Progress to a finger brush (a soft rubber brush that fits over your fingertip) or a small puppy toothbrush. Apply a pea-sized amount of enzymatic dog toothpaste and brush in gentle circular motions along the gum line, focusing on the outer surfaces of the teeth where plaque accumulates most. The inner surfaces are kept relatively clean by the tongue. Each brushing session need only take 30 to 60 seconds initially.

Aim for daily brushing, which is the gold standard recommended by veterinary dental specialists in the UK. If daily brushing is not possible, a minimum of three times per week provides meaningful benefit. The key to success is making brushing a positive experience from puppyhood so it becomes an accepted part of the daily routine. Reward after every session. Dogs whose teeth are brushed regularly from puppyhood rarely resist the process as adults. For more routine-building guidance, see our puppy grooming schedule.

What Are the Dental Chews and Chew Toys for Puppies?

Dental chews and chew toys supplement brushing by mechanically scraping plaque from teeth as your puppy chews. Look for products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which indicates they have been independently tested and proven to reduce plaque or tartar. Not all products marketed as dental chews have this validation.

For puppies under 6 months, choose softer chews appropriate for developing teeth and jaws. Rubber teething toys, braided rope toys (supervised use only to prevent thread ingestion), and age-appropriate dental sticks are suitable. Avoid very hard chews (antlers, hooves, hard nylon bones) as these can fracture baby teeth or damage emerging adult teeth.

From 6 months onward, as the adult teeth are established, you can introduce firmer dental chews. Size the chew appropriately for your puppy; it should be large enough that they cannot fit the entire chew in their mouth and risk choking. Always supervise your puppy with any chew product and remove it when it becomes small enough to swallow whole. Dental chews contribute to oral health but do not replace the mechanical action of brushing along the gum line where periodontal disease begins.

What Is the Common Puppy Dental Problems in the UK?

Retained baby teeth occur when a baby tooth does not fall out as the corresponding adult tooth erupts, resulting in two teeth occupying the same position. This is particularly common in small breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Maltese. Retained baby teeth can cause crowding, misalignment of adult teeth, and increased plaque accumulation. If a baby tooth has not fallen out by 7 months of age, your vet may recommend extraction, often done at the time of neutering.

Malocclusion (misalignment of the bite) can occur in any breed but is more common in breeds with flat faces (brachycephalic) or long narrow muzzles (dolichocephalic). Mild malocclusion may not cause problems, but severe cases can lead to teeth damaging the palate or gums and may require orthodontic intervention. Your vet will check your puppy’s bite alignment at routine appointments.

Fractured teeth from chewing inappropriate objects are common in puppies. Ice cubes, stones, and very hard chew products are typical causes. A fractured tooth exposing the pulp (the pink or red centre) is painful and requires veterinary treatment, usually extraction or root canal therapy. Preventing access to inappropriate chewing materials is the best approach. See our socialisation guide for managing your puppy’s environment safely.

When to See a Vet About Your Puppy’s Teeth?

Schedule a dental check at your puppy’s routine vaccination appointments. Your vet will assess the eruption of baby and adult teeth, check for retained baby teeth, evaluate bite alignment, and identify any early concerns. Most dental issues in puppies are identified during these routine checks rather than through emergency presentations.

See your vet promptly if you notice bad breath (beyond normal puppy breath), bleeding from the gums, a retained baby tooth alongside an erupted adult tooth after 7 months, a broken or cracked tooth, excessive drooling, reluctance to eat or chew, swelling around the jaw or face, or any lump or growth on the gums. These signs may indicate a dental problem requiring treatment.

Professional dental cleaning under general anaesthesia is not typically needed for puppies and young dogs with good home dental care. However, dogs that do not receive regular brushing often develop periodontal disease by 2 to 3 years of age that requires professional intervention. Establishing good dental habits in puppyhood is the most effective and cost-effective approach to lifelong dental health. The PDSA estimates that treating dental disease costs UK owners an average of 200 to 400 pounds per episode, making prevention significantly cheaper than cure.