This adorable Golden Retriever Puppy is very proud to show off his baby teeth.
Hi there, human! If you’ve noticed that your pup has lost some teeth, you may be wondering whether or not your dog’s tooth will grow back.
Us dogs are magnificent creatures, and you humans can’t seem to get enough of us! I can’t blame you for being fascinated, dogs are pretty great. But I can tell that you also don’t fully understand us dogs sometimes, especially when it comes to our teeth.Well, I’ll let you know everything you need to know today! You’ll learn the answer to “do grow back,” as well as the answer to any other questions you might have about our teeth, including anything you’re wondering about a puppy tooth, an adult tooth, or a canine tooth.Let’s jump right in!
This question is not as easy as yes or no. You can sometimes tell our age by looking at our teeth, especially when we’re young.
When we’re puppies, you can get an idea of how old we are based on which tooth – such as a premolar – we’ve grown in. For example, our puppy incisors usually erupt between the ages of four-to-six weeks old, and our adult incisors are in place by the time we’re 12-16 weeks old.Our puppy canines emerge at three-to-five weeks, while our adult canines come out by 12-16 weeks. If you see adult molars in a dog, they are probably four-to-six months old. For the most part, once we reach six months of age, you will see us flashing a smile consisting of most, if not all, of our permanent teeth.However, this is where teeth stop being an indication of age. Once an adult tooth is in place by about six months, it’s anyone’s guess. Generally, there isn’t a way to guess our age through our teeth as adults. Some people might use the state of our teeth, like if there’s a lot of wear and tear, to determine our age. But this isn’t accurate! Some of us like to chew a little rougher than others, so our teeth may wear down quicker while we’re still young.Guessing a dog’s age wrong can lead to serious problems, so please don’t just use our teeth as an indicator of age.
This is why it’s so important to take care of our teeth, because we can’t live without them and they have to last us a lifetime!
Small dogs with short snouts and cramped jaws are often more susceptible to plaque and tartar buildup. This can become a serious problem, leading to different oral diseases and eventual tooth loss.
Small dogs also can’t handle chewing on larger toys – they may end up chipping and breaking teeth.
Larger dogs play rough, so they tend to experience more traumatic injuries to teeth and gums such as fractured teeth, broken jaws, and worn tooth surfaces. These injuries can result in the tooth root becoming exposed, leading to severe pain and even the tooth dying. Big dogs can also develop plaque and tartar buildup, so watch out for that as well.Actually, did you know that us dogs are more likely to develop gum issues than you humans are? And it’s not just because of a lack of brushing. Dogs develop more gum problems because we have high alkaline levels in our mouths, creating an optimal environment for plaque to form.In order to keep up with our oral health, you have to check our teeth up close. I know it can be scary, with us having 42 teeth and all, but that’s the only way to get an idea of what’s wrong.
You may not be able to spot problems with our teeth immediately, but if we get an infection in our mouth, we actually will start exhibiting certain symptoms.Some signs to look out for include:Whimpering – When the pain gets bad enough, we’ll start to whimper, especially while chewing.Can’t pick up food – As dogs, we rely on our teeth to pick up our food. If you notice that your dog is having trouble picking up food, then there is probably something wrong with his teeth.Bad breath – This is an obvious sign of something wrong. We all have bad breath sometimes, but if your dog’s breath starts to smell particularly bad, then it’s a sign that his teeth are rotting.Bleeding gums – Us dogs get gingivitis, too, which could lead to bleeding. Bleeding might also be a sign of loose teeth or other dental problems forming.Blood on the chew toy – For adult dogs, this can also be a sign of gingivitis or more serious tooth problems in your pet’s mouth.Tooth discoloration – If your dog’s teeth are yellow or brown, this may be a sign of a bigger issue.Broken tooth – A broken tooth can be caused by many things and lead to worse conditions, such as further fractures or infections.If your dog starts exhibiting any of these symptoms, take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.And you’re done! Brush our teeth twice a week for best results, and don’t forget to give us a chew toy as a reward.
I hope I answered all of your questions, and that you now have a better understanding of a dog’s teeth.
You now know whether or not a dog’s teeth grow back, and everything else that is important for your best friend’s oral health. Healthy teeth mean a happy dog!