As a new pet parent, have you recently found yourself wondering if that adorable, fluffy puppy you brought home has secretly turned into a “walking paper shredder”? Are your jeans, slippers, and even the edges of your sofa covered in tiny puncture marks? Don’t worry—this isn’t intentional mischief; your pup is simply going through a crucial developmental milestone: the teething phase.

To help both you and your furry friend navigate this period smoothly, let’s start by answering the question that’s likely puzzling you the most: exactly when do puppies start losing their baby teeth?

Puppy teething typically begins in earnest between the ages of 3 and 4 months, a process during which their characteristic 28 baby teeth gradually fall out. By the time they are roughly 6 to 7 months old, the full set of 42 permanent teeth will have fully emerged, replacing the baby teeth.

Backed by the latest veterinary and pet care standards, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the complete timeline of puppy teething and provide a guide to proper care.

A Comprehensive Overview of Tooth Development: From Baby Teeth to Adult Teeth

To help you clearly track your puppy’s teething progress, I have outlined a month-by-month developmental timeline based on scientific insights.

28 to 42: A Quick Look at Puppy Oral Anatomy

Many new pet parents wonder about the teething process—specifically, when and how often puppies lose their baby teeth—the first time they notice a tooth falling out. Here is an explanation of the teething cycle from an anatomical perspective to help you understand what to expect.

Deciduous (Baby) Tooth Stage: Puppies begin to cut their baby teeth between 2 and 3 weeks of age, and the full set of 28 teeth is usually in place by the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old. During this stage, they lack molars, possessing only sharp, small teeth suited for tearing and play.

Permanent Tooth Stage: As the puppy’s jaw develops, the baby teeth gradually fall out and are eventually replaced by 42 permanent teeth. This means an adult dog has 14 more teeth than a puppy.

During the period of tooth replacement, the following types of teeth are replaced in an anatomical sequence:

• Incisors: Located at the very front of the mouth, used for cutting food.

• Canines: The four sharpest, smaller teeth, used for piercing and tearing.

• Premolars: Located behind the canines, responsible for tearing food into smaller pieces.

• Molars: Large teeth at the back of the mouth that appear only during the permanent dentition stage, specifically designed for grinding hard food.

Friendly Reminder:

Retained Primary Teeth: If a primary tooth does not fall out when a permanent tooth erupts, AVDC strongly recommends its extraction as soon as possible. Retained primary teeth can lead to crowding, severe periodontal disease, or malocclusion of the permanent teeth.

Mixed Dentition Stage: Between 4 and 6 months of age, both primary and permanent teeth may be present in the mouth simultaneously; this is a normal physiological transition period. During this time, avoid using hard toys to pull on the teeth.

Standard Chart of Puppy Teething Ages

Data source: AVDC (American Veterinary Dental College) guidelines on the standard timeline for canine dental development.

Developmental stage	Age milestones	Oral physiological characteristics and the sequence of tooth exfoliation/eruption	Typical behavioral manifestations
Early stage	3–4 months	The incisors begin to fall out, and the permanent incisors begin to erupt.	The gums are slightly red and swollen, and the front teeth begin to be licked frequently
The Peak Phase	4-5 months	The premolars and the iconic canines begin to fall out in large numbers.	Do puppies lose teeth at 5 months? Absolutely. This is the absolute peak of teething discomfort, where the urge to chew everything in sight goes into overdrive to soothe itchy, aching gums.
Final stage	6-7 months	All deciduous teeth have been shed, and the molars at the back have fully erupted, resulting in a total of 42 permanent teeth.	Chewing and biting behaviors gradually taper off, while overall bite force increases significantly as the jaw matures.

Sharing a personal experience: When my dog Luna was four and a half months old,coming home from work felt like an absolute treasure hunt. I once found two of her baby canine teeth lying side-by-side on one of her plush toys. That was also the time she was at her grumpiest; she even gnawed marks into the wooden legs of our furniture. If your dog is currently at this age, please make sure to provide plenty of durable chew toys—this is the peak of the teething phase, when their gums are at their most uncomfortable!

How can you tell if your dog is teething?

If your puppy starts losing teeth and you aren’t sure if it is a normal part of the process, the following four typical physical signs can help you identify what is happening.

Gum abnormalities: During the teething phase, you may notice your dog’s gums are slightly red, swollen, and sensitive; there may even be minor bleeding as baby teeth are on the verge of falling out.

Increased drooling and temporary bad breath: Puppies often drool frequently while teething. As baby teeth loosen, mild oral inflammation may occur; the mixture of small amounts of blood, saliva, and food debris can create an unpleasant mouth odor resembling rust or a fishy smell.

• Decreased appetite: Swollen gums and the pain associated with new teeth erupting can make chewing uncomfortable. Puppies may hesitate to apply force while eating or alter their eating habits, ultimately leading to a reduced appetite.

• Frenzied chewing: The intense chewing, tearing, and random biting behavior puppies exhibit during teething is actually an instinctive coping mechanism. They need to chew hard objects vigorously to rub their gums, which helps alleviate the intense itching and sharp discomfort caused by permanent teeth breaking through the gum tissue.

Care and Behavioral Guidance During the Teething Phase

When your dog is going through the teething stage, you—as their human—should adopt scientifically sound and effective methods to alleviate their pain and anxiety; doing so not only strengthens the bond of trust between you and your dog but also helps prevent potential oral health issues.

1. Physical Pain Relief and Dietary Adjustments

As permanent teeth push through the gums, localized redness, swelling, and throbbing pain are completely normal. Dietary adjustments and physical relief methods can significantly alleviate the associated discomfort.

• Soothing with Cold: If your dog experiences red, swollen gums during the teething phase, you can offer frozen chew toys or feed them frozen, low-sodium broth. The cold temperature effectively constricts capillaries, helping to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

• Softening Kibble to Address Reduced Appetite: To counter a drop in appetite caused by teething pain, try adding warm water or warm pet-safe milk to the kibble. Softening the food completely before feeding helps minimize discomfort during meals.

• Boosting Nutrition: If your dog is in a critical growth phase where permanent teeth and bones are developing rapidly, consider—under veterinary guidance—supplementing their diet with high-quality calcium, Vitamin D3, and trace elements to lay a solid foundation for their 42 permanent teeth.

2. Behavioral Guidance

When a dog frequently chews on household items, the best approach is not simply to stop the behavior, but to teach the dog exactly what it *should* be chewing.

• Proper Guidance: Whenever your puppy starts chewing on your shoes, trousers, or furniture, immediately issue a command to make it stop, then quickly place a chew treats or toy in front of its mouth.

• Positive Reinforcement: When the dog successfully shifts its attention and begins enthusiastically chewing on its own toy, immediately praise it in an upbeat, enthusiastic tone or offer a small, soft treat designed for teething puppies. This helps the dog understand that chewing furniture yields no reward, whereas chewing its own toy brings a great reward.

3. Daily Oral Care Habits

Many pet parents mistakenly believe that since puppy teeth will eventually fall out, there is no rush to start brushing until the permanent teeth have come in. This is a major misconception.

Early Intervention: The period between 3 and 5 months of age is the prime time for puppies to accept new experiences and establish daily care routines. Getting them accustomed to having objects placed in their mouths during this stage makes future care much easier and more effective.

How to desensitize your pup in 3 steps:

• 1. Over several days, let the puppy lick pet-specific toothpaste off a finger brush or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger so it learns to love the taste.

• 2. Gently massage its inflamed gums with your finger or a finger brush; this not only relieves discomfort associated with teething but also helps the puppy get used to the sensation of a brush inside its mouth.

• 3. Once permanent teeth begin to emerge, formally introduce a pet-specific toothbrush for brushing.

Industry guidelines from the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) regarding early-stage canine plaque prevention, training for toothbrushing tolerance, and long-term oral care state: “Acclimating puppies to oral cleaning as early as possible not only effectively eliminates odors caused by drooling and bleeding during the teething phase but also effectively prevents the future development of tartar and periodontal disease.”

When to Contact a Veterinarian

You should schedule an appointment with a local veterinary clinic if your puppy experiences the following during the teething period:

Retained deciduous teeth (baby teeth)

When a permanent tooth has erupted but the corresponding baby tooth fails to fall out, the condition is medically known as retained deciduous teeth.

Normally, as a permanent tooth erupts, it exerts pressure on the root of the baby tooth, causing it to be naturally resorbed and shed. If this process fails, both teeth remain side-by-side. This can lead to serious oral health issues:

• Misalignment: Forced to take a “detour” during growth, the permanent tooth may be pushed into an abnormal position, potentially even injuring the roof of the mouth or the gums.

• Overcrowding: Having twice the number of teeth in a limited oral space reduces the gaps between them.

• Early-onset periodontal disease: Tight, inaccessible crevices easily trap debris, allowing food particles and bacteria to proliferate rapidly; consequently, young dogs may develop severe tartar buildup and gingivitis as early as 1–2 years of age.

Data from studies published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) indicate the following:

In clinical practice, small- and medium-sized breeds (such as Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pomeranians) and brachycephalic breeds exhibit a significantly higher incidence of retained deciduous teeth compared to large breeds. Research suggests that this condition often has a genetic basis and most frequently affects the canine teeth.

• Standard clinical guidelines from JAVMA advise：against a “wait-and-see” approach if a puppy’s deciduous teeth have not fallen out naturally by the age of 6 to 7 months. Veterinarians typically recommend safely extracting the retained teeth while the dog is under general anesthesia for a spay or neuter procedure; this resolves the issue of dental crowding in a single session while sparing the dog the risks associated with undergoing anesthesia a second time.

Other Warning Signs of Dental Issues

In addition to retained baby teeth, if your puppy exhibits the following symptoms while teething, do not dismiss them as normal teething reactions; contact a veterinarian immediately:

• Extremely foul-smelling breath: While teething can cause a slight metallic or unusual odor due to minor bleeding, a putrid, foul stench often indicates a severe bacterial infection or a foreign object lodged between the teeth.

• Refusal to eat for more than 24 hours: Teething can indeed cause a temporary drop in appetite, but if the puppy completely refuses to eat (even its favorite treats) for over a day—especially if accompanied by lethargy—it indicates that the pain level has exceeded the normal range.

• Severely red, swollen, or pus-filled gums: Carefully examine your puppy’s mouth; if the gum margins appear dark purple, the puppy yelps in pain when touched, or there is visible yellow pus oozing out, these are signs of a serious gum infection requiring antibiotics or professional clinical treatment.

FAQ:

Q1: Will puppies still bite after their baby teeth fall out?

Yes; typically, puppies stop or significantly reduce aggressive biting behavior once their permanent teeth have fully grown in.

Q2: Do puppies swallow their baby teeth?

Yes, this is completely normal and very common.

Q3: When is the teething period most painful?

The period between 4 and 5 months of age is the peak phase for teething pain and intense chewing behavior.

Q4:What is the “7-7-7 Rule” for puppies?

The “7-7-7 Rule” for puppies was introduced by renowned canine expert Pat Hastings. Originally, it served as a guide for early socialization before the age of seven weeks (involving exposure to seven different surfaces, seven types of toys, seven different people, etc.). Today, however, it also offers crucial guidance for managing behavior and tracking progress during the teething stage.

Disclaimer:

All content provided on this website/blog (including, but not limited to, articles, charts, comments, and replies) is intended solely for informational, educational, and experience-sharing purposes; it does not constitute professional veterinary diagnosis, treatment advice, or medical prescriptions.

Every pet has a unique physical condition, breed characteristics, and health history. Although the authors possess extensive experience in pet nutrition and care, online information cannot replace an in-person clinical veterinary examination. Please consult a licensed veterinarian (DVM) for professional advice before making any changes to your pet’s diet or training regimen, or before undertaking any medical care based on the content of this site.