Dogs have 42 adult teeth. Like humans, dogs possess one set of deciduous (milk) teeth and one set of permanent teeth which are a finite length. They require regular care to keep them in tip-top condition.
By the age of six weeks puppies should have all of their milk teeth. These will be replaced by permanent teeth between 3 and 7 months of age.
Dogs are carnivores and their teeth are adapted for eating meat. The large canines are used for holding and tearing meat. The incisors are small and used for nibbling the fur when grooming. As with all carnivores, dogs possess large carnassial teeth which are the last premolar in the upper jaw and the first molar in the lower jaw. These teeth are used as scissor blades for cutting through meat and are very important. Dogs have more molar teeth than cats, which shows that they are more adapted to eating vegetation than their feline cousins.
As with humans, dogs need regular care for their teeth. Daily brushing is essential to prevent problems in the future and is best started when the dog is a puppy. Almost all dogs will accept having their teeth brushed if it is introduced slowly and with lots of praise and treats. If you brush your dog's teeth less frequently than every 3 days, you may as well not brush at all.
Although dry food and chews may help with dental care, they are no substitute for brushing with a tooth brush as a brush can reach areas that these can't.
Dogs should be taken to the vet's at least every year to have their teeth checked over. As with humans, a clean and polish may be necessary. This will be done under general anaesthetic and although there is always a risk, modern anaesthetics are really good and worry about the risk should not affect judgement. Catching dental disease at an early stage is really important, as once it gets severe, cure is impossible.
