# Puppy teething: what falls out, when, and what to watch

> VCA on puppy teething: the 28-to-42 tooth timeline, the retained-tooth trap in small breeds, chew rules that protect new teeth, and when a tooth earns a vet call.

Canonical: https://puppyyearone.com/blog/puppy-teething-timeline/

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Those needle teeth are temporary equipment. Puppies grow 28 deciduous teeth and end with up to 42 permanent ones, and the swap happens fast - here is the VCA's timeline, plus the one tooth problem worth catching early.

## The six-month swap

Puppies begin teething at around three weeks and have all their baby teeth by roughly six weeks - incisors and canine teeth first, then premolars. Dogs have no baby molars. At around 12 weeks the deciduous teeth start falling out and the permanent set begins erupting; normally, by six months, every permanent tooth is in and every baby tooth is out.

You may find a tiny tooth on the floor, but most puppies simply swallow them while eating - harmless, per VCA. A faint red stain on a chew toy from minor bleeding is also normal.

## The tooth that refuses to leave

Smaller breeds and short-nosed breeds are prone to retained deciduous teeth - baby teeth that stay put when the permanent ones arrive. The canine teeth are the usual holdouts, and a double row of fangs is the classic sign.

Retained teeth trap food against the gums, misalign the bite, and set up future dental disease, so they need removal - commonly done at the spay or neuter appointment. If your puppy still has double teeth at six months, put it on the list for the next vet visit.

## Chew rules for a mouth under construction

VCA passes on the veterinary dentists' rule: do not offer anything that will not bend. Bones, antlers and hard nylon can break baby and adult teeth alike, and no chew toy is 100 percent safe - supervise, keep a few toys in rotation so they stay interesting, and keep shoes and children's toys out of reach.

For hand-biting, yelp like a littermate and withdraw play. Redirect the mouth to a toy, add exercise and puzzle feeders, and make sure nobody rewards the chewing you want to stop.

## Start the brushing habit now

A teething puppy is the perfect student for mouth handling. Getting them used to a finger or brush in the mouth now pays off for years of home dental care - and lets you look inside, or retrieve something, without a wrestling match.

Use a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs - human toothpaste can make dogs sick - and ask your vet to demonstrate technique. Most dogs can learn to tolerate or even enjoy daily brushing; tolerance comes first.

## Sources

- [VCA: Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/teeth-teething-and-chewing-in-puppies)
- [VCA: Persistent Deciduous Teeth (Baby Teeth) in Dogs](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/retained-deciduous-teeth-baby-teeth-in-dogs)