A puppy’s teeth start appearing when he is about four weeks old. These are deciduous (temporary) or baby teeth that do not have roots. By the time the young dog is about six weeks old, most of the deciduous canine, incisive and molar teeth are in place. As puppies are liable to bite their mother’s nipples, puppies are generally weaned as soon as the first set of teeth start appearing.

Being deciduous teeth, these teeth start falling off as the roots of the permanent teeth start pushing upwards. The process of replacement is usually complete by the time the dog is about eight months old. The incisors are the first deciduous teeth to fall off and the molars are generally the last.

When the deciduous teeth are being replaced by permanent ones, is when dog owners start observing the first signs of canine bad breath. Bad dog breath in puppies during this time is normal and can be easily addressed with a dog oral breath spray.

The exact timing when the temporary teeth are shed varies from breed to breed and in most cases, the owners are not even aware of the process that is taking place. This is mainly because of the fact that the temporary teeth are swallowed with food and do not really fall out.

Your dog’s oral health is also an indicator of the general health of your dog. Many diseases in other parts of the body manifest themselves by certain dental or oral symptoms. On the other hand, sometimes dental diseases can cause other more serious problems and can affect vital organs in the body.

Dogs do not generally have cavities like humans. Dental disease mostly affects their gums. Gum diseases like gingivitis are primarily responsible for tooth decay, abscesses and serious dental ailments like periodontitis.

Healthy dog gums are firm. They are just like the dog’s skin – pink, black or spotted. Dog teeth are initially white in color and tend to darken as the dog gets older. Initially 23 rootless baby teeth emerge. These are pushed out when permanent (usually 42 but much depends upon the breed of the dog) teeth start to develop.

It is important to check a puppy’s mouth to see if the permanent teeth are coming out properly. Put your hand over the muzzle and lift up the jaw and see whether there is any crowding of baby teeth. In rare cases, a baby tooth may be retained. This can cause a bad bite, which is abnormal spatial relation of the teeth when the jaws are closed, known as malocclusion. Malocclusion may lead to problems with eating and tooth decay at a later date and needs to be addressed.

A dog?s teeth and human teeth are different in structure and the use they are put to. At the same time, apart from the fact that dogs do not develop cavities and are more prone to develop tartar, dogs have to face nearly the same dental problems that humans have to struggle with.

Just as in humans, if you are not careful about dental care your dog may be at a higher risk of developing dental problems like:

-?? ?Canine bad breath.
-?? ?Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums.
-?? ?Bacterial infection in teeth.
-?? ?Abscesses, a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed gum tissue.
-?? ?A more serious disease that attacks the gum and the bone around the teeth, known as periodontitis. ?

Teeth and mouth infections can lead to tooth extraction. These infections can also enter the blood stream and attack vital organs elsewhere in the body. While a dog breath freshener may temporarily cure bad dog breath, only a proper dental care program can keep your dog?s teeth and gums in a fighting fit condition.

Canine dental care should ideally include the following: