The teething timeline
Puppies grow 28 deciduous (baby) teeth, in by about 6–8 weeks. Around 3–4 months they begin falling out as 42 adult teeth push through, finishing around 6–7 months. During the swap you may find tiny teeth on the floor (or nowhere — swallowing them is normal and harmless), see small gum bleeds, and live with a chewing machine. All normal.
What is not normal
The one to catch: retained baby teeth — a baby tooth that stays put while the adult tooth erupts beside it, most often the upper canines. Two teeth in one socket trap food and misalign the adult tooth; retained teeth usually need extraction, often scheduled with the spay/neuter. Also worth a vet look: an adult tooth clearly out of position, a jaw that seems misaligned as it grows, or reluctance to eat that lasts more than a day or two.
The habit that matters: handling practice
From the day your puppy comes home, make mouth-touch a normal, rewarded event: lift the lip, touch a tooth for one second, treat. A few seconds a day. Around four to five months, add a taste of dog toothpaste and a soft wipe over the front teeth. You are not cleaning anything yet — you are writing the rule hands near mouth = good things before adolescence arrives to argue.
Skip real cleaning during heavy teething if the mouth is sore (roughly months four to six) — keep the touch game going with an even lighter touch. Once the adult set is in around seven months, transition into the full daily adult routine — the habit is already built.
Chewing: give the urge a safe target
Teething puppies chew because it relieves gum pressure. Offer rubber puppy teethers (some can be chilled), soft rope toys, and frozen wet washcloths. Avoid the hard stuff — antlers, hooves, real bones, ice cubes — which can crack even adult teeth, let alone erupting ones. If it hurts when you press it against your own kneecap, it is too hard for a puppy's mouth.
Quick answers
When do puppies lose their baby teeth?
Baby teeth start falling out around 3–4 months as the 42 adult teeth come in, finishing around 6–7 months. Swallowed baby teeth are normal and harmless.
When should I start brushing my puppy's teeth?
Start mouth-handling practice immediately — lip lifts and one-second tooth touches with rewards. Introduce paste and gentle wiping around 4–5 months, and begin the real daily routine once adult teeth are in around 7 months.
What is a retained baby tooth?
A baby tooth that fails to fall out while its adult replacement erupts beside it, most often the upper canines. It traps food and misaligns the adult tooth, and usually needs veterinary extraction.
Do puppies get plaque and tartar?
Very little — baby teeth are replaced before serious buildup forms. Puppy-stage dental care is about building handling habits, not plaque removal.
Keep reading
When the adult teeth are in, move to the daily routine and pick your tool in wipes vs. brushing.
A note on veterinary care
This guide is general education, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different — breed, age, diet and health history all change what their mouth needs. If you notice pain, bleeding, loose teeth or a sudden change in breath, book a veterinary exam rather than treating it at home.