Puppy Teething Timeline: What to Expect and How to Help

Puppies go through a complete dental overhaul in their first seven months of life. They sprout 28 baby teeth, lose every single one, and replace them with 42 adult teeth. That is a lot of activity happening in a very small mouth, and for most Australian puppy owners, the chewing, drooling and occasional blood spots on a favourite toy are the first signs that teething has kicked in.

Understanding the puppy teething timeline takes the guesswork out of a phase that can be stressful for both puppies and their owners. Knowing which teeth appear when, what is normal and what needs a vet check makes it easier to support a pup through the process without losing too many shoes in the bargain.

Puppy baby teeth start appearing around 3 weeks of age and are fully in by 8 weeks (28 teeth). From around 12 to 16 weeks, baby teeth begin falling out as 42 adult teeth push through. Most puppies have a full adult set by 6 to 7 months. During teething, provide safe chew toys like KONG Puppy or frozen wet washcloths, avoid hard bones and antlers, and book a dental check with your vet at 6 months to catch any retained teeth early.

The Complete Puppy Teething Timeline

The teething process has two distinct phases: baby teeth coming in, and baby teeth falling out to make way for adult teeth. Here is what happens at each stage.

0 to 2 weeks: no teeth yet

Newborn puppies are born without visible teeth. The tooth buds are already forming inside the gums, but nothing has broken through yet. At this stage, puppies are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk and the lack of teeth makes nursing comfortable for both mum and pup.

3 to 4 weeks: first teeth appear

The first deciduous teeth (also called baby teeth or milk teeth) start pushing through the gums. The canines and incisors are usually first. These teeth are tiny, translucent and astonishingly sharp. Breeders often notice them around the time puppies begin showing interest in solid food.

6 to 8 weeks: full set of baby teeth

By the time a puppy is ready to go to a new home, all 28 baby teeth are typically in place. That includes 12 incisors (six top, six bottom), 4 canines and 12 premolars. Puppies do not have baby molars. Those appear only in the adult set.

This is a good time to start gently touching the puppy’s mouth and gums. Getting a pup used to having the mouth handled now pays off enormously when tooth brushing and vet checks become part of the routine.

12 to 16 weeks: baby teeth start falling out

The incisors are usually the first baby teeth to go, followed by the canines and premolars over the next several weeks. As each baby tooth loosens, the root is reabsorbed by the body, and the tooth eventually falls out or is swallowed during a meal. Swallowing baby teeth is completely safe and happens more often than not. Finding a tiny rice-grain-sized tooth on the carpet is satisfying but uncommon.

This is when the serious chewing begins. The sensation of teeth pushing through the gums drives puppies to chew on anything they can reach. Fingers, furniture legs, power cords, thongs left by the back door. Everything becomes a target.

4 to 5 months: adult teeth erupting

Adult incisors come through first, followed by the adult canines and premolars. The premolars are larger and flatter than the baby versions, and the molars (which have no baby predecessors) start appearing at the back of the mouth. Some puppies experience noticeable gum soreness during this stage.

You might see a little blood on a chew toy or notice slightly pink drool. A small amount of bleeding is normal. If the gums are bright red, swollen or there is a persistent bad smell, book a vet check.

6 to 7 months: full adult set

By around six to seven months, most puppies have all 42 adult teeth in place. The adult set includes 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars and 10 molars. At this point, the active teething phase is over, though many dogs continue chewing out of habit, boredom or breed instinct well into adulthood.

A dental check at six months is recommended to confirm all the adult teeth have come through and no baby teeth are hanging around where they shouldn’t be.

How to Tell Your Puppy Is Teething

Some puppies breeze through teething with barely a whimper. Others chew with the intensity of a dog twice their size and leave a trail of soggy destruction. Here are the most common signs.

• Increased chewing and mouthing – the most obvious sign. Puppies chew to relieve the pressure and discomfort in the gums.
• Drooling – more saliva than usual, sometimes enough to leave damp patches on bedding.
• Red or swollen gums – mild inflammation along the gum line where new teeth are pushing through.
• Small spots of blood – on chew toys, ropes or occasionally on food bowls. Usually nothing to worry about.
• Missing teeth – a gap where a baby tooth used to be, or a baby tooth found on the floor.
• Fussiness or reduced appetite – some puppies go off their food briefly when the gums are particularly sore.
• Mild irritability – a puppy that is usually easy-going may become a bit grumpy or restless.

Most of these signs come and go over a few months. They tend to peak between four and five months when the larger adult teeth are erupting.

Safe Chew Toys and Teething Remedies

Chewing is how puppies manage teething discomfort. The goal is to give them appropriate options that soothe the gums without damaging the developing teeth.

What works

1. KONG Puppy toys. Made from softer rubber than the adult version, these can be stuffed with peanut butter, wet food or plain yoghurt and frozen. The cold numbs sore gums, and the chewing keeps the puppy busy. Available at most Australian pet stores including Petbarn and PetStock.
2. Frozen wet washcloth. Soak a clean cloth in water or low-sodium broth, wring it out and freeze. The texture is gentle on puppy teeth, and the cold provides relief. Supervise to make sure the pup does not swallow threads.
3. Nylabone Puppy Chew range. Designed specifically for teething puppies, these have nubby surfaces that massage the gums. Choose the size appropriate for the puppy’s breed and weight.
4. LickiMat with frozen filling. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter, mashed banana or pumpkin on a LickiMat and freeze. Licking is naturally calming and slows down a puppy that gulps food.
5. Rubber teething rings. Look for ones that pass the “fingernail test”: if you can leave a dent with your fingernail, the toy is soft enough for a teething puppy. If not, it is too hard.

What to avoid

Hard chews are the biggest risk to developing teeth. A fractured baby tooth can expose the root and create an infection that damages the adult tooth forming underneath.

• Bones (cooked or raw) – too hard and can splinter. Cooked bones are particularly dangerous as they can fracture into sharp shards.
• Antlers and hooves – extremely hard and a known cause of slab fractures in both puppy and adult teeth.
• Hard nylon chews – some adult-strength nylon toys fail the fingernail test and are too rigid for puppy teeth.
• Ice cubes – a common suggestion that many vets discourage for teething puppies due to the risk of cracking teeth.
• Sticks – can splinter, puncture the mouth or become lodged in the throat. Plenty of Australian backyards have tempting sticks, so redirect to a toy instead.

The general rule from veterinary dentists: if you would not want to be hit in the kneecap with it, do not let your puppy chew on it. That includes anything too hard to bend or indent with a fingernail.

How to Manage Chewing Behaviour

Teething puppies chew. That is non-negotiable. But the difference between a pup that shreds your Birkenstocks and one that reaches for a Kong comes down to management and redirection.

Puppy-proof the house. Pick up shoes, remote controls, phone chargers and anything at floor level that looks chewable. In Australian homes, pay particular attention to power cords and extension leads, especially during summer when fans and portable air conditioners are running with cords across the floor.

Have toys within reach at all times. Keep a chew toy in every room where the puppy spends time. When the puppy starts mouthing something off-limits, calmly swap it for a toy and praise the puppy for chewing the right thing. No yelling, no snatching. Just a quiet swap and a “good dog.”

Rotate toys. Puppies get bored with the same toy. Keep three or four in rotation and swap them every couple of days to maintain novelty.

Teach “leave it” early. This cue is worth its weight in gold for a teething puppy. Hold a treat in a closed fist, wait for the puppy to stop mouthing the hand, mark the moment with “yes” and deliver a treat from the other hand. Once reliable, use it to redirect the puppy away from forbidden items.

Use frozen enrichment. A frozen KONG or LickiMat can keep a teething puppy occupied for twenty to thirty minutes. That is twenty minutes of quiet chewing rather than twenty minutes of table-leg destruction.

Teething, Nipping and Bite Inhibition

Teething ramps up nipping because sore gums make puppies want to chew on everything, including hands. But nipping also serves a developmental purpose. Puppies learn bite inhibition – how much pressure is too much – through feedback from littermates, their mother and eventually their human family.

When a puppy nips too hard during play, let out a short, high-pitched “ow” and immediately stop interacting. Withdraw attention for ten to fifteen seconds, then re-engage. The puppy learns that hard biting ends the fun. If the nipping continues, end the play session altogether and give the puppy a chew toy instead.

Avoid pulling your hand away quickly, which can trigger a chase reflex. Avoid rough play that encourages mouthing. And never punish a teething puppy for chewing. Punishment does not teach the puppy what to do instead and can damage the trust you are building.

Retained Baby Teeth: What to Watch For

Sometimes a baby tooth does not fall out when the adult tooth starts coming through. This is called a retained deciduous tooth or a persistent baby tooth, and it is one of the most common dental problems in young dogs. Small breeds and brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds tend to be more prone, but it can happen in any dog.

The issue is straightforward: two teeth trying to occupy the space meant for one. The retained baby tooth can push the adult tooth into an abnormal position, trap food and bacteria between the crowded teeth, and lead to early periodontal disease. Left untreated, the crowding can cause permanent misalignment, pain and ongoing dental problems.

Check the puppy’s mouth weekly between three and seven months of age. If you spot what looks like a “double tooth” – an adult tooth growing beside a baby tooth that has not budged – book a vet appointment promptly. The standard treatment is extraction of the retained baby tooth under anaesthesia. Many Australian vets combine this with desexing surgery to avoid a second anaesthetic.

Do not wait to “see if it falls out on its own.” Veterinary dental specialists are clear on this: once the adult tooth is visibly erupting alongside a baby tooth, the retained tooth should be removed as soon as practical. The earlier the extraction, the better the chance the adult tooth will settle into the correct position.

Starting Dental Care During Teething

Teething is actually a good time to establish the dental habits that will protect the puppy’s teeth for life.

Tooth brushing

Start by letting the puppy lick dog-safe enzymatic toothpaste from a finger. Chicken and beef flavours are popular and most puppies treat them like a reward. Once the puppy is comfortable with the taste, rub the paste along the gum line with a finger, then introduce a finger brush and eventually a small soft-bristled dog toothbrush. Two to three gentle strokes along the outer surfaces is plenty at first.

Human toothpaste is toxic to dogs. Always use a product specifically formulated for dogs. Brands like Virbac C.E.T. enzymatic toothpaste and Tropiclean Fresh Breath gel are widely available in Australian vet clinics and pet stores.

Vet dental checks

Book the first proper dental check at around six months, when the adult teeth should be in place. The vet will check for retained baby teeth, crowding, malocclusion (misaligned bite) and any signs of early gum disease. For breeds prone to dental issues – Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds and most toy breeds – your vet may recommend more frequent checks and possibly annual professional cleans as the dog ages.

Feeding a Teething Puppy

Some puppies eat through teething without missing a beat. Others go off their food for a day or two when the gums are particularly tender. If the puppy is reluctant to eat hard kibble, soften it with warm water and let it sit for five to ten minutes before serving. This is a temporary measure, not a permanent switch.

Wet food or fresh food (brands like Lyka and Scratch are popular in Australia) can be easier on sore mouths. Frozen food toppers, like plain frozen blueberries or small pieces of frozen watermelon (seedless), double as soothing treats. Avoid anything too crunchy or with sharp edges until the worst of the teething phase has passed.

Keep treats to under ten per cent of the puppy’s daily calorie intake. It is tempting to hand out treats freely during teething to redirect chewing, but overfeeding treats can lead to nutritional imbalances and weight gain, especially in fast-growing breeds.

Do Some Breeds Teethe Differently?

The timeline above is a general guide, and most breeds follow it closely. But there are some breed-related patterns worth knowing.

Small and toy breeds (Chihuahuas, Maltese, Pomeranians, Toy Poodles) are more likely to experience retained baby teeth. Their jaws are smaller, and there is simply less room for the adult teeth to push the baby ones out. Check these puppies’ mouths frequently from four months onward.

Brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, English Bulldogs) can also have crowding issues due to the compressed jaw structure. Malocclusion is more common in these breeds, and an early dental check is worth the peace of mind.

Large and giant breeds (Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes) often complete teething a little faster. Their powerful jaws can also do more damage during the chewing phase, so extra-durable puppy toys are a good investment.

Mouthy breeds (Retrievers, Spaniels, Staffies) are naturally inclined to carry objects in their mouths. Teething can intensify this tendency. Channel it with plenty of appropriate toys rather than trying to suppress the instinct.

When to See Your Vet

Most teething is uneventful. But some situations need professional attention.

• A baby tooth that has not fallen out by six to seven months, especially if you can see the adult tooth growing alongside it.
• Persistent bad breath that does not improve. Mild puppy breath is normal. A strong, foul smell could indicate infection.
• Excessive bleeding from the gums, beyond the occasional spot on a toy.
• Swelling of the face or jaw, which could signal an abscess from a broken or infected tooth.
• Refusal to eat for more than 24 hours. Brief fussiness is normal, but a prolonged appetite loss during teething warrants a check.
• A visibly broken tooth. Baby teeth can fracture if a puppy chews something too hard. A broken tooth with an exposed root can become infected and damage the developing adult tooth underneath.

Australian vet clinics are well set up to handle teething issues. A standard consultation typically costs between $60 and $100 AUD depending on the state and clinic, and extraction of a retained baby tooth is a routine procedure usually performed under a brief general anaesthetic.

---

When to Get Professional Help

If your puppy is in significant pain, refusing to eat for more than a day, has a broken tooth, or you see a retained baby tooth, consult your vet. A dental check at six months is a good investment to ensure everything is progressing normally. For persistent behavioural chewing that does not respond to redirection, a qualified reward-based trainer can help.

---

Frequently Asked Questions