2023-10-13 15:00:00
Shin Seong-woo, CEO of Dongtan Blue Bear Animal Hospital, Peer Free Focused Care
As children, we probably remember being left in the care of our parents to have our baby teeth pulled out. Puppies also lose their baby teeth and grow permanent teeth. There are guardians who are surprised during this process. Not only do we not realize that dogs also have baby teeth, but their gums also bleed. There is no need to worry because the bleeding that occurs when baby teeth fall out stops quickly.
A puppy’s baby teeth have a total of 28, and they begin to emerge at 3-4 weeks of age, grow gradually over 2-3 months, and then stop growing. Around 4 months following birth, all baby teeth grow. Primary teeth are smaller and sharper than permanent teeth. Permanent teeth are larger and blunter than deciduous teeth, so they can be seen with the naked eye. During the bruxism period, when baby teeth fall out, the gums become itchy and people try to bite objects in their mouths. At this time, it can be a good idea to give them something to chew on, like gum, or to play with them.
As baby teeth fall out, bad breath or bleeding may occur, but this naturally decreases following the teeth grinding period ends. For reference, even if a baby tooth falls out, it is difficult to find because it is so small, and there are cases where dogs swallow it. There is no need to worry too much because the baby teeth your dog swallows are excreted in the feces.
If the baby teeth do not fall out, they will form a double dentition with the permanent teeth, causing various problems in the dog’s oral cavity. This is called residual primary teeth. It is more common in dogs than cats, is more likely to occur in small dogs than in large dogs, and occurs particularly frequently in canines with deep roots. Remaining deciduous teeth can also be confirmed with the naked eye. Incisor deciduous teeth are usually located outside the permanent teeth, and canine deciduous teeth are located behind the permanent teeth.
If you have remaining deciduous teeth, permanent teeth may not be able to emerge because of the deciduous teeth. Because the primary teeth and permanent teeth are close together, friction between the two teeth may cause damage to the tooth surface. Food gets stuck easily and tartar builds up, which can cause problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis. In severe cases, malocclusion occurs and if the remaining primary teeth break, it can easily lead to pulpitis or periapical abscess. If the periapical abscess is severe, the inflammation may spread to the facial area and the skin between the eyes and mouth may swell like a lump, causing severe pain to the dog.
For this reason, it is best to extract any remaining baby teeth when the puppy is younger than one year old. Usually, when a veterinarian discovers a dog’s remaining primary teeth during neutering surgery, he or she recommends that the dog be anesthetized and also extract the remaining primary teeth.
There are times when guardians neglect their dog’s remaining primary teeth. Because I think it will fall out naturally. But these cases are rare. If you see any remaining deciduous teeth, it is best to actively extract them to prevent the diseases mentioned above. Please take a good look inside your dog’s mouth and if you see any remaining baby teeth, be sure to consult a veterinarian.
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