The oral health of puppies plays an crucial role in their health and well-being. The increasing life span of the modern dog exposes countless senior canines to health troubles resulting from years of neglected dental care. The life-long oral health of ones dog begins when they are puppies. Puppies have 28 temporary teeth (called puppy teeth or milk teeth) that start coming in at about 4 weeks of age. The puppy teeth commonly fall out between 14 and 30 weeks of age as they are succeeded by 42 adult teeth. If you have a puppy in this age range, there are some things to consider to keep in mind to ensure their life long oral health.

Typically deciduous (puppy) teeth begin falling out and are replaced by permanent teeth about 4 1/2 months of age. Nevertheless, the deciduous teeth may not be lost as scheduled; this translates into a challenge because now there is insufficient room for the permanent tooth to erupt. If a puppy is not losing their milk teeth rapidly enough the growing of a new tooth can be crowded away from its normal position potentially creating a malocclusion. Malocclusions is when the dog's teeth are misaligned inducing a under or over bight. Prevention is always much better than treatment. Early identification of a trouble is vital to prevent distress and pain to the dog and avert the development of severe pathology.

Prevention is accomplished by simply removing teeth that have not fallen out and are starting to crowd the puppy's permanent teeth. The typical bite of a dog is regarded as a scissor bite; the lower canine teeth fit between the upper third incisor and the upper canine, secondly there is the appropriate interlinking of upper and lower premolar teeth. Using a diagram that indicates the correct placement of a dog's teeth can allow owners to quickly determine if their puppy's permanent teeth are developing in the correct position. If your puppy's milk teeth have not all fallen out by 30 weeks of age veterinarian dentistry will be needed to extract the teeth.

The most prevalent problem for dogs is the build up of plaque, which can accumulate and harden to chalky calculus on the teeth. A puppy's teeth and gums are quite healthy in the first months of their lives leading several owners to ignore caring for their dog's teeth. This ultimately leads to the build-up of harmful plaque causing bacteria. The method of prevention is highly useful in achieving life-long oral health for your dog. This is why it is so essential to establish normal dental care at home for your dog. The most effective canine oral care products contain all natural advanced formulations that eliminate the harmful bacteria that cause the onset of periodontal disease.

The frequent care for your puppy's teeth will supply them with fresh and clean breath. This has a real advantages beyond the absence of the typical bad breath in dogs. A few health illnesses that afflict dogs present themselves via the dog's breath. These indicators go undetected in dogs with chronic bad breath but are quickly recognized in dogs with ordinarily pleasant breath. Chances are the companionship that develops between you and your beloved dog will be life long and strong. The pleasure of realizing you in a position to be a real advocate for your dog's health care can be fulfilling and no better way to start off than making sure your puppy's teeth and gums are healthy.