Most puppies start losing their 28 baby teeth at around 12 to 16 weeks of age (roughly 3–4 months), and the swap is typically finished by 6 to 7 months — leaving them with a full set of 42 permanent teeth. The process is driven by the adult teeth growing in underneath: they gradually resorb the roots of the baby teeth until they loosen and drop out, and most puppies quietly swallow the majority of them. Toy and small breeds can run a few weeks behind the average schedule, which is usually fine as long as teeth are lost in roughly the order they came in. This guide walks through the full teething timeline week by week, the normal (and not-so-normal) signs to watch for, and exactly what to do when those first tiny teeth hit your floor.
Your Puppy's Teething Timeline, Week by Week
Puppies follow a fairly consistent schedule (breed size shifts the timing). Key milestones, per VCA Animal Hospitals and the AKC's teething timeline:
| Age | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Birth–2 weeks | No visible teeth yet. |
| ~3–6 weeks | Baby teeth erupt, incisors first. (Puppies have no baby molars.) |
| 6–8 weeks | Full set of 28 deciduous teeth is in. |
| 12–16 weeks (3–4 months) | Baby teeth loosen and fall out in arrival order; adult incisors erupt first. |
| 4–6 months | Adult canines, premolars, and molars come in; canines are often the last baby teeth to fall out. |
| ~6–7 months | Most puppies have all 42 permanent teeth. |
The adult set adds molars that never existed as baby teeth — which is why dogs end up with 42 teeth, about 10 more than humans.
Signs Your Puppy Is Losing Baby Teeth
The first sign is usually behavioral: a puppy that chewed politely suddenly starts gnawing chair legs, shoes, and your fingers with new determination. Other common signs include:
- Tiny teeth on the floor or in toys — they look like grains of rice. Most owners find only a handful; the rest are swallowed.
- Drooling more than usual and occasional small blood spots on chew toys — both normal while gums are inflamed.
- Slightly reduced appetite or fussiness with hard kibble — sore gums can make crunchy food uncomfortable for a few days.
- Bleeding or puffy-looking gums, especially around the front teeth.
- Increased irritability or restlessness, including night-time whining in some puppies.
Symptoms come and go as individual teeth loosen. Constant drooling, nonstop bleeding, or refusing food for over a day is beyond normal teething — see the vet section below.
What to Do When the Teeth Start Falling Out
Golden rule: let teeth fall out on their own — never pull a loose baby tooth, which can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Instead:
- Provide safe chew outlets. Soft rubber puppy toys, frozen (not rock-hard) washcloths, and food-stuffable toys give sore gums counter-pressure. Rotate toys to keep them interesting.
- Expect swallowed teeth — it's normal. The AKC notes that most puppies swallow their baby teeth while eating or chewing, and they pass through harmlessly. Finding no teeth at all is not a sign something went wrong.
- Puppy-proof with fresh eyes. Re-check cords, shoes, and furniture now — don't scold the chewing instinct itself.
- Start mouth-handling practice. Lift your puppy's lips and touch the gums briefly each day, paired with a treat. Puppies that learn this now are far easier to care for as adults.
Looking for an easier way to start caring for the new adult teeth as they come in? Try RunyePet Dental Finger Wipes — a gentle first step before a puppy is ready for a full toothbrush routine.
What Teething Can and Can't Explain
Teething is a convenient scapegoat, but it only accounts for so much. Honest attribution matters, because blaming everything on teething can delay help for a real problem.
Teething can explain: intense chewing, drooling, minor gum bleeding, mild appetite dips, and general fussiness or restlessness.
Teething can't explain: persistent diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, refusing food for more than 24 hours, coughing, house-soiling regressions, or genuinely aggressive behavior. These warrant a vet visit, not a chew toy. Likewise, not every destroyed shoe is "just teething" — puppies also chew from boredom, anxiety, and lack of exercise, and those need their own solutions.
Common Teething Mistakes to Avoid
A few well-meaning choices backfire during teething:
- Hard chews for a soft-tooth mouth. Antlers, real bones, and ice cubes can crack loosening baby teeth — stick to toys you can dent with your thumbnail.
- Scolding instead of redirecting. Punishing chewing doesn't teach anything; swapping the chair leg for a toy (and rewarding the swap) does.
- Letting puppy teeth sink into fingers. Teething is prime time to teach bite inhibition — yelp or withdraw calmly when those needle teeth hurt, every time.
- Waiting to start dental care. The weeks adult teeth erupt are the ideal window to build a cleaning habit — wiping new teeth a few times a week with dental finger wipes keeps early plaque from settling in.
- Using human toothpaste. It contains fluoride and foaming agents dogs shouldn't swallow — always use pet-formulated products.
What We've Learned About Teething Puppies
Here's the unglamorous truth from years of helping puppy owners through this phase: the toy collection matters far less than consistency. The owners who weather teething best tend to do two boring things well — they keep one or two appropriate chews available at all times (rather than a rotating arsenal of novelties), and they spend about 60 seconds a day touching their puppy's mouth and gums, every single day, starting the week the first tooth wobbles. Puppies raised on that tiny ritual rarely fight dental care later. The fancy part isn't the product; it's the habit. If your puppy tolerates a finger in its mouth today, a wipe or brush tomorrow is a non-event.
When to See a Veterinarian: Retained Baby Teeth and Double Teeth
Sometimes a baby tooth refuses to leave. When the adult tooth erupts beside a still-present baby tooth, it's a retained deciduous tooth — owners often call it "double teeth." Per VCA Animal Hospitals, the upper canines are retained most often, and the problem is more common in toy/small breeds and flat-faced dogs.
A retained tooth isn't cosmetic: it traps food and plaque, crowds the adult tooth out of alignment, and can accelerate gum disease. The fix is extraction by a vet, often under anesthesia — sometimes timed with spaying or neutering. Contact your vet if:
- A baby tooth is still present beside a fully erupted adult tooth (any age past ~6 months).
- Your puppy hasn't lost any teeth by 5 months.
- You see swelling, persistent bleeding, foul odor, or your puppy cries while chewing.
- Bleeding from the gums doesn't stop, or appetite drops for more than a day.
Routine vet puppy visits are also the right moment to ask the vet to check tooth alignment — a 10-second mouth check during vaccinations can catch retained teeth early, when they're easiest to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal if I never find any of my puppy's baby teeth?
Yes — completely normal. Most puppies swallow their baby teeth while eating or chewing (the AKC notes this is the typical outcome), so many owners never find a single one. Finding none is not a cause for concern.
Are swallowed baby teeth dangerous?
No. Swallowed baby teeth are tiny and smooth, and they pass through a puppy's digestive tract harmlessly. This is the expected outcome for most of the 28 teeth, not an emergency.
How many teeth do puppies have before and after teething?
Puppies have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth and no baby molars. Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth, including molars that grow in only as part of the adult set.
Do small breeds lose their baby teeth later?
They can run a few weeks behind larger breeds, which is usually fine. The bigger concern is retained baby teeth — especially canines — so check for "double teeth" regularly and mention any to your vet.
When should all the baby teeth be gone?
By about 6 to 7 months for most puppies. If any baby teeth remain once the adult teeth are fully in — particularly canines — have your vet take a look; retained teeth usually need professional removal.
The Bottom Line
Puppies trade their 28 baby teeth for 42 adult ones between roughly 12 weeks and 7 months of age — a short, chewy chapter that sets up a lifetime of dental health. Keep safe chews on hand, let loose teeth fall naturally, start the mouth-handling habit early, and watch for the one real complication: a baby tooth that won't leave. Teething ends; the habits you build during it don't.
Once those adult teeth are in, keeping them clean is the next job — and the easiest time to start is now. RunyePet Dental Finger Wipes make those first cleanings simple while your puppy is still learning that mouth time means treat time.
Related Articles
References
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Persistent Deciduous Teeth (Baby Teeth) in Dogs (28 deciduous teeth; 42 permanent; teething begins ~3.5–4 months; adult set by 6–7 months)
- American Kennel Club — Puppy Teething Timeline (weeks 12–16 shedding begins; full adult teeth by ~6 months)
- American Kennel Club — When Do Puppies Lose Their Teeth? (28 puppy teeth replaced by 42 adult teeth at ~4 months; puppies typically swallow lost teeth)
Written by RunyePet Editorial Team · Updated October 2026
This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. If you're worried about your puppy's teeth or gums, talk to your veterinarian.
