Puppy teething: timeline, symptoms, and how to help

You find a tiny tooth on the rug, spot little smears of blood on a chew toy, or notice that your puppy suddenly wants to gnaw on chair legs, shoes, and your hands more than ever. That’s puppy teething: a normal stage that starts around 3–4 months of age and, for most dogs, wraps up between 6 and 7 months.

During those weeks the gums are sore and the urge to chew goes through the roof. Handled well, teething costs you little more than a phone charger or two. Handled poorly, it can leave chewing habits that are hard to break, or baby teeth that don’t fall out and push the adult teeth out of line.

Below you’ll find a week-by-week teething timeline, how many teeth your dog should have at each stage, which symptoms are normal, which chews are safe, and when it’s time to call your vet.

Puppy teething timeline by week and month

Puppies are born without teeth. Their baby teeth (also called deciduous or milk teeth) come in during the first weeks of life, while they’re still with their mother, and start being replaced by adult teeth at around 3 months. The ages below are approximate: every puppy is a little different, and in some small breeds the process can run a bit later.

The order is usually the same: incisors first (the small front teeth), then canines and premolars, and finally the molars, which come in fresh because they have no baby-tooth predecessor. As each adult tooth pushes up from below, the root of the baby tooth dissolves. That’s why a lost baby tooth looks like a hollow little crown with almost no root.

The most intense stretch, with the most chewing and the sorest gums, tends to fall between 4 and 6 months, when the canines and back teeth are changing.

How many teeth do puppies and adult dogs have?

A puppy has 28 baby teeth, and an adult dog has 42 permanent teeth. The difference comes from the fact that puppies have no baby molars and no baby first premolars: those 14 teeth come in as adult teeth from the start.

Baby teeth are smaller, whiter, and much sharper than adult teeth. That’s why a 10-week-old puppy’s nips hurt so much even though there’s little jaw strength behind them, and why teaching your puppy to be gentle with their mouth starts on day one.

Puppy teething symptoms: what’s normal

Most puppies get through teething without much drama beyond the chewing. These signs are all within the normal range:

• More chewing and mouthing, especially in the evening or when your puppy is tired or bored.
• A bit more drool than usual.
• Red or slightly puffy gums right where a tooth is coming in.
• Small spots of blood on toys or your hand, which stop on their own quickly.
• Teeth on the floor or in the bed, although most puppies swallow them with their food, which is harmless.
• Mild, temporary bad breath.
• Less interest in hard kibble for a day or two, or eating more slowly.
• Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face on the floor now and then.

What teething doesn’t cause: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, refusing food entirely for more than a day, heavy bleeding, a swollen face, or a broken tooth. If you see any of these, something else is going on and your vet needs to take a look, especially if your puppy hasn’t finished their vaccine series.

How to soothe a teething puppy

You don’t need special products. These simple steps calm sore gums and give the chewing urge somewhere to go:

1. Cold. Freeze a rubber chew toy, or soak a cotton washcloth, twist it, and freeze it. Always supervise, and take it away once it starts to fray.
2. Frozen stuffed toys. Fill a stuffable rubber toy with part of your puppy’s kibble softened in water and freeze it. It keeps them busy for 15–30 minutes, and whatever goes inside comes out of their daily food allowance.
3. Softened food. If chewing seems uncomfortable, soak their kibble in warm water for 10–15 minutes for a few days.
4. Gum rubs. Gently rub the gums with a clean finger or a damp piece of gauze for a few seconds, with treats, if your puppy enjoys it.
5. Toy rotation. Leave 3–4 toys out and swap them every few days. Novelty matters more than quantity.
6. Enough sleep. An overtired puppy bites harder and more often. Check how much puppies sleep at each age and protect those naps.
7. Gentle tug. Pull lightly, keep the toy low, and let go if you notice a loose tooth.

Best chew toys for teething puppies (and what to avoid)

The ideal teething toy is soft enough to give a little when your puppy bites down and big enough that it can’t be swallowed. A rule of thumb many veterinarians use: if you can’t make a dent in it with your fingernail, it’s too hard for developing teeth.

If you’re unsure about a particular bone or natural chew, our guide to whether dogs can eat bones covers which ones are dangerous and why. Always match the size of the chew to your puppy’s mouth right now, and size up as they grow.

Biting and chewing damage during teething

Teething ramps up the urge to chew, but it isn’t the only reason puppies nip hands and feet: they also play, explore, and get overexcited. You’ll find a step-by-step plan for teaching bite inhibition and redirecting to toys in how to stop puppy biting.

With household items, prevention works best:

• Puppy-proof: move cords, chargers, shoes, remotes, and houseplants out of reach.
• Use baby gates or an exercise pen when you can’t supervise.
• If you catch your puppy chewing something off-limits, offer a toy and trade without scolding.
• Keep a chew toy in every room where your puppy spends time.

If chewing has already turned into a habit, follow our steps to stop your dog chewing furniture.

Retained baby teeth: when to see the vet

Sometimes a baby tooth doesn’t fall out and the adult tooth comes in right next to it. This is called a retained or persistent deciduous tooth. It most often affects the canines, especially the upper ones, and it’s particularly common in small and toy breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Maltese, and toy poodles.

It’s not just a cosmetic issue. Two teeth in one spot:

• Push the adult tooth out of position and throw off the bite. If the lower canines are involved, they can end up poking into the roof of the mouth.
• Trap food and plaque in the gap between them, which brings on gum disease early.

The fix is for your vet to extract the baby tooth, usually under general anesthesia. Veterinary dental specialists advise doing it as soon as the adult tooth is seen erupting beside it, rather than waiting months to see if it falls out on its own. Don’t try to pull it at home: baby-tooth roots are long and fragile, and if one breaks, the leftover piece can get infected or damage the adult tooth.

To catch it early, lift your puppy’s lips once a week from about 4 months of age and pay special attention to the canines.

How to care for your puppy’s mouth from now on

Teething is the perfect time to get your puppy comfortable with having their mouth handled, which will pay off at every vet visit and when you start brushing. Practice for a few seconds every day: touch the muzzle, lift a lip, look at the teeth, and give a treat. If your puppy pulls away, go back to an easier step.

While the teeth are changing, keep cleaning to a gentle wipe of the outer tooth surfaces with a finger or gauze. Once the adult teeth are fully in, at around 6–7 months, you can switch to a toothbrush and dog toothpaste, never human toothpaste. We walk you through it in how to brush your dog’s teeth.

Use your puppy’s vaccine appointments to have the vet check the bite and how teething is progressing. And if you want to see where teething fits in with the rest of your puppy’s development, how to train a puppy from scratch lays out a plan by age in weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for a puppy to swallow their baby teeth?

Yes, it’s actually the most common outcome. Baby teeth are small, and by the time they fall out, the root has mostly dissolved. Most come loose while your puppy is eating or playing and get swallowed without anyone noticing; they pass through the gut without causing problems. That’s why many owners only find one or two teeth during the entire teething period.

Can teething cause fever or diarrhea in puppies?

They aren’t considered teething symptoms. It’s easy to blame them on teething because the timing overlaps, but at this age diarrhea or fever is more often caused by parasites, diet changes, or infections, some of them serious in puppies that haven’t finished their shots. If your puppy has a fever, is vomiting, or has diarrhea, call your vet instead of waiting for the teeth to settle down.

What should I do if my puppy loses a tooth and the gum bleeds?

A little blood is normal and usually stops on its own within a few minutes. Offer a cold chew toy to soothe the area and skip tug games for the day. If the bleeding is heavy or won’t stop, the gum is very swollen, or the tooth seems to have snapped off rather than fallen out whole, take your puppy to the vet.

How long does the chewing phase last?

Teething discomfort fades once the adult teeth are in, at around 6–7 months. But many young dogs keep chewing a lot until they’re about a year old, out of curiosity, energy, or boredom. Keeping appropriate chews within reach and giving your dog enough physical and mental exercise is the best way to get through that stage with your furniture intact.

Can I pull out a loose baby tooth myself?

No. If it’s wiggly, leave it alone: it will fall out on its own within a few days. Pulling a tooth that still has some root can snap it, hurt your puppy, and leave a fragment in the gum. If the adult tooth is already showing and the baby tooth is still firmly in place, don’t wait for it to fall out; book a vet visit to have it checked.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual: dental development and tooth eruption in dogs.
• American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC): information on persistent deciduous teeth and malocclusions.
• WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association): Global Dental Guidelines.
• American Kennel Club (AKC): puppy teething and safe chew toys.