A Dog's Teeth

A dog's teeth are a masterpiece of simple engineering designed to tear, shred and grind all manner of foods. This ensures he gets adequate nutrition from all available resources.

Dog teeth come in two sets. The first set of puppy teeth are often referred to as milk teeth because they erupt through the gums during the period pups are still nursing their mother. These teeth are quite tiny and sharp. They have a very small root that makes them easier to shed around four months of age when the permanent adult teeth begin to replace them. The first set of twenty-eight milk teeth does not contain molars because pups do not need them at this point.

Adult teeth are much larger with strong roots meant to hold teeth secure for the rest of the dog's life. The number of teeth jumps to forty-two by the time a dog is finished teething at around six months old.

A canine's teeth can be broken down into four specific groups.

The incisors are the small teeth in the front of the jaw that are used for scraping meat remnants from bones and picking up items. A dog also uses these teeth to nibble at himself during grooming as he tries to remove fleas and other irritants. There are a total of twelve incisors; six each in the upper and lower jaws.

These teeth are commonly referred to as fangs and are used to bite in and hold onto whatever a dog seeks to keep, be it a bone, a toy or another animal. Dogs have four canines; two each on the upper and lower jaws placed on either side of the incisors.

These dog teeth are in charge of all the major chewing. You'll notice that when you give your dog a toy or large chew treat, he'll take the item from you with his incisors and fangs and then transfer it to the side of his mouth when he begins chewing. In the wild, dogs use their premolars to rip meat from the bone. There are sixteen premolars; four each on either side of the upper and lower jaws, just behind the canines.

Molars handle the heavy duty work of a dog's teeth, breaking down larger hard items like bones, large kibble or dog biscuits. Every adult dog has ten molars just behind the premolars; two on each side of the top jaw and three on each side of the lower jaw.

Dog teeth are not prone to decay, but dogs are prone to gum disease if their teeth are not kept clean. Most dogs receive adequate tooth cleaning from chewing kibble, bones and biscuits that scrape away tartar from the gum line. However, dogs that receive a softer diet, such as canned dog food, will need to have their teeth brushed just as you woulddo for a small child.

This is best carried out with a medium-bristle toothbrush. You can use plain water or a doggie dental toothpaste or powder, but refrain from using human toothpaste because it tends to upset the dog's stomach if accidentally swallowed.

Hold your dog's mouth open and begin brushing along the gum line back near the molars, working your way forward to the incisors. Frequently rinse your brush in water as you go.

Most dogs require some training and practice to allow you to brush their teeth, but if you perform brushing on a regular basis, most will become accustomed to it eventually. It is best to start the procedure with puppies since they are easier to control.

Dogs with serious tartar and calculus build up will require a cleaning by a veterinary dentist who will use a dental pick to scrape away the build up and polish the tooth surface so bacteria have less of a foothold in the future.

When tartar is allowed to form on a dog's gum line, it makes a home for anaerobic bacteria that multiply and work their way into the pockets around the roots of a dog's teeth. These pockets grow larger, and the teeth eventually fall out.

The bacteria now has a route directly into the blood stream where it collects in the dog's heart organ and builds up just like plaque in an unhealthy human heart. Left unchecked, the dog develops heart disease and will eventually die.

• Red, swollen,or bleeding gums
• Crusty white or yellowish build up along the gum line
• Foul breath
• Loose or missing teeth

Careful attention should be paid to the condition of your dog's teeth in order to keep your pet happy and healthy.

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