Care and Cleaning of Canine Teeth

Overview

Missing teeth are usually in the premolar area.

Missing or extra teeth are considered a genetic defect, but usually doesn’t affect the health of the dog.

Collies and Doberman Pinchers are most often affected by extra or missing teeth and usually have less than the normal 8 premolars which tends not to be a problem for the dog.

Breeds with extra teeth include Greyhounds and the different spaniel breeds. Extra teeth that are crowding normal teeth need to be removed.

Canine Teeth and Age

You can tell the age of a dog by the wear on the incisor canine teeth (front teeth - reliable up to age 6).

Wear begins at age 1 with the caps getting worn off the lower incisors that are in the center of the front teeth. Tarter forms and then wear sets in on incisor 2 which is to the right and left of the two middle incisors. At age 5 the wear spreads to the next set of incisors which are to the right and left of the middle 4 teeth.

Normal Canine Bite

In normal dogs teeth are arranged “shoulder to shoulder” with no gaps allowing for food to naturally move from the teeth and gums . If there are gaps in the teeth or the teeth are aligned incorrectly, your dog could one day suffer pain or periodontal disease from the food that gets caught.

The type of bite your dog has depends on its breed. There are basically two kinds of bites in dogs: scissors bite and reverse scissors bite.

The Scissors Bite

Dogs with a scissors bite will have long length and narrow width muzzles or medium length and wide muzzles.

Long and Narrow Muzzle Breed Examples:

The upper incisors are located in front of the lower incisors when the mouth is closed, and there is a smooth curve from tooth to tooth if there are no missing or rotated teeth as shown below.

Dogs With Medium Muzzle Breed Examples:

Reverse Scissors Bite

In dogs with a short wide muzzle, a reverse scissor bite is considered normal where the lower incisors are in front of the upper incisors. The lower canines and premolars will be shifted forward. Sometimes this bite caused the dog to have pain from trauma to the lower jaw tissues.

Promoting Dental Health

There are several things you can do to help your dog maintain good dental health:

1. Brush Your Dog's Teeth - Brushing your dog's teeth is just as important as brushing human teeth. This is done the same way but using a brush designed for use with dogs such as a finger brush and special toothpaste such as Four Paws Pet Dental Finger Toothbrush and Toothpaste.
2. Dry Dog Food - Use a dry dog food that promotes good dental health such as Hill's Science Diet Oral Care Adult Dog Food. Chewing dry dog food has the abrasion against the teeth necessary to remove plaque.
3. OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel ™ - Use of a dental sealant is becoming a standard recommendation by many veterinarians. The sealant forms a clear barrier over the teeth that in turn prevents plaque from forming.
4. Dog Chews - Reward your dog with hard dog chews such as Greenies® Dental Treats. The abrasion on the teeth caused by chewing helps to remove plaque.
5. Natural Supplements - Natural products such as Pet Alive Gums-n-Teeth helps to prevent gingivitis by combining herbal remedies known to promote healthy teeth and gums. These types of products are helpful for dog's that frequently accumulate plaque on their teeth.

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