Your puppy’s adult teeth will come in whether you do anything or not. But the six months between baby teeth and full adult dentition can be uncomfortable for the puppy and destructive for your belongings if you don’t give them the right outlets. This guide maps the full teething timeline and walks through the remedies that actually work, ranked by veterinary evidence.
Most puppies start teething around 12 weeks and finish by 7 months. During that window, you’ll see increased chewing, some drooling, and occasional crankiness. What you’re managing isn’t a medical emergency — it’s a normal developmental stage that benefits from cold therapy, safe chew outlets, and vigilant puppy-proofing.
What you’ll need
Materials:
- Frozen rubber toys (Kong Puppy or Nylabone Puppy, sized appropriately)
- Clean washcloths (for freezing)
- Soft rope toys (supervise use; remove if puppy ingests fibers)
- Veterinary-approved puppy chew treats
Prerequisites:
- Baseline vet exam at 6–8 weeks to confirm normal tooth development
- Puppy-proofed space (electrical cords covered, small objects removed, toxic items locked away)
Before you start
Teething puppies explore the world with their mouths. Before the first adult tooth erupts, remove these dangerous items from puppy-accessible areas:
- Rawhide chews — choking and intestinal blockage risk
- Cooked bones — splinter into sharp fragments that can perforate the intestine
- Xylitol-containing products (sugar-free gum, candy, some peanut butters) — extremely toxic to dogs; causes liver failure and blood sugar collapse
- Small toys under 3 inches — swallowing hazard during teething frenzy
- Electrical cords — puppies chew live wires; use cord covers or block access
- Pennies minted after 1982 — zinc coating causes anemia if ingested
Never give human pain medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin) to puppies. They’re toxic to dogs even in small doses.
Step 1: Know the teething timeline
Puppy teething follows a predictable schedule. Understanding what’s happening and when helps you anticipate behavior changes and know what’s normal.
3–7 weeks: Baby teeth erupt. Incisors appear first (3–5 weeks), followed by canines (5–6 weeks) and premolars (6–7 weeks). Most puppies arrive home around 8 weeks with a full set of 28 deciduous teeth already in place.
12–16 weeks: Adult incisors erupt, replacing the small front teeth. You may find tiny baby teeth on the floor or in the puppy’s bedding. Many puppies swallow them — that’s normal and harmless.
16–20 weeks: Adult canines erupt, replacing the long pointy teeth. This stage often coincides with increased chewing and mild gum soreness.
20–24 weeks: Adult premolars and molars erupt. Molars are the last to appear. By 6 months, most puppies have nearly complete adult dentition.
7 months: All 42 permanent teeth should be in place, according to veterinary dental guidelines. If baby teeth remain alongside erupted adult teeth at this stage, schedule a vet exam. Retained deciduous teeth can cause bite misalignment and require extraction.
Small and toy breeds may teethe slightly earlier; giant breeds slightly later. The timeline is consistent, but individual puppies vary by a week or two.
Step 2: Provide safe puppy teething pain relief
Puppies experience gum soreness and pressure as adult teeth push through. The American Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association recommend evidence-based interventions over anecdotal remedies. Here’s what works, ranked by veterinary support:
Cold therapy (strongest evidence): Freeze puppy-specific rubber toys (Kong Puppy, Nylabone Puppy) or a clean washcloth twisted into a rope and frozen. Cold numbs sore gums and reduces inflammation — the same mechanism human dentists use for post-procedure relief. Offer for 10–15 minutes, always supervised. Avoid frozen water bottles (frostbite risk) and loose ice cubes (choking hazard). This is the intervention veterinary behaviorists recommend first.
Safe chewing outlets (necessary, not optional): Teething puppies need to chew. It’s not misbehavior — chewing relieves the pressure of erupting teeth. Provide soft rubber toys, rope toys (supervised only), and veterinary-approved chew treats sized for your puppy. Match the toy to the puppy’s size; nothing should be small enough to swallow whole. I’ve fostered puppies from 8-pound terrier mixes to 40-pound shepherd crosses, and the principle holds across sizes: appropriate outlets prevent furniture destruction.
Gentle gum massage (helpful, no contraindications): Use a clean finger to gently rub swollen gums for 2–3 minutes. The pressure provides relief similar to cold therapy. Most puppies tolerate this well, especially if you start the habit early. This also desensitizes them to mouth handling before adult dental care begins.
Dietary adjustments during active eruption: When a puppy shows discomfort eating hard kibble, temporarily softening food reduces pain without changing nutrition. Soak kibble in warm water for 5–10 minutes, or switch to wet food during the most painful eruption days (typically 48–72 hours per tooth). Calcium and phosphorus requirements don’t change during teething — adult teeth mineralize on the same schedule whether or not the puppy eats special foods. What matters is that the puppy continues eating enough to support growth. Once the tooth breaks through the gum line, appetite normalizes.
Topical gels (mixed evidence, use only if vet-recommended): Some veterinarians prescribe topical benzocaine gels formulated for puppies, but the evidence for efficacy is thin and the risk of ingestion exists. The AVMA notes that topical anesthetics provide brief relief at best and aren’t necessary for most puppies when cold therapy and appropriate chew toys are available. Do not use human teething gels — the dosing is unsafe for dogs. Ask your vet if a topical gel is appropriate for your puppy’s situation, but don’t expect it to replace cold and chewing outlets.
Step 3: Puppy-proof for teething safety
A teething puppy will chew things you didn’t anticipate. Walk through your home at puppy eye level to identify and remove or block access to:
- Loose plastic, foam, or fabric items (non-digestible; cause intestinal obstructions)
- Shoes, remote controls, eyeglasses (common targets; contain small parts)
- Houseplants (many are toxic to dogs)
- Trash cans (contain toxic foods, medications, and choking hazards)
- Baseboards, furniture legs, and door frames (redirect to appropriate toys immediately)
When you catch your puppy chewing something inappropriate, interrupt calmly, remove the item, and immediately offer a safe alternative. Teething isn’t an excuse for destruction, but it is an explanation — your job is to make the right choice easier than the wrong one.
Step 4: Monitor for problems that need vet attention
Most puppies teethe without complications. Watch for these signs that warrant a vet exam:
Dental development problems:
- Retained baby teeth — Baby teeth still present when adult teeth have erupted beside them (common around 7 months; requires extraction to prevent malocclusion)
- Enamel defects or discolored adult teeth — Brown, gray, or mottled enamel on newly erupted teeth can indicate developmental issues, infection during tooth formation, or trauma; these teeth are structurally weaker and need monitoring
- Fractured or broken tooth with visible damage, exposed pulp, or persistent discoloration — even baby teeth can fracture during teething and cause pain or infection
- Crooked, rotated, or severely misaligned adult teeth — Minor irregularity is common, but teeth angled into the gums, other teeth, or the roof of the mouth cause injury
Infection or inflammation signs:
- Severe gum swelling — Mild puffiness around an erupting tooth is normal; hard, hot, or asymmetric swelling suggests abscess or infection
- Swollen face, jaw, or under-eye area — Possible tooth root abscess; needs immediate evaluation
- Excessive bleeding or foul-smelling discharge from the mouth (beyond minor oozing when baby teeth fall out)
- Fever above 103°F — Mild temperature elevation is possible; high fever signals infection, not teething
Behavioral red flags:
- Complete refusal to eat or difficulty eating lasting more than 48 hours — Mild appetite changes are normal; ongoing food refusal or dropping food repeatedly suggests severe pain or misalignment preventing normal jaw closure
- Lethargy, loss of appetite beyond 48 hours, or reluctance to play — Teething discomfort is localized; systemic changes need evaluation
- Pawing at the mouth, head-shaking, or obvious distress beyond brief discomfort
Your puppy’s regular vet visits during the first year should include dental checks at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 7 months to confirm normal eruption and catch problems early.
Troubleshooting common teething issues
Problem: Puppy chewing furniture, baseboards, or walls despite having toys
Teething pain is real, but it doesn’t override training. Redirect immediately every time, reward the puppy for chewing appropriate items, and consider whether the toys you’re offering are actually relieving discomfort. Frozen toys work better than room-temperature ones. I’ve seen puppies ignore a bin of toys and demolish a door frame because none of the toys were cold.
Problem: Puppy refuses kibble or eats slowly during teething
Sore gums make hard kibble less appealing. Soften kibble with warm water for 5–10 minutes before feeding, or temporarily switch to wet food if your vet approves. This is a short-term accommodation — appetite should return to normal as the tooth fully erupts, usually within 2–3 days.
Problem: Puppy drooling excessively and seems uncomfortable
Increased drooling during eruption weeks is normal. Offer frozen toys, monitor for fever, and ensure the puppy is drinking enough water. If drooling is accompanied by facial swelling, reluctance to eat, or behavioral changes, call your vet.
Problem: Baby teeth aren’t falling out
Many puppies swallow baby teeth, so you may never see them. If you notice a baby tooth still in place when the adult tooth has erupted beside it, that’s a retained deciduous tooth. It won’t fall out on its own and needs extraction around 7 months to prevent bite problems.
Problem: Puppy’s adult teeth look discolored or chipped
Discoloration (brown, gray, or mottled) on newly erupted adult teeth can indicate enamel defects or developmental problems. Even minor chips or fractures need evaluation — damaged teeth are prone to infection. Schedule a vet exam rather than waiting for the next routine visit.
When to call a professional
Schedule a vet exam if:
- Baby teeth remain when adult teeth have erupted alongside them (around 7 months)
- Adult teeth appear crooked, rotated, or misaligned
- Newly erupted teeth show discoloration, mottling, or enamel defects
- Fractured, broken, or chipped tooth (even a baby tooth)
- Severe, asymmetric, or hot gum swelling
- Fever above 103°F
- Excessive bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, or swelling around the gums or face
- Complete refusal to eat lasting more than 48 hours
- Behavioral changes like lethargy, persistent distress, or loss of appetite
- No adult molars visible by 7 months
Routine vet visits during teething should happen at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks, and 7 months to track eruption progress. Your vet will perform a visual inspection, palpate the jaw for symmetry and swelling, and recommend dental radiographs or extraction if needed.
FAQ
How long do puppies teethe?
Puppies teethe from around 12 weeks until 7 months. The entire process — from the first adult incisor erupting to the last molar coming in — takes about 5–6 months. Small breeds may finish slightly earlier; large breeds slightly later.
What is the best puppy teething pain relief?
Cold therapy has the strongest veterinary evidence. Freeze rubber toys designed for puppies (Kong Puppy, Nylabone Puppy) and offer them for 10–15 minutes at a time. You can also freeze clean, damp washcloths. Provide safe chew outlets like soft rubber toys and rope toys under supervision. If eating becomes painful, temporarily soften kibble or switch to wet food. Never give human pain medications to puppies.
Do puppies lose all their baby teeth?
Yes. Puppies are born without teeth, grow 28 baby teeth by 8 weeks, and replace all of them with 42 adult teeth by 7 months. If baby teeth don’t fall out when adult teeth erupt beside them, they’re called retained deciduous teeth and require veterinary extraction to prevent bite misalignment.
Can teething cause fever in puppies?
Mild temperature elevation (up to 100.5°F) can occur during teething. Fever above 103°F is not normal for teething and indicates infection or illness. If your puppy has a high fever, contact your vet.
Is it normal for puppies to bleed during teething?
Minor bleeding when baby teeth fall out is normal. You may see a small amount of blood on a toy or in the puppy’s mouth. Excessive bleeding, persistent oozing, or blood with swelling or discharge is not normal and warrants a vet visit.
Should I change my puppy’s food during teething?
You don’t need to change the food itself, but temporarily softening it helps when chewing becomes painful. Soak kibble in warm water or switch to wet food for a few days during active eruption. Calcium and phosphorus requirements don’t change — what matters is that the puppy keeps eating enough to support growth.
Teething is temporary. By 7 months, your puppy will have a full set of adult teeth, the chewing frenzy will ease, and the frozen washcloths can go back to cleaning duty. In the meantime, cold therapy and safe outlets make the process manageable for both of you. If you’re navigating other early puppy-care stages, how to trim a dogs nails at home covers desensitization strategies that work well alongside teething routines, and best puppy chew toys ranks safe teething toys by durability and cold-retention.