Canine Teeth: An Overview

Canine teeth consist of fangs for grabbing and puncturing, incisors for nibbling, premolars for tearing and molars for crushing bone -- although the family pet is far more civilized than his wild relatives he still has the same equipment for eating grooming greeting and defense.

Teething
Like humans dogs have two sets of teeth in their lives. The 28 baby teeth appear between the third and sixth weeks of age. Puppies do not need molars as they generally have very soft or liquid diets. Around four months of age, your puppy beings to lose his teeth as they are replaced by the adult teeth. Most adult dogs have 42 teeth. Some breeds are prone to missing teeth, notably Collies and Doberman Pinchers.

Teething for puppies is uncomfortable, as it is with human babies. Human babies drool excessively and chew on their fists and toys. Puppies, as we all know, are similar, chewing indiscriminately on everything they can find! Alleviate your pups discomfort and save your favorite shoes by providing size appropriate chew toys and teething bones.

Open Wide
Each tooth has a specific job to do and is arranged in the dog's mouth by function. Most dogs have six incisors on the upper jaw and six on the lower jaw. The incisors are used to shred meat and gnaw on bones.

Canine teeth are the most familiar ones. They are the large, curved fangs near the front of the mouth. Canine teeth evolved as the primary tool for dogs to use in grabbing and holding their food. The canines are also very strong and used in defense.

Four premolars line each side of the upper and lower jaws in back of the canines. Premolars are the ripping and chewing teeth. If you watch a dog with a large bone, you'll see that he uses these side teeth to chew with. Combined with their strong jaws, premolars are an effective chewing mechanism.


The molars are next in the line up with two on each side of the upper jaw and three on each side of the lower jaw. Molars are the crushing teeth, used to crack and crush bones. When you see your dog turning a large dog biscuit into powdery crumbs, that’s the molars at work.

Mouth Shape and Bites
Anyone who has ever had braces knows what "bite" is all about. Bite refers to how the teeth and jaws align when the mouth is closed. The American Kennel Club establishes the standards of bite for each breed. Most breed standards call for a "scissors bite " in which the upper incisors just overlap and touch the lower incisors with no overlapping teeth.

Other bite conditions are the level bite where the incisors meet evenly, the overshot or undershot where the jaws are misaligned and the teeth do not meet correctly. A correct bite is not only an appearance factor. Dogs with severely flawed bites may experience difficulty eating or grooming.

Decay
Dental decay or "having a cavity" is relatively unusual in dogs. A dog eating a healthy diet will not be eating sugars in quantities high enough to cause cavities. Teeth can develop problems if the dog's diet is basically soft foods, such as table scraps, that can leave debris on the tooth and gum. This can lead to pockets forming in the gum at the tooth line. These pockets can fill with bacteria and become infected. This is the most common cause of bad breath in dogs.

Tartar build up can lead to tooth loss and decay. Tartar buildup is very commonly seen in pets living in parts of the county with hard water. High calcium salt levels create this buildup. Prevention of tartar buildup should be a part of your regular grooming routine, either by brushing your dog's teeth or wiping them with a clean gauze pad. Consult your veterinarian if the build up seems resistant to your removal efforts.

Prevention of tooth decay is always easier than repairing tooth decay. Careful attention to diet, treats and oral hygiene will help your pet have a clean, healthy mouth. Feed dry foods, avoid giving table scraps and consider using specially formulated "dental" treats. These treats are made to reduce plaque and tartar and encourage natural dental cleansing. PetSupplies 4 Less offers a wide variety of Greenies Booda Bones C.E.T. Chews Kongs Nylabones