Oral health for puppies
Milk teeth
Good oral hygiene starts off when your puppy is young. When he comes home, he will still have his milk teeth – little shiny white ‘needles’ which he enjoys testing out everywhere! These baby teeth are quite fragile, so his kibble needs to be softer and easier to break open than an older dog’s.
Adult teeth
Around the age of 4 months, his adult teeth start coming through. You might find the odd milk tooth lying around, but most of the time the puppy swallows them (don’t worry, it’s completely normal). His food now needs to be a bit harder, so that as his tooth breaks the kibble it gets ‘brushed’ while he’s eating.
Toothbrushing
Toothbrushing is highly recommended, and starting young, with a special puppy toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste, has clear benefits and helps your dog get used to the ritual of having his teeth brushed. The right food will of course go a long way to help maintain good oral health.
