How to Determine a Dog's Age by Its Teeth

Did you know you can roughly estimate a dog's age by checking its teeth? In adult dogs, examining their teeth can give you a good idea of their age. For puppies, age can be estimated more accurately as, at a certain point, they will shed their baby teeth. Teeth provide a good starting point for roughly estimating a dog's age.

Learn about the structure and arrangement of dog teeth. All dogs have four basic types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. These are arranged in the upper and lower jaws, both left and right.

• Incisors are the small teeth along the front of the mouth. Adult dogs have six incisors on both the top and bottom. The two incisors (next to the canines) are slightly larger than the middle ones; the upper incisors tend to protrude outward.
• The canines are located behind the incisors, four on each side, both top and bottom. These are large, pointed teeth.
• Premolars are behind the canines. There are four premolars in both the upper and lower jaws. The fourth premolar on the upper row is particularly large.
• Finally, behind the premolars are the molars. The upper jaw of a dog has two molars, and the lower jaw has three. The first molar is larger than the other two.

Understanding the development of a dog's teeth. Puppies usually have around 28 teeth. In the first 2-4 weeks, there is little noticeable change. The small canines begin to emerge after 3-4 weeks. The incisors and premolars start to appear at 4-6 weeks. By the eighth week, all the incisors are in place. For the next three months, no significant changes occur.

• After five months, permanent teeth will begin to emerge, typically the canine and first molars. By seven months, all permanent teeth will be stable. If your puppy has all its permanent teeth, it's likely over seven months old. An adult dog typically has 42 teeth.
• Once past the puppy stage, the age can be marked by tooth wear. At one year, the teeth are very white and clean. By the end of the second year, the whiteness will diminish, and tartar will start to form. This causes yellowing on the back teeth. After 3-5 years, the yellowing increases and becomes visible on all teeth, a sign that the teeth are being worn down.

Understanding why and how a dog's teeth get worn and decayed. Tooth wear is a natural phenomenon, but it can happen more quickly due to habits like chewing hard objects (bones, rocks, sticks) or poor dental care during puppyhood. On the other hand, certain chewing activities are beneficial for a dog's oral health. Rawhide or "dental" rubber toys can help dogs remove plaque and debris from their teeth.

• Recognizing the symptoms of dental issues. By three years old, nearly 80% of dogs will show signs of gum disease, such as tartar buildup (yellow and brown), inflamed gums, and bad breath, more common in small breeds.
• Diet also plays a crucial role in a dog's dental health. Dry food can help remove some plaque, slow down tooth decay, and prevent other damage. Specially formulated foods for oral health are available. A vet can advise on the right diet if you're concerned about your dog's teeth. Oral care water for dogs can also be used to combat tooth decay and aging bacteria.
• Teeth can break due to wear, although normal wear usually doesn't harm health. Excessive wear can damage the roots, leading to potential surgery.

Estimating the age of a puppy by evaluating its tooth development. Teeth grow rapidly during the puppy stage, and since these changes occur so quickly, this is the most accurate time to estimate a puppy's age. Count the type and position of the teeth to estimate the age of the puppy.

• Newborn puppies' teeth will start to appear from the gums at a specific time. The first baby teeth appear, followed by the canine teeth at 3-4 weeks. At weeks 4-5, the two middle incisors emerge. Between weeks 4-6, the first molars will appear. At 5-6 weeks, the third incisors emerge, and by 6-8 weeks, the molars will grow. Premolars appear much later.
• By 8 weeks, the puppy will have 28 baby teeth. At around 4 months, the puppy will start losing these baby teeth as the adult teeth emerge. Typically, the puppy swallows these teeth, but sometimes the owner may find one or notice bleeding gums where a tooth has fallen out. Similar to babies, puppies tend to chew on many things during this stage!
• At 4-5 months, the adult incisors appear first, followed by the first molars. At 5-6 months, the canines develop, along with 2-4 premolars, and two molars. Finally, at 6-7 months, the molars will emerge, and all 42 adult teeth will be in place.

Evaluating an adult dog's dental condition to estimate its age. In the first two years, the teeth are usually very white with little wear. By the end of the second year, the whiteness will diminish, and tartar will begin to build up. This causes the teeth to turn yellow. As time progresses, wear combined with tartar buildup and bacteria will make the teeth appear older. This is how we estimate the age of an adult dog.

• At three years, most dogs will show some signs of dental disease, such as yellow and brown tartar buildup, red gums, and bad breath. Of course, dogs that have regular brushing and visits to the vet will not show these signs.
• After 3-5 years, the yellowing becomes more pronounced and can be seen on all teeth. Wear continues, and gum recession can lead to tooth loss. The yellowing turns into brown over time.
• Between 5 and 10 years, the teeth will continue to wear. Signs of dental disease may appear. By 10-15 years, some teeth may be missing, and cavities will spread.

If you're looking for a more accurate estimate of your dog's age, it’s best to consult a veterinarian. However, determining a dog's age just by looking at their teeth can be tricky. Factors like diet, habits, and dental care (or lack thereof) can all influence the rate at which a dog's teeth wear down.

• Assessing a dog's age by examining its teeth only provides a rough estimate. Dental health is greatly influenced by lifestyle, diet, and even chewing habits such as toys.

• Dogs may not always allow you to check their teeth. Be cautious when placing your hand near a dog's mouth, and never insert your hand into the mouth of a strange or unfamiliar dog.
• A responsible pet owner will not neglect their pet's dental health to the point where their dog's teeth are lost (indicated by gaps and holes) or gums are bleeding without realizing it. This is the dog's pain and the owner's carelessness.