The short answer: adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth (20 on top, 22 on the bottom), while puppies have 28 baby teeth. Puppies are born toothless, grow that first set of 28 deciduous teeth in the first couple of months, then lose them and finish teething with a full adult set of 42 by around six to seven months of age.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. We spend our days making single-ingredient chews that dogs work over with those teeth, so people ask us about canine dental development all the time. Here's the plain version.
How many teeth do puppies have?
Puppies have 28 baby teeth, also called deciduous or milk teeth. They come in fast: the first tiny teeth push through around three weeks of age, and the full set of 28 is usually in place by six to eight weeks. Puppy teeth are sharp and needle-like, which is exactly why a teething puppy wants to chew on everything in reach.
Notably, puppies do not get molars. Their 28 teeth are made up of incisors, canines, and premolars only. The molars arrive later, with the adult set.
How many teeth do adult dogs have?
Every adult dog, from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane, has 42 permanent teeth — 20 across the upper jaw and 22 across the lower jaw. That's about 10 more than a person has. According to the American Kennel Club, permanent teeth erupt between roughly three and seven months of age, so most dogs have their complete adult set by seven or eight months.
The four types of dog teeth
Those 42 adult teeth fall into four categories, each with a job:
- Incisors: the small front teeth used for nibbling and grooming.
- Canines: the long pointed "fangs" for gripping and tearing.
- Premolars: the shearing teeth behind the canines for slicing and chewing.
- Molars: the flat back teeth for grinding — these only appear in the adult set, not in puppies.
The puppy-to-adult teething timeline
- Weeks 2–4: the first baby teeth start to erupt.
- By 6–8 weeks: all 28 deciduous teeth are usually in.
- 3–7 months: baby teeth fall out and 42 permanent teeth come in. You'll often find tiny teeth around the house, or your pup will simply swallow them — both are normal.
- By 7–8 months: the full adult set of 42 is in place.
If a baby tooth hangs on after the adult tooth has come in — a "retained" deciduous tooth, most common with the upper canines — have your vet take a look, since it can crowd the adult teeth. VCA Animal Hospitals has a good overview of when that needs attention.
How chewing helps keep those 42 teeth healthy
Counting teeth is the easy part — keeping them healthy is the ongoing job. Dogs are built to chew, and regular chewing helps scrape away soft plaque before it hardens into tartar. That's the whole reason a good natural chew earns its place in the rotation.
Our single-ingredient chews are made from 100% real meat — 100% natural, fully digestible, with no rawhide, ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, and 100% high-quality guaranteed. A few reasons chewing matters for dental health:
- Plaque and tartar control: the mechanical scraping of a good chew helps reduce buildup along the gumline.
- Healthier gums: gnawing stimulates the gums that hold all 42 teeth in place.
- A calmer dog: chewing is a natural stress-reliever, which is a nice bonus for teething puppies.
For teething puppies specifically, softer, appropriately sized chews are the way to go — we cover that in our guide to bully sticks for puppies. And if you're weighing safety and digestibility across chew types, our take on whether trachea treats are safe is a useful companion read. Whatever you pick, supervise your dog and choose a size suited to them.
A simple monthly mouth check
Once a month, gently lift your dog's lips and look things over: teeth should be white to cream, gums pink and firm, with no heavy tartar, broken teeth, swelling, or bad-smelling breath. Anything that looks off is worth a call to your vet, and most dogs benefit from professional dental cleanings as they age.
Frequently asked questions
How many teeth do dogs have?
Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth — 20 on the upper jaw and 22 on the lower jaw. Puppies have 28 baby teeth.
Do puppies have molars?
No. A puppy's 28 baby teeth are incisors, canines, and premolars only. Molars come in with the adult set.
When do dogs lose their baby teeth?
Baby teeth fall out between about three and seven months of age as the 42 permanent teeth erupt, and most dogs finish teething by seven to eight months.
Does chewing really clean a dog's teeth?
Chewing helps mechanically scrape away plaque before it hardens into tartar. It doesn't replace brushing or vet cleanings, but a natural single-ingredient chew is a helpful part of a dental routine.
This post was last updated at August 7, 2026 07:41
