Puppy Dental Care: Looking After Your Labrador’s Teeth from Day One
Why dental care matters (even for puppies)
Getting your puppy used to mouth handling
Teething: what’s normal and how to help
Should I brush my puppy’s teeth?
The puppy dental timeline
What about chews, food and supplements?
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Puppy Dental Care: Looking After Your Labrador’s Teeth from Day One
When you bring home your Labrador puppy, dental care probably isn’t top of your to-do list. You’re busy with toilet training, sleep deprivation and trying to protect your ankles from those tiny needle-sharp teeth! But looking after your puppy’s mouth early on can make a huge difference to their health and comfort later in life.
As vets, we see dental disease - and the misery it causes - every single day. Most of it is preventable. Puppy dental care doesn’t need to be complicated, costly or stressful. It’s all about starting gently, building positive routines as your puppy grows, and knowing when to seek professional care. Those early routines shape lifelong behaviour, so they're particularly important for larger, food-motivated breeds like Labradors.
Why dental care matters (even for puppies)
Dental disease can cause pain, abscesses, and tooth loss. It may also affect your dog’s vital organs, such as their heart and kidneys. Research suggests more than 80% of dogs over two years old have some form of dental disease.
When bacteria and food particles build up on the teeth, plaque starts to form.
If plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar, which leads to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
Over time, this progresses to periodontal disease, where infection and swelling affect the tissues that support the teeth.
Once tartar (scale) is present, brushing alone won’t remove it. Your dog’s teeth will need a professional clean under general anaesthetic.
Labradors are the breed most likely to develop dental caries (cavities) of their large back teeth (molars) due to genetic (inherited) factors, rather than poor dental care alone. Even with regular and careful homecare, tooth decay can still develop. Untreated caries may progress to deep infection, pain and, in severe cases, sepsis. This is why regular dental checks from puppyhood onwards are so important throughout your dog’s life.
Prevention is easier, safer and more affordable than treatment. Starting early really does pay off.
Getting your puppy used to mouth handling
Most dogs don’t naturally enjoy having their mouths handled, so it’s important to start slowly and gently.
When your puppy is calm, begin by lifting their lips for a few seconds. Then give them lots of praise or a small treat. Gradually progress to touching their gums and teeth. Keep sessions short (just a minute or two) and always finish on a positive note. This stage is about teaching your puppy that it’s normal to have their mouth handled and nothing to worry about.
Labradors have larger mouths than smaller breeds, which can make visual checks and brushing easier. But they also have strong jaws. Early, calm training teaches your puppy to relax during handling, rather than pulling away or clamping down. This makes toothbrushing easier and teaches them to stay relaxed later during vet checks.
Teething: what’s normal and how to help
Puppies usually start losing their baby teeth between 3 and 5 months old. Adult teeth are normally fully erupted by around 7 months. As new teeth push through the gums, many puppies feel uncomfortable.
Common signs of puppy teething:
Chewing or nipping (even!) more
Drooling
Having swollen or red gums
Developing smelly breath (halitosis)
Changes in appetite
Safe, appropriate teething toys are very helpful during this stage. Look for firm, durable, puppy-safe toys, often made from rubber. Avoid anything that’s too hard and could damage teeth, such as cooked bones or very rigid chews. Many puppies enjoy cooled treats or vet-approved teething gels, which can help soothe sore gums.
Labradors are enthusiastic chewers, particularly during teething, so be sure to provide plenty of outlets for exercising those tiny gnashers. Gently redirect them from furniture or hands to their toys and reward them when they make the right choice. It's best to speak to a vet if your puppy seems very painful, stops eating or if their gums look excessively red and swollen.
Should I brush my puppy’s teeth?
Yes – absolutely!
Tooth brushing is the most effective way to prevent dental disease. Plaque starts reforming within 24 hours of removal, so daily brushing is ideal. If that isn’t realistic, brushing a few times a week is still far better than not brushing at all.
Toothbrushing - what you need
A soft toothbrush, finger brush, or a small piece of microfibre cloth wrapped around your finger.
A vet-approved toothpaste: Never use human toothpaste. It contains ingredients harmful to dogs. Dog toothpaste in puppy-friendly flavours is specially made to gently clean your dog’s teeth, often using enzymes to help break down plaque.
How to brush your puppy’s teeth (without drama!)
Pick a quiet time, when your puppy’s relaxed.
Let them taste the toothpaste first, like it’s a treat.
Gently lift their lips and brush a few teeth at a time.
Concentrate on brushing the outer surfaces of the teeth. Prioritise puppy’s canine teeth (fangs) and their big back teeth. These are most likely to accumulate tartar.
Don't try to force their mouth open or brush the inside surfaces of teeth if your puppy isn’t happy. Be patient.
Aim for around a minute. Praise, reward, and stop before your puppy gets fed up.
Establish consistency in these early days, and keep the experience positive.
For strong, bouncy breeds like Labradors, establishing a calm and positive brushing routine also feeds into general training and helps make future vet visits stress-free for all.
The puppy dental timeline
8–12 weeks: Start by lifting their lips and touching their gums with your finger to build trust before you introduce a toothbrush.
12–16 weeks: Introduce a finger brush or soft cloth. Use dog-safe toothpaste in a favourite flavour.
Around 6 months: Your puppy has most of their adult teeth. Daily brushing is important to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.
7 months+: Your puppy should have all 42 permanent teeth. Brushing should now be a regular habit (daily or at least three times a week).
What about chews, food and supplements?
While dental chews and toys can be helpful, they’re not a replacement for tooth-brushing.
Vet-recommended options include:
Tough rubber chews: Designed to clean teeth and massage gums.
Edible dental chews for older puppies: Remember, these are ‘food’ and shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your puppy’s total calorie intake each day.
Prescription dental diets with specially-designed kibble to reduce plaque and tartar.
Selecting chews and chew toys of an appropriate size for your Labrador puppy will reduce the risks of broken teeth and choking. And always supervise chewing. Chews need to be robust, but not too hard or likely to splinter. Those determined Labrador jaws can destroy ‘indestructable’ chew toys in record time!.
Q&A: Labrador Dental Care
Q: How early should I start brushing my puppy’s teeth?
A: As soon as they’re happy with you touching their mouth. Start gently and build up gradually.
Q: What if my puppy hates brushing?
A: Slow down. Just use wipes or gauze at first. It helps to keep sessions short and use lots of praise with a strong, wriggly Labrador puppy.
Q: Do baby teeth need brushing?
A: Yes. Brushing reduces bacteria and lays the foundations for the best lifelong dental care.
Q: Is bad breath normal during teething?
A: A slight smell can be normal, but severe or persistent bad breath should be checked by a vet.
Join us next month for practical advice on grooming and ear care – simple tips from vets to make everyday care easier for you and your dog.
