When do puppies stop teething? According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a puppy's permanent adult teeth have typically erupted by about six months of age, while Dogs Trust notes that teething usually finishes around seven months with normal individual variation. Treat that six-to-seven-month window as a general developmental range rather than a strict deadline—any retained baby tooth, wobbly adult tooth, or difficulty eating warrants a veterinary check regardless of your puppy's age.
1. Puppy teething timeline, typical changes, and vet check triggers
Use this source-linked timeline to track how deciduous (baby) teeth give way to permanent adult teeth and to recognize when a symptom needs veterinary attention rather than waiting for a calendar month to pass:
| Approximate age stage & source | Typical tooth changes observed | Situations to have your vet check (do not wait for 6–7 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Early weeks to ~12 weeks (AKC timeline) | Needle-sharp deciduous (baby) teeth erupt during the early weeks and fill out the puppy's initial set. | Difficulty nursing or eating soft food, visible swelling, or oral bleeding unrelated to normal eruption. |
| Around 12 to 16 weeks (AKC timeline) | Baby incisors and premolars begin loosening and falling out as permanent adult teeth start pushing through the gums. | A baby tooth remains firmly in place right beside an erupting permanent adult tooth—let your vet examine it rather than pulling it yourself. |
| About 6 months (AKC) to ~7 months (Dogs Trust) | Remaining deciduous teeth shed and permanent adult teeth—including canines and molars—settle into place, with normal individual variation. | Persistent bad breath, reluctance to chew or eat meals, pawing at the mouth, or any baby tooth still lingering alongside adult teeth. |
| Once adult teeth are in (PDSA guidance) | Permanent adult teeth should remain firm, stable, and pain-free during normal eating and play. | Any loose or wobbly adult tooth, mouth pain, or sudden change in chewing—PDSA stresses that adult teeth should never be wobbly. |
2. Provide safe chewing comfort and separate play-biting
While gums are sore during the three-to-seven-month transition, Dogs Trust recommends providing safe, appropriate items for your puppy to chew under supervision. Review our puppy chew guide to select suitable textures and sizes rather than assuming every household object or hard bone is safe for erupting teeth. If your puppy catches skin or clothing during excited play, follow our separate puppy play-biting response guide—knowing the teething timeline does not replace redirecting nipping in the moment.
3. Share observations with your vet and start gentle tooth care
When speaking with your veterinary clinic, describe what you observed during meals or play (such as dropping kibble, favoring one side, or a visible double tooth) without forcing your puppy's jaws open or wiggling a tooth to test it. During routine puppy visits, your vet can check how permanent tooth eruption is progressing and advise when to begin daily dental care—see our step-by-step guide on how to brush your dog's teeth for gradual, reward-based handling.
