Jaws & Teeth of a Dog
A dog's teeth and jaws are among the more noticeable aspects of its face, whether it has its mouth open to pant happily at you or whether it is snarling. A dog's teeth and jaws are an important part of how the dog functions and interacts with its surroundings, and understanding more about them can help you ensure your dog's health and happiness.
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Function
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A dog's teeth and jaws perform several important functions. The dog's teeth and jaws allow it to tear and grind food when it is eating it, and they also play an important part in allowing a dog to groom itself. Dogs communicate things like aggression or happiness through showing their teeth. In a fight, their teeth allow them to injure their opponent with bites, and their jaw strength allows them to hold on once they have bitten.
Features
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In both the upper jaw and the lower jaw, a dog has six incisor teeth at the front, two canine teeth and eight premolars. On the upper jaw, the dog has four molars, and on the lower jar, it has six molars.
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Time Frame
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When a dog is between 3 and 6 weeks old, its puppy teeth will emerge through its gums. This process produces 28 small teeth and can result in your young puppy chewing to relieve the pressure of the teeth coming through its gums. At around 4 months of age, the 42 permanent adult teeth will start to come in.
History
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Wolves have very powerful jaws that allow them to crack bone and to kill their prey, but pet dogs no longer need to do this. Through selective breeding, pet dogs have longer, narrower heads than wolves, and thus have less strength in their jaws than wolves do. The American pit bull terrier is one of the breeds that has a bite strength approaching that of a wolf's.
Considerations
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To ensure that your dog has healthy teeth and jaws for its entire life, take care of its teeth. Brushing your dog's teeth on a regular benefits can prevent tooth decay and bad breath. Give your dog hard kibble that will remove plaque from its teeth. Rawhide toys that your dog will chew on can also help keep your dog's teeth clean.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dog Chewing Branch image by T^i^ from Fotolia.com
