Everything you need to know about Chihuahua teeth (2024)

Taking care of your pup’s teeth is an important part of being a responsible dog parent, and Chihuahuas need special attention when it comes to dental hygiene. These pint-sized pooches may look adorable with their quirky features, but they require regular dental checkups and cleanings just like any other breed.

If you're the proud owner of a Chihuahua, you want to make sure that his or her oral health is in top shape. In this blog post, we'll explain everything you need to know about caring for your Chihuahua’s precious teeth - from the different stages of development and ways to maintain excellent dental health throughout their lifetime.

All in all, an adult Chihuahua should have 42 teeth. That sounds like a lot when compared to the 32 teeth that adult humans have in comparison, and that’s because it is.

However, Chihuahuas are carnivorous creatures that are naturally built for hunting and killing, as a result, each of their teeth has a purpose.

Though you won’t be able to tell exactly what’s happening. It’s a good idea to figure out how to at least take a look. This is just in case you think your Chihuahua may have broken a tooth, lost a tooth, or could have something visibly wrong in there.

Before we go into recommended ways to check their teeth, we should make it clear that not all Chihuahua will take kindly to having someone stick their fingers in their mouth. If you feel like the process is causing your Chihuahua undue stress but that there seems to be something wrong, you should not hesitate to contact your vet.

Periodontal disease specifically targets the gums and can lead to tooth loss, or severe decay. There are multiple periodontal diseases that commonly afflict Chihuahua teeth if they’re not properly looked after.

Below are the two periodontal diseases that could cause your Chihuahua to lose teeth:

Gingivitis is a reversible gum disease that causes inflammation of the gums and is caused when there is a build-up of excess plaque on the Chihuahua’s teeth. Gingivitis can be quite sneaky with the damage that it causes as it’s not necessarily painful, meaning your dog may not show outward symptoms of having it. But if left untreated could lead to tooth decay or tooth loss.

Symptoms ofgingivitis in Chihuahuas:

• Gums that bleed easily when playing

• Swollen gums

• Bright red gums

• Teeth scaling both above and below the gum line

• Teeth polishing

• Xrays to check the extent of the damage

• Routine tooth brushing

• Routine dental checks

• Extraction if deemed necessary

If your Chihuahua’s dental health isn’t kept in check, there is the possibility of gingivitis developing into Periodontitis which is the most severe periodontal disease a Chihuahua could get. It’s an irreversible, but not incurable, disease that affects not only the teeth but the bones of the surrounding area.

When the gums become severely inflamed they can also recede. Receding gums tend to full away from the teeth causing small spaces in which bacteria can easily build up. This bacteria will cause the teeth to become infected, which can cause bone wastage in your Chihuahua’s jaw bone.

Sadly many Chihuahua owners don’t notice that there’s anything wrong until periodontitis has set in and the dog had begun to show signs of severe discomfort.

Symptoms of periodontitis in Chihuahuas:

• Irritability

• Disinterest in eating or drinking cold water

• Whining when eating

• Pawing at the mouth

• Head shaking

• Discolored teeth

• Excessive drooling

• Loss of teeth or loose teeth

• Blood on toys or disinterest in playing

• Sores in the Chihuahua’s mouth

• Jaw fractures (due to weakened bone)

• Severe pain

• Infection

• Eye problems (caused by proximity to the infection)

• Xrays to check for damage

• Antibiotics to clear infection

• Surgery to repair other damage such as jaw fractures (if needed)

• Dogfighting

• Accidental kicking

• Falling from furniture

• Playing too roughly

With a Chihuahua, rotten teeth can be avoided with the appropriate care. Tooth decay is caused by any sugars that might have been in your Chihuahua’s food turning to acid as a result of plaque buildup. This acid then eats away at the teeth which causes the teeth to start decaying. This can be avoided with a property dental routine from the get-go.

Symptoms of tooth decay in Chihuahuas:

• Tooth discoloration

• Holes in the teeth

• Blackened teeth

• Pain or discomfort

• Pawing at the mouth

• Whining when playing or eating

• Irritability

• Disinterest in eating

• Drilling away the rotten areas of the tooth

• Filling cleaned holes with filler material

• A regular dental routine

• Flossing

Quite often with a Chihuahua bottom teeth can be exposed due to a malocclusion, which is when the teeth don’t line up correctly, causing the bottom teeth to jut out from the top. Malocclusion can also be caused by skeletal deformity causing one jaw to be longer than the other. A Chihuahua with an overbite is less heard of, but still possible.

In certain cases, it can result in the bottom canines puncturing the roof of the mouth. Depending on the severity of your Chihuahua’s malocclusion the symptoms can be:

Symptoms of malocclusion in Chihuahuas:

• Bottom teeth protruding from under the lip (exposed to air)

• Bad breath

• Bloody drool

• Irritability

• Difficulty eating

• Recoiling from being petted on the head

• Rubbing of the mouth of furniture or walls

• Decaying of exposed teeth (due to lack of saliva protection)

• Extraction (for problematic teeth)

• Regular orthodontic checks

• Routine cleaning

If your Chihuahua needs to have a tooth removed it will always be for the bettering of their dental and general health. The vet will always try different treatment avenues before having teeth removed, however, sometimes it’s unavoidable if the damage or decay has gotten too severe.

In order to remove your Chihuahua’s teeth, the vet will likely need to have them put under sedation in order to keep them still during the procedure.

They will then proceed to do the following:

• Thoroughly clean all teeth

• Inject a local anesthetic into the problem area

• Use specialized equipment to break down the ligaments holding the tooth in place

• Pull the tooth free

• Stitch the area closed

• Some extractions may require a general anesthetic in order for the tooth to be cut free surgically.

There’s not much for it. You simply have to ensure your Chihuahua is feel calm and comfortable, and then carefully get the toothbrush under the upper lip so that it is sitting against the side of their teeth (don’t insert it directly into their mouth) and begin brushing gently, working from the back teeth to the front.

Keep a close eye on your pup as you work. If they appear to be getting agitated let them go and come back to it later. There’s no sense in forcing it on them as it will only cause a negative association with the task.