Dental care is one of the most important aspects of your Shih Tzu’s health care program and should start while your Shih Tzu is still a puppy. Puppies are born without teeth. When Shih Tzu reach three to four weeks of age, their deciduous teeth start to erupt. At around 4 months, these 28 temporary teeth begin to fall out and are replaced with 48 permanent teeth.

During this time, Shih Tzu puppies want to chew on everything and should be given lots of safe chew toys. By six months of age, all of the adult teeth should be in place. These teeth must last a lifetime, so it is important to take good care of them by preventing plaque and tartar buildup and periodontal disease.

Plaque buildup can be reduced by dental brushing. Brushing baby teeth is good for practice and training. If you practice on your Shih Tzu puppy, she will be quite used to the routine by the time had adult teeth have erupted. Purchase a soft-bristle toothbrush and dog toothpaste recommended by your veterinarian or local pet supply store. Do not use human toothpaste. Many human products contain spearmint or peppermint or other substances that cause dogs to salivate profusely or upset their stomachs.

Start with the upper front teeth, brushing down and away from the gum line, or in a gentle, circular motion. Proceed back to the premolars and molars on one side of the mouth. Repeat on the upper teeth on the opposite side of the mouth. When you brush the bottom teeth, pay particular attention to the incisors.

Shih Tzu can be somewhat undershot. This means that the lower jaw protrudes or extends in front of the upper jaw. Shih Tzu may have a missing tooth or slightly misaligned teeth. Keep this in mind as you look for possible problem areas as you brush your Shih Tzu’s teeth. From the incisors, work back to the molars, brushing up and away from the gum line. Repeat on the lower teeth on the opposite side of the mouth.

In the beginning, keep dental brushing sessions short so your puppy will tolerate them better. Spend about one minute on the upper teeth and then praise your puppy for good behavior. Later in the day you can spend another one-minute time increment on the bottom teeth.