As a breed with an underbite, French Bulldogs are more susceptible to teeth problems than other breeds. Still, you can do something to prevent these French Bulldog teeth problems. With proper consultation with the veterinarian, your Frenchie will have healthy teeth and gums.
As dog owners, we are responsible for our pets, including their dental health. Dogs can’t brush their teeth on their own or go to the dentist. So the moment your dog exhibits signs of a dental problem, you must bring it to the vet immediately.
But my Frenchie isn’t in pain! Sure thing, but it only takes some time before your doggo suffers from the oral problem. Also, it’s best to have the dental problem treated right away instead of waiting for it to worsen. By that time, you’ll spend more on treatments when it should have been prevented in the first place.
6 Common French Bulldog Teeth Problems
Just because your Frenchie’s teeth look fine doesn’t mean it doesn’t hide potential problems. Since knowing is caring, you must be aware of the following dental problems your dog may have.
1. Plaque
Almost all dogs will have plaque at least once in their canine lives. Plaque occurs when food bits and bacteria accumulate on the crevices of your dog’s teeth. If not brushed away, it will harden and corrode the affected tooth.
If treated early, plaque will not be a serious problem. It’s one of the basic procedures veterinarians perform in terms of dental care in canines.
However, if plaque is left untouched on your Frenchie’s mouth, it will become tartar. This is a form of dental calculus that will attach to the teeth. This will cause serious – and sometimes irreparable – damages to your pet’s mouth.
2. Gingivitis
Gingivitis occurs when your dog forms too much tartar that it starts digging on the gumline. This will cause gum inflammation, pain, and a slew of infections if not addressed right away.
Take note that even after the tartar breaks the gumline layer, it will start producing bacteria underneath. This means that the affected tooth continues to rot. Over time, it will cause tooth holes and unbearable pain to your canine.
3. Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is due to a bacterial infection brought by plaque. It often starts as slight tooth discoloration and progresses into hard tartar if not cleaned. The hardening is due to the bacteria, food bits, and minerals found in the saliva.
Take note that tartar along the gumline isn’t the main cause of periodontal disease; it’s the bacteria that forms underneath once it gets past the gumline.
According to experts, periodontal disease affects up to 87% of dogs. Take note that this condition isn’t irreversible once the damage has been done. Still, you can stop its progression to curb the damage it can cause on your Frenchie’s mouth.
The following are the signs that your French Bulldog has a periodontal disease:
- Tooth discoloration
- Tartar buildup
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Bleeding along the gums
- Reluctance to eat or chew
- Inflammation and redness of the gums
- Swelling of the cheeks
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Receding gums
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it’s best to bring it to the vet. A quick check will reveal a lot about your dog’s dental health.
It’s important to address periodontal disease right away. This condition can result in further injuries due to the wounds and openings in the mouth. When that happens, your dog will suffer from further health problems that could be potentially deadly.
The key here is prevention. Brushing your Frenchie’s teeth regularly will remove food bits and prevent bacterial buildup.
4. Tooth loss
Like humans, dogs will normally shed their first set of teeth. However, if your adult canine is starting to shed its second set of biters, you have to be alarmed.
Poor dental hygiene will cause damage to a French Bulldog’s teeth and gums. When this occurs, your pet’s teeth will fall off one by one. This happens not without excruciating pain.
The leading cause of tooth loss among dogs is periodontal disease. This condition erodes the bone, causing the tooth to fall off.
5. Oral infections and abscesses
Oral infection is an umbrella term for different dental conditions, including periodontal disease. However, it can also be a secondary condition due to the latter.
When a dog develops periodontal disease, its gums will sustain tiny, wound-like openings. These openings will allow other bacteria to enter, thus an infection.
If not treated immediately, oral infections will lead to abscesses, bad breath, and tooth loss. The worst cases will cause organ problems in dogs once the infection reaches the bloodstream.
When your dog suddenly displays decreased appetite and drooling, you should perform a quick check on its mouth. Any part with swelling is infected and must be treated at the vet’s clinic.
Take note that if your dog’s mouth already has an abscess (pus or any discharge), the infection has reached the root level. Typical pain killers can’t even numb the pain, so it’s best to consult the vet.
6. Retained puppy tooth
French Bulldogs are fairly small doggos with smaller teeth. However, these tiny daggers can cause so much pain and problems.
A retain puppy tooth is a dog’s milk tooth that failed to fall off. This can happen to some dogs and cause pain and misaligned adult teeth.
It’s important to monitor your Frenchie’s teeth the moment it starts erupting. That way, a retained baby tooth will be removed before the adult set sprouts. Take note that any baby teeth can’t be retained since it’s too small and can’t chew stiffer food made for adult canines.
Brachycephalic dogs like French Bulldogs are more likely to have retained puppy teeth. Genetic predisposition is also possible if one of the Frenchie parents passed it on to the puppy.
A retained puppy tooth must be removed at the vet’s clinic to prevent any problems with your dog’s bite and dental health in general.
How to keep your French Bulldog’s teeth healthy?
Prevention is always the best course of action when it comes to your French Bulldog. To reduce your pooch’s risk of various dental health problems, you should do the following:
🐶Brush its teeth regularly
Tooth brushing isn’t just for humans. Your French Bulldog will also benefit from it. The ideal frequency is once a day, but if you’re too busy, 1 to 2 times a week would be fine.
To brush your Frenchie’s teeth, you need a toothbrush made specifically for dogs. This has a smaller brush head but a longer and angled handle. It allows you to reach further your dog’s mouth.
Aside from that, you should also purchase dog toothpaste. Unlike human toothpaste, those made for dogs don’t have xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol that’s highly toxic to canines. Also, dog toothpastes are flavored to make it appealing for canines.
When brushing your dog’s teeth, you should try to reach as far as you could into your dog’s mouth. Also, allow the pooch to leak the toothpaste and spread it all over its mouth. Most of all, there’s no need to rinse your dog’s mouth since it uses a different toothpaste formula that’s safe to ingest.
🐶Provide dental chews
Dental chews help reduce plaque buildup and keep your pet’s breath fresh. These are dog treats infused with mouth-friendly ingredients that help combat terrible breathe and bacterial buildup.
The process of chewing allows the dental chew to scrape the tartar off the dog’s teeth. This will help reduce your pet’s risk of periodontal disease. Still, this isn’t the only cure to dental problems, only a supplemental solution.
Aside from dental chews, you should also provide chew toys for your dog. Basically, anything that encourages your Frenchie to chew helps keep its teeth healthy.
However, you should avoid very stiff chew toys and treats since it will damage the dog’s teeth and gums. It’s important to match the hardness of the chew product to your dog’s size.
Also, I don’t recommend rawhide treats because its fibers may get stuck between your Frenchie’s teeth, which only makes matters worse.
🐶Regular vet checks
One thing that I noticed among most dog owners is that they only bring their pooch to the vet once it has a serious medical problem. But if you’re keen to prevent French Bulldog teeth problems, you must schedule an appointment with the vet periodically.
For dental checks, once a year is already enough to spot any possible problems. However, if you suspect that your dog is suffering from a dental issue, it’s best to immediately consult the vet.
The key here is being proactive so both you and your dog will be saved from the hassle.
I suggest yearly cleaning of your dog’s teeth, regardless if it has dental problems or not.
🐶Wipe it
Even if you don’t have the time to brush your dog’s teeth daily, you should at least give its mouth a good look. This way, you can spot any discoloration, growth, swelling, or bad breath. From there, you can assess if something changed in your dog’s mouth.
An excellent alternative to brushing is dental dog wipes. These are like baby wipes but made for dogs. It’s safe for canines to leak the formula, but you should not let them ingest the cloth.
🐶Consider dry food
When it comes to the dental health of your French Bulldog, kibble has an advantage over wet food. The abrasive texture of dry food helps scrape tartar off the dog’s teeth. It will help reduce your pet’s susceptibility to various dental problems.
Still, trapped dry food on your dog’s teeth can rot and cause teeth problems. Brushing and other dental care efforts are still needed to combat this threat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are dog teeth supposed to rot?
A: Similar to humans, dog teeth are made of bones. If not cared for properly, it will rot due to bacterial infections. Also, the food bits left on your Frenchie’s mouth will fuel the growth of infections. But in general, dogs have a stronger mouth flora that can neutralize infections. Still, they are not invincible to serious dental issues.
Q: Why do small dogs have dental problems?
A: The problem with most small breeds is that they are prone to retained milk teeth. Since their teeth are small, it can be difficult for pet owners to spot it right away. Also, small dogs are prone to overcrowding teeth, which can cause a slew of dental problems.
Q: Do rotting teeth hurt dogs?
A: Yes, rotting teeth hurt dogs as much as it hurt us when we experience tooth decay. The exposed nerve and the infection will wreak havoc on your dog’s mouth. It’s important to have the tooth treated or removed to save your pooch from suffering.
Q: How much does it cost to remove a dog’s tooth?
A: Canine tooth extraction has varying costs. The most expensive I’ve ever experience with my Frenchie is $800 because of the infection and other tests that the vet needs to perform. Nonetheless, this is still cheaper compared to the vet bills you’re going to face if the infection worsens and reaches the bloodstream.
Q: Can my French Bulldog survive with no teeth?
A: Dogs can survive with no teeth, but you have to make drastic changes to their diet. You have to transition the pooch to wet food. Even if the dog doesn’t have teeth anymore, you still have to brush its gums to prevent infections. After all, your Frenchie’s mouth still contains saliva and bacteria.
Final words
Most French Bulldog teeth problems can be prevented with proper dental hygiene. As dog owners, we are responsible for ensuring that our canines are always in the pink of health. In the end, the vet’s expertise is indispensable in diagnosing and treating various dental problems.
Does your French Bulldog have teeth problems? How are you dealing with it? Share it with us in the comment section below!
