Home › Signs of dental disease
Signs of dental disease in dogs
Short answerDental disease in dogs rarely announces itself with obvious pain. The early signs are quieter: breath that gets worse over weeks, gums that look red along the tooth line, yellow-brown tartar near the gumline, drooling, dropping food, or chewing on one side. In one UK study of 22,333 dogs in primary vet care, 12.5% (about 1 in 8) had a recorded periodontal disease diagnosis in a single year, and the authors say many true cases may be missed. Part of it sits below the gumline, which is why the mouth check below and regular vet exams matter more than waiting for a dog to act sore.
Sources: O'Neill et al. 2021, Marshall et al. 2014 and the WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines, linked at the end.
Why it stays hidden
Dogs often do not show dental pain in any observable way, according to the WSAVA guidelines, and part of the damage from periodontal disease happens below the gumline where you cannot see it. A dog that paws at the mouth or refuses food may already be in pain, so book a vet visit. That makes the boring early signs worth real attention.
The signs worth watching
Bad breath that gets worse"Dog breath" that turns foul over weeks is a common early sign - it can mean bacteria, not just something they ate.
Red or bleeding gumsA red line where gum meets tooth is gingivitis - the first stage of periodontal disease, and the stage that can still be reversed, per the WSAVA guidelines.
Tartar you can seeYellow-brown crust on the teeth near the gumline, especially the big cheek teeth and canines.
Changed chewingDropping food, favoring one side, jaw chattering, or turning down hard chews they used to love.
Drooling, or blood in salivaNew drooling, drool with a blood tinge, or blood on chew toys.
Pawing, head shaking, mood changeRubbing the face, shaking the head, or becoming irritable - a painful animal may also snap, so be careful when looking.
The two-minute mouth check
Once a week, in good light, lift the lip and look at the outside of the upper cheek teeth - a common first place for plaque and tartar to build. Healthy gums are pink (or evenly pigmented) with no red edge; teeth look clean without crust at the gumline; breath smells like dog, not rot. Note what you see so you can spot change - our dental check tool walks through the same list and prints the result for your vet.
Why acting early helps
Gingivitis reverses with cleaning and home care. Once infection destroys the bone and ligament around a tooth, that damage is permanent and the tooth can be lost, and the WSAVA guidelines link the inflammation involved to cardiovascular, liver and kidney problems. If you see any of these signs, contact your vet rather than waiting for the next routine visit - and check what a proper cleaning involves so you know what to ask for.
Questions about your dog's teeth or breath?PawLine gives research-based answers tailored to your dog's breed, age, size and history - including dental care, chews and what that smell might mean.Ask PawLine