The description of a playful dog , a great watchdog, short and sturdy, fits the Boston terrier . Commonly called the “American Gentlemen” because of their white and black fur, Boston terriers weigh about 25 pounds and can grow as tall as 17 inches.
According to the Guinness World Records , Boston terriers are the dog breed with the largest eyes . A dog named Bruschi claimed the title, beating the usual suspects, pugs , to the record. Despite their relatively large eyes, Boston terriers share similarities, such as stature and teeth , with American bulldogs .
Find out more about this unique dog’s teeth in this post.
What Kind of Teeth Do Boston Terriers Have?
Boston terriers have four different types of teeth and grow them twice in their lives.
Like all dog breeds, Boston terriers have four different types of teeth. They include the incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. As omnivores, this variety allows dogs to expand their diet easily. A dog’s diet can include meat, fruits , and even vegetables.
Boston terriers grow teeth twice in their life, much like humans. They have small and delicate teeth, called milk teeth, which are replaced by stronger and larger teeth when they mature. Unlike humans, these dogs mature really fast and can have all their adult teeth in less than a year.
Puppy Teeth
Boston terriers are not born with any teeth in their mouths at birth. The puppies are also blind and deaf at this stage, leaving them solely dependent on their mothers. After about two to four weeks, the terriers start to grow teeth. The baby teeth are complete after four weeks, with the canine appearing first.
Boston terrier puppies have 28 milk teeth. Unlike adult Boston terriers, these young ones do not have molars. They have 14 teeth each on their upper and lower jaws, which comprise 12 incisors, four canines, and 12 premolars.
After about three months, their milk teeth start coming off and are replaced by stronger adult teeth. This teeth loss continues until the pup is about six to seven months old. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, Boston terriers push out all milk teeth and replace them with adult teeth by their ninth month.
Boston terrier puppies have 28 teeth, while adults have 42 permanent teeth, with 20 on the top and 22 on the bottom. Dogs have more than humans, despite humans having larger skulls.
Incisors
Incisors are the foremost teeth of the Boston terrier. This dog breed has 12 incisors, with six on each jaw. The incisors are used to scrape food off bones and plates, making them quite important in feeding.
Boston terriers typically have small teeth, with the incisors being the smallest. Due to the tendency of the dog breed to experience overbite, the incisors are often visible even when they close their mouths. According to the Veterinary Dental Center , an overbite, or buck teeth, is a condition where one jaw becomes misaligned with the other, hence the display of the front teeth of one jaw.
Canines
The most conspicuous teeth in the Boston terrier is the canine, and it is so popular that dogs are sometimes referred to as Canines. Adult Boston terriers have four of these teeth. Despite their lengths, they fit side-by-side when the dog closes its mouth to aid a strong bite. The larger a dog’s canines, the more dangerous the dog is. Rottweilers , German shepherds , and Bulldogs have stronger bite forces than the Boston terrier.
Premolars
The premolars come after the canines. These are shorter teeth with larger surface areas. Premolars have ridges and are irregular, and this makes them suitable for grinding meat and bone. Boston terriers have 16 premolar teeth, with eight on each jaw.
Molars
The molars are the second largest teeth in the Boston terrier’s mouth, after the long canines. Puppies do not grow molars among their milk teeth but develop them after about four months. Unlike the other teeth, which are symmetrical, molars are not. Boston terriers have four molars in their upper jaw and six in their lower.
Molars are the innermost teeth inside the Boston terrier’s mouth, similar to humans . They have wider surface areas than premolars and are stronger as well. These teeth are extremely important for breaking down food for proper digestion.
What Do Boston Terriers Use Their Teeth For?
Boston terriers are great pets . They are not aggressive and are great with children and other animals. However, these dogs were once bred for pit fighting and still have strong teeth that can cause harm. The Boston terrier’s unique teeth serve different purposes, including picking or collecting food, chewing food, and biting prey.
Like all dogs, they also use their teeth to groom their fur and get rid of itches. Caring for your dog’s teeth is extremely important, so it maintains its ability to perform the multiple tasks that its teeth allow.
If a dog cannot properly chew food because of bad teeth, a large door to multiple health problems is opened. This, of course, shortens the dog’s lifespan and reduces its quality of life. Caring for your dog’s teeth can help you avoid this.
Do Boston Terriers Bite Humans?
According to the American Kennel Club , Boston terriers are among the safest dogs and rank 23 rd most popular dog worldwide. As pets, they can bite their owners to interact or communicate if they are untrained. However, you should teach your dog not to do this, as dog bites are only cute and tolerable when they are pups. When Boston terriers are adults with all their permanent teeth, bites can be more painful.
Do Boston Terriers Have Good Teeth?
Although Boston terriers are prone to several dental problems, they generally have good teeth.
Boston terriers have good teeth. However, these loveable dogs can be tough to care for. According to CTVSH , these small dogs are prone to several diseases and dental problems, especially at age two. Some of the dental problems that Boston terriers experience are tartar buildup in the teeth, overbite, overcrowding of teeth, and Gingivitis.
Considering this, having a full-time veterinarian and constantly reading about Boston terrier health are two of the best ways you can keep your doggy’s teeth safe and healthy.
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