Dog Teething Bones and Grinding: Safe Chews Explained
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
Puppies chew during teething to ease the discomfort of incoming adult teeth, and a safe chew can help. The trouble is that many "teething bones" sold for dogs are hard enough to crack a puppy's teeth, so choosing the right texture matters more than choosing the toughest bone. This article explains which chews help, which hurt, and why grinding or chattering teeth can be normal or a sign of pain.
This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Quick Answer
- Chewing is normal and useful. Puppies chew to relieve teething pain, and adult dogs chew to keep jaws strong and teeth clean [1].
- Hard bones and antlers are a common cause of tooth fracture. Working dogs, which chew hard objects often, had about 6.3 traumatic dentoalveolar injuries per dog in one study compared with 1.3 in non-working dogs [2].
- Softer, flexible chews are safer for a teething puppy. Hard rubber toys and edible chews such as bully sticks are reasonable options [3].
- Cold items can numb sore gums. Frozen wet washcloths and freezable dog toys are often recommended during the teething phase [1].
- Teeth grinding or chattering can be normal in puppies, but it can also signal mouth pain, so have it checked if it comes with drooling, dropping food, or bad breath.
What Happens During Puppy Teething
Puppies go through a teething stage much like human infants. They lose their baby teeth and feel discomfort as the adult teeth push through. That intense chewing phase usually ends by about six months of age [1].
During this window, your puppy's gums are sore, swollen, and itchy. Chewing applies pressure that feels good and may help loosen baby teeth. It is also how puppies explore the world. Anything that fits in the mouth is fair game to a puppy, which is why your shoes and furniture are at risk [3].
The goal is not to stop chewing. The goal is to redirect it to objects that will not break teeth or cause a blockage. If your puppy is chewing furniture, baseboards, or your hands, that is a training and management issue as much as a teething issue.
Are Bones Safe for Teething Puppies?
This is the question that causes the most confusion, and the honest answer is that it depends on the bone.
Marrow bones and knuckle bones appear on many lists of appropriate chew items [3]. That does not mean every bone is safe for every dog. The hardness of the bone relative to your dog's teeth is what matters. A bone that does not give at all when your dog bites down can chip enamel or fracture a tooth.
Tooth fracture and periodontal disease are the main reasons dogs lose teeth [2]. A fractured tooth often needs extraction, and the procedure is more involved than most owners expect. Puppies are at particular risk because their adult teeth are still developing and the enamel is not fully mature.
There is another reason to be careful with baby teeth. A case report described a deciduous (baby) canine tooth root that was displaced into the pulp of the developing permanent tooth in a young dog. The permanent tooth became non-vital and stopped developing [4]. This is an unusual complication, but it shows how delicate the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth really is.
If you want to give your puppy a bone, choose one that is soft enough to leave a mark when you press your thumbnail into it. If your nail does not dent the surface, the bone is likely too hard for a puppy's mouth.
Dog Teeth Grinding and Chattering: What It Means
Grinding or chattering teeth in a dog can look alarming. In many puppies, it is a normal part of teething. The sensation of a loose tooth or an erupting tooth can prompt a puppy to grind or click the jaws together.
It can also be a pain signal. If your dog grinds their teeth while eating, drops food, drools more than usual, or has sudden bad breath, the mouth is a likely source of the problem. Dental pain in dogs is often subtle because dogs are good at hiding it.
Some grinding is related to how the teeth fit together. Malocclusions (bad bites) are common and often underdiagnosed in dogs. In one CT study, malocclusions were found in 46.7% of dogs, with the highest rate in Shiba Inus at 66.7% and the lowest in Golden Retrievers and Akitas at 16.7% [5]. A bad bite can cause teeth to rub, wear down, or traumatize the gums.
If the grinding is new, frequent, or paired with any of the signs above, book a veterinary dental exam. A veterinarian can look for retained baby teeth, fractured teeth, and bite problems.
A Step-by-Step Plan for Safe Chewing
Here is a practical routine you can follow during the teething months.
Step 1: Set up a chew station. Keep a small bin of approved chews where your puppy can reach them. Rotate the contents every few days. Dogs often prefer new toys over old, boring ones, and rotation makes each item feel new again [3].
Step 2: Match the chew to the mouth. For a teething puppy, choose flexible rubber toys, freezable toys, frozen wet washcloths, and softer edible chews. Ice cubes can also help numb sore gums [1].
Step 3: Supervise every chew session. Chew toys can cause injuries beyond the teeth. Two dogs developed tongue entrapment when a chew toy compressed and created a vacuum effect, causing severe swelling and tissue damage. One dog needed part of the tongue amputated after the owner pulled the toy off forcefully [6]. Stay in the room, and if a toy ever traps tissue, do not yank it. Pierce the toy to release the pressure and get veterinary help [6].
Step 4: Check chews for wear. Throw away any chew that has become small enough to swallow, sharp, or brittle. A chew that splinters is a choking and obstruction risk.
Step 5: Build a daily dental habit. Chewing helps clean teeth, but it does not replace brushing. Learning how to brush a dog's teeth safely gives you the most control over plaque and gum health. If you want to add dental chews, review dental chews for dogs: efficacy, safety, and selection criteria before you buy.
Step 6: Address problem chewing. If your puppy is chewing paws, furniture, or themselves, the cause may be boredom, anxiety, or discomfort. Chewing is a natural behavior that dogs use for comfort and to combat boredom [3]. Persistent paw chewing can have its own causes, so read dog chewing paws until raw if that is your situation.
Chew Comparison Table
| Chew type | Texture | Teething puppy use | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard rubber toy (e.g., Kong-style) | Firm but flexible | Good choice, can be stuffed and frozen | Wear and tear, small pieces |
| Bully stick | Firm, edible | Good choice for many puppies [3] | Choking on the last piece, calories |
| Marrow or knuckle bone | Very hard | Listed as an appropriate chew, but hardness varies [3] | Tooth fracture, especially in puppies |
| Frozen wet washcloth | Soft, cold | Helpful for numbing sore gums [1] | Supervise, discard when frayed |
| Ice cubes | Hard, cold | Can help numb teething pain [1] | Choking in small dogs, supervise |
| Antler or hoof | Extremely hard | Not recommended for puppies | High fracture risk |
Signs Something Is Wrong
Watch for these signs during teething and chew sessions.
- A cracked or discolored tooth, especially a gray or pink tint
- Dropping food, chewing on one side, or refusing hard food
- Drooling, pawing at the mouth, or flinching when you touch the face
- Bad breath that appeared suddenly
- Bleeding gums or a tooth that looks loose beyond the normal baby tooth stage
- Grinding that continues past the teething phase
- Swelling around the jaw or under the eye
Retained baby teeth are another concern. When a baby tooth stays in place while the adult tooth comes in, the two can crowd each other and trap plaque. This is a common reason for extraction under anesthesia. A dental exam can catch it early.
Common Mistakes Owners Make
Choosing the hardest chew available. Many owners believe harder equals better. In dogs, harder often means more fractures. Working dogs had roughly five times as many traumatic dentoalveolar injuries per dog as non-working dogs, and their risk of having such an injury was three times higher [2]. Hard chewing takes a toll.
Leaving a puppy alone with a chew. Chews can break, lodge, or trap tissue. The tongue entrapment cases happened during normal play [6]. Supervision is not optional.
Ignoring baby teeth that will not fall out. Retained deciduous teeth can interfere with the adult teeth. A deciduous tooth root displaced into a developing permanent tooth caused that tooth to stop developing in one reported case [4]. Early extraction is often the fix.
Assuming grinding is always harmless. Some grinding is normal, but grinding with drooling, dropping food, or bad breath points to pain.
Skipping professional dental care. Home chewing and brushing help, but a veterinarian needs to examine the mouth. Periodontal disease and tooth fracture are the leading reasons for tooth extraction in dogs [2], and both are easier to manage when caught early.
Using chew time as a substitute for training. Chewing is normal, but puppies still need guidance to learn what is and is not theirs to chew [3]. Redirect, reward, and repeat.
Supplies and Setup That Matter
You do not need much, but a few items make teething easier.
- A set of flexible rubber toys in a few sizes
- Two or three freezable toys you can rotate
- Clean wet washcloths kept in the freezer
- A dedicated chew bin your puppy can access
- A soft toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste
- A chew log or phone note to track what your puppy chews and any reactions
Keep chews sized appropriately. A chew that is too small can be swallowed. A chew that is too large may be hard to grip, which pushes your puppy to chew with the back teeth where fracture risk is higher.
If your dog has a history of dental work, a bad bite, or a breed known for malocclusion, ask your veterinarian which chews are appropriate before you buy anything. Malocclusions are common and can lead to oral trauma and periodontal disease [5], so chew selection should account for your dog's individual mouth.
Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
No article can tell you whether your specific dog's tooth is fractured or whether a particular bone is safe for your dog's jaw. That requires an examination, and sometimes dental radiographs. Individual cases need a veterinarian.
Contact your veterinarian the same day if you notice a broken tooth, a tooth that has changed color, bleeding that will not stop, or sudden drooling with difficulty eating.
Go to an emergency clinic now if your dog has a chew toy stuck around the tongue or jaw, severe swelling of the tongue, trouble breathing, or a chew lodged in the throat. Do not pull a trapped toy off by force. Piercing the toy to release the vacuum is the safer first move, and a veterinarian should manage the tissue damage [6].
Schedule a routine visit if your puppy still has baby teeth at seven months, if grinding continues past teething, if you see retained teeth, or if your dog has never had a dental exam. Your veterinarian can also calculate any medication dose from your dog's weight and health, so never give human pain relievers on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I give my teething puppy a bone?
It depends on the bone and the puppy. Marrow bones and knuckle bones are listed among appropriate chew items, but hardness varies widely [3]. A bone that does not dent when you press it with a thumbnail is too hard for most puppies and can fracture a tooth.
Is it normal for puppies to grind their teeth?
Some grinding is normal during teething as baby teeth loosen and adult teeth erupt. It becomes a concern when it happens often, continues past the teething stage, or comes with drooling, dropping food, or bad breath. Those signs point to mouth pain and warrant an exam.
What can I give a teething puppy instead of a bone?
Frozen wet washcloths, freezable dog toys, and ice cubes are commonly recommended to help numb teething pain [1]. Flexible rubber toys and softer edible chews are also reasonable options [3]. Rotate them so your puppy stays interested.
How long does puppy teething last?
The intense chewing phase usually ends by about six months of age [1]. Some puppies finish earlier and some take a little longer. If baby teeth are still present at seven months, ask your veterinarian about extraction.
Can chewing break my dog's teeth?
Yes. Tooth fracture is one of the main reasons dogs lose teeth [2]. The risk rises with very hard chews and with dogs that chew aggressively. Working dogs had three times the risk of traumatic dentoalveolar injury compared with non-working dogs [2].
Related Articles
- Dog Chewing Paws Until Raw
- Dental Chews for Dogs: Efficacy, Safety, and Selection Criteria
- Dog Chewing Paws Gut Health
- How To Brush a Dog's Teeth Safely
- Dog Chewing Paws Until Bleeding
- Destructive Chewing in Puppies: Teething Relief vs Separation Anxiety
References
- Destructive Chewing. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Traumatic dentoalveolar injury, tooth wear, and periodontal disease in working and non-working dogs (2018-2022). Frontiers in veterinary science, 2026.
- Chewing and Destructive Behavior in Dogs. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Intradental Displacement of a Deciduous Tooth Root in a Dog. Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2024.
- Breed-Specific Dental Variations in Dogs Assessing Malocclusions Using Computed Tomography (CT). Veterinary sciences, 2026.
- Tongue entrapment by chew toys in two dogs. The Journal of small animal practice, 2010.