How Many Teeth Do Maltese Dogs Have?

You’re trimming your Maltese’s face fur — Saturday morning routine — and you spot something wrong. Two canine teeth sitting side by side, one noticeably smaller than the other. Baby tooth. Still there at 8 months old. You know something’s off but you’re not exactly sure what to do about it.

Maltese dogs have the same tooth count as every other adult dog: 42 permanent teeth. The question of how many teeth Maltese dogs have has a clean answer. What doesn’t have a clean answer is why those 42 teeth cause so many more problems for this breed specifically — and why Maltese owners end up at the vet for dental work far more often than owners of larger dogs.

The full picture depends on a few things most first-time Maltese owners haven’t thought about yet: - Both sets (28 puppy teeth → 42 adult teeth) follow the same sequence every dog goes through, but Maltese go through the transition differently - Retained baby teeth are a real breed-specific problem, not just a quirk - 42 adult teeth in a jaw this small means crowding — and crowding means disease - The care routine Maltese need is more demanding than most people walk in expecting - The window for catching retained teeth and getting ahead of dental disease is shorter than you’d think

Understanding how many teeth Maltese dogs have — and where the complications start

The numbers: 28 puppy teeth, then 42 adult teeth. Every dog gets that same progression, from a 4-pound Maltese to a 180-pound Mastiff. The count doesn’t scale to body size.

That last part is the problem.

1. Puppy teeth: 28 total, in fast — PetMaltese notes that Maltese puppy teeth begin erupting around 3 weeks old, though canines tend to come in a bit later — around 5 weeks — with incisors and molars following at 6 to 7 weeks. By 8 weeks, most Maltese puppies have their full set of 28 baby teeth. Right around when they come home with you.

2. Adult teeth: 42 total, starting around 3.5 months — the transition window for Maltese runs 3.5 to 7 months, roughly in line with larger breeds. Incisors push through first, then canines and premolars, then molars grow in at the back where there was no baby tooth to make room. The whole process should wrap by 7 months.

3. Four tooth types, each doing a different job — incisors (12, front of mouth) for nibbling and grooming; canines (4, one at each corner) for gripping; premolars (16, the shearing teeth along the sides) for cutting through food; molars (10, adult-only, back of jaw) for grinding. Every adult Maltese has all four types. Whether they’re healthy and in the right position is a very different question.

4. Retained baby teeth — the American Maltese Association specifically flags this as a breed-specific concern. Maltese puppies frequently don’t lose their baby teeth on schedule. Canines are the worst offenders: the baby canine sits right next to the erupting adult canine, forcing it sideways and creating an immediate bacteria trap. Left alone, that’s infection waiting to happen.

5. 42 teeth in a very small jaw — Pawesome.net explains that fitting a full adult dental set into a compact Maltese jaw means the teeth sit considerably closer together than they would in a large breed. Narrow gaps between teeth. Nowhere for bacteria and food particles to go except deeper in.

Which Maltese owners most need to know this

Knowing the tooth count matters differently depending on where you are with your dog.

1. First-time Maltese owners who had larger breeds before — if your previous dog was a Labrador or a Golden Retriever, you may have gotten away with minimal dental maintenance for years without visible problems. That won’t work with a Maltese. The breed’s dental disease risk is genuinely higher, and the consequences of skipping dental care show up early — sometimes by age 2 or 3.

2. Owners of Maltese puppies aged 4 to 7 months — this is the window. Check the mouth regularly. A baby canine still sitting alongside a fully-erupted adult canine at 6 months? That’s a vet visit, not a “let’s wait and see.”

3. People who adopted an adult Maltese with an unknown history — older rescues can have years of dental neglect behind them. Knowing what 42 healthy adult Maltese teeth look like — and recognizing what’s missing, cracked, or packed in wrong — helps you have a useful first conversation at the vet.

4. Senior Maltese owners — older Maltese who didn’t get consistent dental care often start losing permanent teeth to advanced gum disease. Missing teeth, loose teeth, persistent bad breath that isn’t just “dog breath” — these aren’t cosmetic problems. They’re signs of active infection that can spread.

5. Anyone maintaining results after a professional cleaning — it’s much easier to keep clean teeth clean than to deep-clean diseased teeth under anesthesia. Understanding the dental structure helps you understand exactly what you’re working to protect.

The dental problems Maltese are most prone to

These aren’t hypothetical risks. Vets see them in this breed constantly.

1. Retained deciduous teeth — Cobb Veterinary explains that when a baby tooth hangs around after the adult tooth has fully erupted, the adult tooth is forced into an abnormal position. Food packs into the gap between the two teeth constantly. The root of the adult tooth can be damaged by the pressure of the persistent baby tooth beside it. The longer it stays, the worse the alignment gets. Extraction is the fix.

2. Dental crowding — this is baseline reality for the Maltese. Even with ideal tooth development and no retained baby teeth at all, the adult teeth sit closer together than they would in a large breed. That’s just the anatomy. You manage it; you don’t prevent it.

3. Periodontal disease — PetHelpful walks through the progression: plaque forms after every meal, hardens into tartar, inflames the gums into gingivitis, and if left untreated, progresses into periodontitis. Bone loss. Loose teeth. Active infection that can spread well past the mouth. By age 3, a significant percentage of Maltese with no home dental care are already showing early signs of gum disease.

4. Malocclusion — teeth growing in crooked or misaligned because retained baby teeth pushed adult teeth sideways during development. Misaligned teeth bite into gum tissue and soft palate, causing chronic irritation and making proper chewing uncomfortable. Not just cosmetic.

5. Early permanent tooth loss — a Maltese losing adult teeth before age 7 is not rare when periodontal disease has gone unchecked. Infection destroys the supporting bone structure, and teeth with no anchor simply come out. This is preventable. That’s what makes it frustrating when it happens.

How to build a dental care routine that actually works for a Maltese

The care routine for a Maltese is non-negotiable. Here’s what pulls its weight.

1. Start before 6 months — begin handling your puppy’s mouth well before the adult teeth are even in. Fingers on the gums first, then a soft finger brush, then a proper pet toothbrush. The American Maltese Association recommends starting early because a Maltese who’s comfortable with tooth brushing at 5 months is dramatically easier to manage at 5 years than one who’s never had it done. This window matters more than most first-time owners realize — the earlier you build the habit, the less of a battle dental care becomes for the rest of the dog’s life.

2. Dog-specific toothpaste, no exceptions — human toothpaste has fluoride and often xylitol, both toxic to dogs. Dog toothpastes come in chicken, beef, and peanut butter flavors, which makes the whole process considerably less of a standoff. A three-sided toothbrush sized for small breeds gets all surfaces of the tooth simultaneously, which is the actual goal.

3. Aim for daily brushing; commit to at least 3 times a week as a minimum — once a week doesn’t stop tartar buildup in a breed this prone to it. Daily is the real standard. Three times a week slows progression meaningfully. PetMaltese recommends pairing brushing with a fixed point in your daily routine — same time each evening, same sequence — so the dog stops dreading it and starts just expecting it. That shift from dread to routine takes about two weeks and makes everything easier going forward.

4. Dental chews with the VOHC seal — the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal means a product has been independently tested and shown to reduce plaque or tartar. Not every dental chew on the shelf qualifies; plenty don’t. Check for the seal. These work alongside brushing, not instead of it.

5. Professional cleanings under anesthesia — the part owners resist most, because anesthesia sounds scary and the cost adds up. But below-the-gumline cleaning — the only kind that actually prevents periodontitis from taking hold — requires anesthesia. Annual professional cleanings are the baseline recommendation for Maltese. Some dogs with more advanced disease need more frequent visits.

Tips for keeping your Maltese’s teeth in good shape

• Check the mouth weekly between 4 and 7 months — look for any baby tooth sitting alongside a fully-erupted adult tooth. That’s your cue to call the vet.
• If a professional cleaning has been recommended and you’re nervous about anesthesia, ask about pre-anesthetic bloodwork — standard for small breeds, and it gives a clearer picture of your dog’s health before going under.
• Persistent bad breath that goes beyond normal dog breath is never cosmetic — strong, consistent odor in a Maltese is almost always a sign of active bacterial buildup or gum disease. Dental exam, not a dental chew.
• Skip hard chews like antlers, hooves, or raw bones for your Maltese. Small-breed teeth chip more easily than people expect, and a fractured tooth in a small dog is painful in ways they can’t communicate directly.
• Starting with an adult dog who’s never had their teeth brushed? Go gradually — use high-value treats, keep sessions short, and build up slowly. A dog who tolerates 30 seconds of brushing is more useful than a dog who fights 3 minutes of it.
• After every professional cleaning, ask your vet what grade of periodontal disease was found. That number tells you exactly how aggressive your home care needs to be going forward.

When your Maltese’s teeth probably aren’t the issue

• A puppy losing baby teeth between 3.5 and 7 months is completely normal — you’ll find them on the carpet, in the food bowl, or nowhere at all because the puppy swallowed them. Swallowed teeth are fine.
• Slight bleeding or pink-tinged saliva during peak teething is normal. A small amount of blood on a chew toy during the active teething window isn’t a red flag.
• Some adult Maltese are naturally missing a tooth or two — congenitally absent teeth (hypodontia) happen in small breeds without necessarily causing health problems. A vet can confirm whether a missing tooth was never there versus lost to disease.
• If your Maltese is eating normally, has mild breath, and gets regular professional cleanings — they’re probably doing fine. Not every Maltese ends up with serious dental disease. Consistent home care genuinely makes a measurable difference for this breed.

When to talk to your vet about your Maltese’s teeth

• If a baby tooth hasn’t fallen out and the adult tooth is already fully erupted beside it — vet evaluation, likely extraction, sooner rather than later.
• Any retained baby tooth still present at 7 months — by this point, waiting doesn’t help. The adult tooth is already being displaced.
• Your Maltese is pawing at their mouth, dropping food, or reluctant to chew on one side — pain signals. Small dogs mask dental pain well, so behavioral clues matter.
• If bad breath comes on suddenly or gets noticeably worse — this is a symptom, not just hygiene.
• Before your Maltese’s first professional cleaning, especially if they’re older or have never had dental work done — your vet can walk you through what to expect and whether pre-anesthetic bloodwork makes sense.

Conclusion: 42 teeth, one small jaw, more maintenance than most owners plan for

How many teeth do Maltese dogs have? The same 42 permanent teethevery adult dog gets — just packed into a jaw that wasn’t designed to hold them without consistent upkeep. The retained baby teeth, the crowding, the early periodontal disease risk — none of it’s inevitable. Maltese with consistent home brushing, regular professional cleanings, and retained teeth caught early can stay in genuinely good dental health for years. Start early, stay consistent, and don’t assume that because your dog seems fine, their mouth is fine too. A Maltese in dental pain has usually just learned to live with it quietly.

References

1. American Maltese Association — Dental Issues
2. PetMaltese — Maltese Puppy and Dog Dental Care
3. Pawesome.net — Do Maltese Have Dental Problems?
4. Cobb Veterinary — Retained Baby Teeth: Dental Risks and What to Do About Them
5. PetHelpful — Your Maltese and Periodontal Disease