When Do Puppies Stop Teething? Plus, How You Can Help Ease Their Pain

Congratulations on your new puppy! Adding a rambunctious four-legged friend to the family can bring happiness and fun, if not a little bit of mischief in the household, particularly as your pup friend enters the teething phase. If your new friend gnaws or nips at just about anything he can get his gums on, people's toes included, he's likely cutting his adult teeth. And as puppies grow, they explore their world with their mouths.

When does teething typically happen? The incisors (which are your dog's two front teeth) come in around 12 weeks, followed by the canines, pre-molars, and molars, says Shawna Garner, U.S. lead veterinarian at FirstVet. (Dogs typically, and harmlessly, swallow their baby teeth.)

As a dog owner, it's your responsibility to give your puppy an appropriate item to chew; if you don't, they'll likely turn your favorite pair of loafers or the legs of your kitchen chairs into their playthings. The best objects to offer teething puppies depend on your dog's size and level of activity. To numb the resulting pain and sensitivity, offer your puppy ice cubes or frozen apple slices for munching, says Garner. For unwelcome biting behavior, keep a food toy, such as a Kong ($7.49, chewy.com), filled with peanut butter or cheese in the fridge to offer as an alternative. "Once he takes it, give him a treat within two to three seconds, to reward him for the productive swap," says Garner. You can also try rubber teething toys, edible puppy teething rings, and flavored puppy chew toys.

Remember to brush his new chompers once a day, preferably right before bed, says Garner, to give the enzymatic dog toothpaste time to work.