Great Dane Teeth: Everything You Need To Know

Written by Emmanuel Kingsley
Published: October 10, 2022
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The Great Dane is a large-sized dog breed known for its gentle and calm temperament. These dogs are of German origin, hence their name. They are of unique royalty; exuding strength, power, and elegance all put together in their short-haired, smooth, silky, large body. These dogs, with their athletic figures, are the largest working/hunting dogs, as well as the tallest dogs ever recorded. 

With so much attributed to the Great Dane’s physical structures, you might wonder what goes on in their mouth; how many teeth they have, if they bite, how painful their bite can be, and most importantly how you can care for your pet Great Dane’s teeth. All of these and more will be discussed in this article, so sit back and have an excellent read!

How Many Teeth Does the Great Dane Have?

Great Dane Teeth

Great Danes have 42 teeth.

©WilleeCole Photography/Shutterstock.com

The Great Dane has two sets of teeth in its lifetime – the baby and the adult set of teeth, which transition through the pup’s first year. Altogether, a Great Dane grows a complete set of teeth at eight months of age which are 42 in total. Its dentition starts with 28 pup teeth. Afterward, some permanent teeth grow later in life, pushing out the baby teeth.

Why Does My Great Dane’s Teeth Chatter? 

Aside from feeding and chewing, the Great Dane uses its teeth to express emotions. Chattering of teeth is a common characteristic of the Great Dane, and they use this to show stress; good or bad. It might indicate that they are excited and are expecting something good. They often chatter their teeth if they are happy – and surprisingly also when sad. 

How Painful Is the Great Dane’s Bite?

Great Dane Teeth

Great Danes bites are very painful.

©Tish1/Shutterstock.com

The Great Dane is a gentle breed, identified as the “gentle giant.” They are usually friendly and affectionate dogs. But don’t be fooled by their calm disposition into thinking they’re completely harmless. Great Danes bite – in fact, all dogs do. As expected, a Great Dane’s bite is extremely painful. These dogs are enormous, and an attack from them can be physically and psychologically damaging. Victims often end up with bruises, cuts, broken or fractured bones, and scars, and some even die on infrequent occasions. 

Although these dogs often don’t bite, they tend to do so if they are not adequately cared for, trained, or socialized. The bite force of a Great Dane has been measured to be 238 PSI on average. The harm from the bite of these dogs mostly comes from the size and the force of the dog. Another reason people get bitten is that these dogs may become mentally unstable and attack when left unattended or maltreated for a while. 

Does the Great Dane Have Dental Problems?

White Animals - White Great Dane

Great Danes are prone to dental problems.

©Al_Er/Shutterstock.com

The Great Dane is prone to tooth problems. Mostly, their tooth problems start with the build-up of tartar on teeth surfaces. This build-up later accelerates into gum and root infections, and may even result in loss of the teeth. If you have a Great Dane as a pet, you have to keep it in mind to prioritize their dental health because if their teeth are not properly cared for, they may end up with these serious complications. Even worse, teeth damage in Great Danes can lead to more general health issues such as kidney diseases, heart diseases, liver diseases, and joint damage which may, in the long run, shorten their lifespan.

How Can I Care For My Great Dane’s Teeth?

Good teeth hygiene is necessary for all dogs. Unfortunately, most pet owners often ignore or overlook this simple need. Just as you care for your own teeth, you need to get a specific toothbrush and toothpaste for your dog. But if you don’t fancy this or consider yourself too busy to keep to this, you could get alternatives such as enzyme cleaning solutions, gels, sprays, and wipes for cleaning your dog’s teeth. 

It’s best to start good hygiene for your Great Dane early in life to get them used to it. For best results, you can inculcate the non-brushing systems because they are much easier to manage. Also, you need to be consistent as tartar buildup can occur at any time, so everyday cleaning is the best routine. Some important tips to ensure good dental care for healthy Great Dane teeth are;

  • Get dental products that work for you and your dog. 
  • Consistently create a cleaning routine for your dog; you need to clean your Great Dane teeth even more often than you bathe them.
  • You can give them dental chews or raw meaty bones as a self-cleansing mechanism.
  • Feed them high-quality food.
  • Incorporate periodic professional dental checkups and cleaning by a vet into your dog’s schedule.

Up Next:

Dog Teeth: Everything You Need To Know

10 Ways to Safely Clean a Dog’s Teeth

This Is How Many Teeth Dogs Have, and What They’re Used For

The photo featured at the top of this post is © belu gheorghe/Shutterstock.com

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Sources
  1. Great Dane Care, Available here: https://greatdanecare.com/great-dane-teeth-care/
  2. Viera East Veterinary Center, Available here: https://www.vieravet.com/services/dogs/breeds/great-dane#:~:text=Dental%20Disease&text=Unfortunately%2C%20your%20Great%20Dane%20is,and%20roots%20of%20the%20teeth