Puppy dental care habits from week one

A 10-week-old Lab just home — this is genuinely the best possible moment to start dental care, and I'm glad you're thinking about it now. Dental disease is one of the most common health problems dogs develop, and it's not just cosmetic — it causes real, chronic pain that most dogs hide well. The good news is that puppies who learn to accept tooth brushing early almost always tolerate it for life, and a Lab at this age is a blank slate. Before I point you to the right kit, a couple of quick questions: has your vet done a first check yet and mentioned anything about the puppy's mouth, and have you tried touching his or her gums and teeth at all since bringing them home?

That's a great sign — a Lab who lets you handle her mouth at 10 weeks is going to make this easy. The key at this stage isn't really about cleaning per se, it's about building a positive association so that brushing becomes just a normal part of life before her adult teeth come in. What I'd recommend is the Beaphar Toothbrush and Toothpaste Kit. It comes with a dual-headed brush sized for small mouths and a liver-flavoured paste that most puppies treat more like a treat than a grooming routine. The paste is enzyme-based, which means it keeps working after you've finished — important at an age when you're not yet doing a thorough brush, just getting her used to the motion. Start by letting her lick the paste off your finger for a few days, then introduce the brush. Once a day, even for 20 seconds, is worth far more than a weekly deep clean.

At 10 weeks, hold off on dental chews entirely. Her baby teeth are tiny and her jaw is still developing — most dental chews are sized and textured for adult dogs and can be too hard or simply too big. The brushing habit is the right priority right now. Once she's around 6 months and her adult teeth are through, that's the time to introduce something like a Whimzees or a VOHC-approved chew as a complement to brushing. For now, the Beaphar kit covers everything you need.

Yes — ask whether all her baby teeth look properly positioned, and mention that you're already starting to handle her mouth daily. Vets notice this and it tends to make the rest of the appointment easier too. Also ask when they'd expect her adult teeth to come through, as that's when you'll want to check for retained baby teeth — Labs occasionally hold onto a baby tooth alongside the adult one, which can cause crowding and tartar buildup. Knowing what to watch for means you won't miss it. You're doing everything right by starting this early.