Course 12 · Teeth and Mouth · Lesson 6 of 12
What should you check when you look inside a mouth?
Check teeth, gums, tongue and mouth lining briefly for colour, tartar, damage and change, and refer anything abnormal to a vet.
When you look inside a mouth, check the teeth for tartar, cracks, discolouration and missing or loose teeth, the gums for colour, swelling and bleeding, and the tongue, lips and mouth lining for sores, lumps, swelling and discharge, comparing both sides and noting any change from normal. The check should be brief, gentle and done in good light, without forcing the mouth wide open. You are looking for change and for signs that need a vet, not making a diagnosis.
How do you look inside a mouth safely?
Start with the dog settled and relaxed, and keep the check to under a minute. Lift the lips on one side to see the outer surfaces of the side and back teeth, then the other side, then lift the front lips to see the front teeth. Do not pull the jaw open wide, do not insert fingers between the teeth, and do not hold the mouth shut. For a brief look at the tongue and the roof of the mouth, gently open the mouth for a second only if the dog accepts it, then release. Use good light, and a torch held at an angle if needed, without shining it directly into the eyes. Watch the dog’s reaction throughout: flinching, pulling away, or pain on one side is information, not disobedience. Reward calm behaviour after the check, and finish while the dog is still relaxed. If the dog will not allow a mouth check, do not force it. Use the gradual handling approach in lessons 3 and 9, and seek hands on help if a check is urgently needed. A forced check teaches resistance and risks a bite, and it rarely gives a clear view anyway.
What should healthy teeth and gums look like?
Healthy teeth are generally white to slightly off white, without large brown or grey tartar deposits, cracks, chips or discolouration. Some staining and wear can be normal with age, and the owner should learn what is normal for that dog rather than expecting perfect whiteness. Healthy gums are usually pink, firm, and hug the teeth closely, without swelling, redness along the gum line, bleeding on light touch, or recession that exposes tooth roots. Gum colour varies by breed: some dogs have pigmented gums with dark patches, which can be normal for that dog. What matters is change: gums that were pink and are now bright red, swollen or bleeding, or teeth that were intact and are now cracked or loose, need attention. Note the baseline when the dog is young or when a vet has confirmed the mouth is healthy, so later changes are recognisable. Photographs in good light, taken occasionally with the dog’s cooperation, can help track change over time, but they do not replace a vet examination.
| Area | Healthy appearance | Change to note |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth | White to off white, intact, no large tartar | Cracks, chips, discolouration, loose or missing teeth |
| Gums | Pink or normally pigmented, firm, no swelling | Red, swollen, bleeding, receding, pale or very dark change |
| Tongue | Pink, moist, moves freely | Sores, swelling, discolouration, coating that is new |
| Lips and lining | Smooth, no sores or lumps | Sores, lumps, swelling, discharge, bad smell |
| Breath | Mild, not strongly unpleasant | New strong, sweet, or foul smell |
What changes should be recorded, and how?
Record change in plain words, with date, side and location. For example: 28 October, right upper back tooth, brown tartar larger than last month, gums red along edge, dog flinched. Avoid interpreting the cause: record what is seen, not what it might be. Note eating behaviour alongside mouth signs: dropping food, chewing on one side, eating slowly, or preferring soft food can accompany mouth pain. Note drooling, pawing at the mouth, face rubbing, and any swelling of the face or jaw. Keep notes in one place, such as a grooming record, so a vet can see the sequence. If a change is sudden, take a photograph if the dog allows it, and call the vet practice for advice on urgency. Do not wait for a routine grooming session to report a sudden change, and do not try to clean, scrape or treat a sore area to make it look better before a vet sees it. The vet needs to see the mouth as it is, and home attempts to fix it can obscure signs.
What should you not do during a mouth check?
Do not try to scrape tartar, pull a loose tooth, cut a lump, squeeze a swelling, or apply antiseptic, cream or home remedies inside the mouth. Do not use sharp tools, cotton buds deep in the mouth, or human dental products. Do not diagnose a condition from colour, smell or appearance alone, and do not reassure yourself that a sign is normal because it has been present for a while. Long standing signs still need assessment, and some conditions progress slowly. Do not check a mouth that is bleeding heavily, swollen, or causing severe pain at home; seek veterinary help promptly and keep handling to a minimum. Do not let children check a mouth unsupervised, and do not allow a dog to be teased or provoked during a check. The check is an observation, and its limit is the point where observation becomes intervention. That point is reached as soon as anything abnormal is found.
When should you stop and get help?
Contact a vet promptly if there is bleeding that will not stop, a loose, broken or discoloured tooth, swollen or bleeding gums, a sore, lump or swelling in the mouth, discharge, a bad smell that is new, difficulty eating, drooling, or pain. Seek same day advice for facial swelling, a dog that cannot close its mouth, a suspected broken jaw, or a mouth injury. Bring your notes, photographs and information about when the change started and whether eating has changed. Home mouth checks are valuable because they catch change early, but they are not a substitute for veterinary dental examination, which can assess below the gum line and with X rays when needed. A brief, regular look, recorded honestly, is one of the most useful habits in home grooming.
A short, gentle look at teeth, gums, tongue and lining, compared with what is normal for that dog and recorded plainly, turns routine handling into early warning without ever attempting diagnosis at home.
Further reading
- British Veterinary Association, pet care guidance
- RSPCA, dog care advice
- Pet health guidance, dental care