A Brussels Griffon owner needs to know one thing above all: this breed combines a toy-sized mouth with a flat, brachycephalic face and an undershot jaw, which makes crowded, misaligned teeth and early gum disease the breed's biggest oral-health threats. Daily plaque control — started young and kept up for life — matters more for a Griffon than for almost any dog twice its size.
We've spent more than 25 years at Ark Naturals making dental chews here in the USA, and toy brachycephalic breeds like the Griffon are exactly the dogs we think about when we design a softer, smaller chew. Here's what makes that famous monkey face such a dental challenge, and what you can do about it at home.
Why is the Brussels Griffon's mouth so different?
Every dog carries 42 adult teeth. A 9-pound Griffon has to fit all of them into a jaw that has been shortened and flattened by generations of selective breeding for that expressive, almost-human face. The breed standard actually calls for an undershot bite — the lower jaw projects beyond the upper — so a Griffon's teeth rarely meet in the tidy scissor alignment most breeds have.
Two consequences follow. First, teeth get rotated, tipped, and jammed together, creating tight spaces a tongue can't clean and food can't escape. Second, misaligned teeth sometimes strike the roof of the mouth or a neighboring tooth, wearing enamel in odd spots. Toy breeds also hold onto their deciduous (baby) teeth more often than bigger dogs; a retained puppy canine sitting beside the adult tooth becomes a plaque trap almost overnight.
Add it up and you get a mouth where plaque hardens into tartar quickly, gums inflame early, and periodontal disease — the infection and breakdown of the tissues anchoring each tooth — can take hold before a Griffon's third birthday. The American Veterinary Dental College notes that most dogs show some evidence of periodontal disease by age three, and small, short-faced breeds sit at the front of that line.
Top dental risks for Brussels Griffons
- Early periodontal disease. Crowding plus a small jawbone means bone loss around teeth progresses fast once gingivitis starts. In a toy breed, even a millimeter of lost bone is a large fraction of what holds the tooth.
- Retained baby teeth. Watch the canines between 4 and 6 months of age. If you see two teeth sharing one spot, ask your veterinarian about extraction — many are removed during the spay/neuter procedure.
- Malocclusion complications. The undershot bite is normal for the breed, but individual teeth that contact soft tissue need veterinary attention.
- Bad breath as a warning sign. A Griffon sits close to your face by design. If kisses start to smell sour or rotten, that's usually plaque bacteria at work, not "just dog breath."
How do you brush a flat-faced toy breed's teeth?
Brushing is still the gold standard, and yes, it's fiddly on a face this short. A finger brush or a small-headed pet toothbrush works better than a full-size brush, and pet-safe enzymatic toothpaste (never human toothpaste) makes the job tastier. Aim the bristles where the tooth meets the gum, and prioritize the outside surfaces of the upper back teeth — that's where tartar builds first.
Go slowly at the start. Let your Griffon lick the paste off your finger for a few days, then rub a tooth or two, then work up to a 30-second circuit of the mouth. Griffons are sensitive, velcro-style companions; they'll cooperate sooner if the routine ends with praise or play. If your dog's gums bleed or they flinch away consistently, stop and have your veterinarian take a look before continuing — pain usually means disease is already present.
What about days when brushing doesn't happen?
Realistically, most owners don't brush every single day, and that's where a well-designed dental chew earns its keep. Chewing scrubs the tooth surface mechanically while ingredients in the chew go to work on breath and plaque. Our chews are made in the USA with no artificial flavors or colors, and they're suitable for dogs 12 weeks and older, so you can begin during puppyhood as teeth erupt.
Size matters enormously here. For Griffons at the smaller end of the breed — around 8 pounds — our Protection+ Brushless mini chews are scaled for tiny jaws and include Asta-Shield, our astaxanthin antioxidant; researchers have studied astaxanthin's unusually strong free-radical-quenching activity (PubMed). For Griffons who find firm chews difficult because of their bite alignment, Soft Shield Protection+ offers the same advanced approach in a soft-chew format that a shortened jaw can manage comfortably. Our DENTA-METER framework is how we map dogs to the right chew: starter formulas for young mouths in good shape, Protection+ formulas for dogs that need more support. You can browse every small-dog size in our full dog collection.
One honest note: chews support a routine, they don't replace veterinary care. No chew — ours included — treats existing dental disease.
When should a Griffon see the veterinarian?
Book a dental exam promptly if you notice any of these:
- Breath that turns foul over days or weeks
- Red, puffy, or bleeding gum lines
- Chewing on one side, dropping kibble, or a new preference for soft food
- Pawing at the muzzle or rubbing the face along furniture
- A wiggly adult tooth, or brown crust you can see along the gum line
Because Griffons are brachycephalic, anesthesia for professional cleanings deserves extra planning — airway anatomy makes these dogs higher-touch patients. That's a reason to be more diligent about prevention, not to avoid cleanings; your veterinarian can walk you through modern anesthetic safety protocols and how often your individual dog needs a professional scaling. The AVMA's pet dental care guidance is a solid primer on what happens during a veterinary dental visit.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should I start dental care for my Brussels Griffon puppy?
Start handling the mouth the week your puppy comes home, and introduce brushing motions by 10 to 12 weeks. Our chews are appropriate from 12 weeks on, sized to the puppy's weight. Early habits are the single best predictor of a cooperative adult patient — ask your veterinarian to check bite alignment at each puppy visit.
Is an underbite bad for my Griffon's teeth?
The undershot jaw itself is a breed-standard trait, not a defect. Problems arise when individual teeth land against the palate or crowd their neighbors. Your veterinarian can identify which teeth, if any, need intervention during routine exams.
How fast can gum disease develop in a toy breed?
Faster than most owners expect. Gingivitis can appear within weeks of plaque accumulating, and tartar can mineralize on the tooth in a matter of days. That's why toy breeds benefit from something touching their teeth — brush or chew — essentially every day.
Can Brussels Griffons handle hard chews?
Approach very hard items (antlers, bones, hooves) with caution in any dog, and especially in a toy breed with a misaligned bite — fractured teeth are a real risk. A chew should have some give to it. Soft-format options like Soft Shield exist precisely for mouths like the Griffon's.
Do dental chews actually reduce plaque?
Mechanical chewing action combined with active ingredients can meaningfully reduce plaque and tartar accumulation as part of a daily routine; the Veterinary Oral Health Council maintains a list of products tested against those claims. Chews work best alongside brushing and regular professional cleanings, and your veterinarian can help you weigh what your dog's mouth needs.
A Brussels Griffon gives you a decade and a half of comic companionship in a ten-pound package. Guard those crowded little teeth daily, keep your veterinarian in the loop, and that famous smug expression stays comfortable and healthy for the long haul.