Scottish Terrier dental care starts with a curious anatomical fact: this 18- to 22-pound dog carries teeth the breed standard itself describes as remarkably large for its size, set in a long, strong-jawed head on a very short body. Those impressive choppers give Scotties better chewing mechanics than most small breeds, but small-breed rules still apply — tartar arrives early, gums need daily defense, and an independent terrier will not volunteer for any of it.
We make dental chews at Ark Naturals — over 25 years now, all in the USA, never with artificial flavors or colors — and terriers are some of our favorite skeptics to win over. Here's the Scottie-specific playbook.
The Scottie mouth: bigger equipment than the body suggests
Everything about a Scottish Terrier is concentrated. Ten inches tall, built low and solid, with a distinctively long skull for such a compact dog — and inside that skull, a scissors-bite set of teeth sized closer to a mid-size breed's than a toy's. Breeders have prized that powerful mouth since the Scottie's ratting and vermin-hunting days in the Scottish Highlands, where a working terrier needed genuine gripping strength underground.
For dental purposes, this cuts both ways. The relatively long jaw gives teeth more room than a Shih Tzu or Chihuahua enjoys, so severe crowding and rotated premolars are less common. Larger teeth also mean larger, deeper roots that hold on well. On the other hand, big teeth in a small mouth still sit closer together than a Setter's do, saliva volume is small-dog scale, and the breed's dense facial furnishings — that famous beard — can trap moisture and food particles near the lips and lower teeth. Anyone who's smelled a damp Scottie beard understands.
Add the terrier temperament — dignified, stubborn, sure it knows best — and you have a dog where the routine's success depends heavily on how cleverly you introduce it.
Which dental problems should Scottie owners watch for?
Early tartar accumulation is the small-breed baseline. Across all dogs under roughly 25 pounds, plaque mineralizes into tartar quickly and periodontal disease starts young; the American Veterinary Dental College identifies periodontal disease as the most common clinical condition in adult dogs, and small breeds sit at the front of that line. A Scottie's stout teeth are anchored well, but the gum and bone around them are just as vulnerable to bacterial attack as any small dog's.
Gingivitis hiding under the beard. Red, puffy gum margins along the lower premolars can go unnoticed behind facial hair for months. Lift the lip and look weekly — make it a two-second ritual after brushing.
Determined-chewer wear and tear. Scotties dig, tug, and chew with conviction. Rocks, hard nylon toys, and fence chewing produce chipped incisors and worn canines. Their strong jaws punch above their weight class, so hard-chew fracture risk is worth taking seriously even at 20 pounds.
Retained baby teeth occasionally appear in Scottie puppies, as in many smaller breeds — a stubborn deciduous canine sitting beside the adult tooth creates a plaque trap. Have your veterinarian check the bite at the six-month visit; retained teeth are usually removed at spay or neuter time.
Scotties do carry documented breed health concerns elsewhere in the body — this is a breed where regular veterinary wellness exams earn their keep — but their dental profile is mostly about size class and chewing enthusiasm rather than any unique oral disease.
A daily routine a stubborn terrier will accept
With Scotties, negotiation beats confrontation. Begin with three or four days of simply touching the muzzle and lifting the lip, each time followed by something wonderful. Then a dab of dog toothpaste on your finger. Then a finger brush on just the canines. Only after buy-in do you attempt the full circuit — outer surfaces of the upper back teeth first, since that's where tartar concentrates, angled into the gumline. Keep sessions under a minute and end before the dog decides to end it. Terrier trainers call this quitting while you're ahead; we call it Tuesday.
Dental chews are where a food-motivated Scottie becomes your ally instead of your adversary:
- A mature Scottie at 20-plus pounds sits right at the entry of the weight range for our Brushless Toothpaste dental chews for 20–40 lb dogs — our classic starter chew, with a toothpaste center inside a ridged exterior that scrubs as the dog works it. Weigh your dog first, and if yours is a petite female under 20 pounds, size down; our shop-all collection sorts every option, including our gentler Soft Brushless line, by weight class.
- The DENTA-METER on our packaging shows at a glance whether a product is everyday starter maintenance or advanced protection, which helps as your Scottie moves from adult to senior needs.
- Chews are appropriate from 12 weeks of age, and starting a Scottie puppy early pays compound interest in cooperation later.
One breed-specific housekeeping note: wipe or rinse the beard after meals. Less trapped food near the mouth means less bacterial load along the lower gumline. And whenever you change up chews, treats, or diet, a quick word with your veterinarian is smart — especially for Scotties with sensitive stomachs or existing dental work.
Signs it's time for a veterinary dental visit
Small dogs hide oral pain behind normal appetites longer than you'd expect. Per the AVMA's pet dental care guidance, an oral exam belongs in every annual checkup, with professional cleanings under anesthesia scheduled as your veterinarian advises. Between checkups, book sooner for:
- Breath that clears the room
- Visible brown-yellow crust at the gumline, or gums that bleed when you brush
- A cracked canine or incisor from hard chewing
- Chewing gingerly, favoring one side, or losing interest in tug
- Any lump or swelling along the gums or jaw — always have new oral masses evaluated promptly
- Pawing at the beard or rubbing the face on carpet
Your veterinary team can also show you brushing technique in person — five minutes of coaching at a checkup often fixes what months of home trial-and-error couldn't.
Scottish Terrier dental FAQ
Why does my Scottie get tartar faster than my friend's Lab?
Body size is the strongest predictor of dental disease pace in dogs. Smaller mouths concentrate plaque on less tooth surface area, and small breeds' teeth are proportionally large for their jawbones, leaving thinner bone margins for periodontal disease to erode. A 20-pound Scottie simply needs earlier, more consistent care than an 80-pound retriever.
Are pig ears or antlers okay for a strong-jawed Scottie?
Antlers and similarly rigid chews are a fracture risk we'd avoid — Scottie jaws are strong enough to hurt themselves on them. Softer, purpose-built dental chews give the scrubbing benefit without the gamble. Your vet can help you vet (so to speak) anything you're unsure about.
How do I brush a dog who clamps his mouth shut?
Don't force the mouth open — you only need the outer tooth surfaces, which you can reach by sliding a finger brush under the lip while the mouth stays closed. Pair every session with a payoff the dog values, keep it short, and consider letting a chew handle the inner surfaces. Ask your veterinary team for a live demo if you're stuck.
At what age should Scottie dental care start?
Immediately — gum handling from eight weeks, brushing and 12-week-appropriate chews soon after, and a bite check at the six-month vet visit to catch retained puppy teeth. Adult habits are built in puppyhood, particularly with a breed this opinionated.
Do water additives replace brushing for a difficult dog?
They're a supporting player at best. Mechanical plaque disruption — brush bristles or chew abrasion — is what current veterinary guidance emphasizes. If brushing truly isn't happening, daily dental chews plus regular professional cleanings, on a schedule your veterinarian sets, form the realistic fallback plan.