Maltese are elegant, white-coated dogs that often develop one of the most visible ironies in dog ownership: striking brown, tartar-crusted teeth that stand out sharply against their pristine white fur. This isn’t bad luck or poor ownership — it’s a predictable consequence of Maltese anatomy and the accelerated dental disease timeline common to all toy breeds. Understanding why it happens is the foundation for preventing it.
Why Maltese Have Such Severe Dental Disease
Maltese typically weigh 4–7 pounds, placing them firmly in the toy breed category with all the associated dental vulnerabilities. Like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Dachshunds, they carry 42 adult teeth in a jaw significantly smaller than the tooth count requires. The results are the same: crowding, rotation, rapid tartar accumulation, and early periodontal disease.
Maltese-specific factors that compound the problem:
- Extreme small size — At the lower end of the toy breed spectrum, Maltese have particularly shallow jaw bone relative to the size of their tooth roots. Bone loss from periodontal disease therefore causes tooth mobility and loss much faster than in slightly larger dogs.
- Long lifespan (12–15+ years) — More time for dental disease to accumulate and cause damage. A Maltese with moderate periodontal disease at age 4 has potentially 10+ more years ahead — more than enough time for advanced disease if untreated.
- Often fed wet or soft food — Maltese are frequently pampered with wet food and soft treats. While this is understandable given their small size, it removes even the minimal mechanical cleaning benefit of dry food.
- Facial fold moisture near the mouth — Some Maltese have slight facial fold anatomy near the lips that can trap moisture, contributing to perioral bacterial accumulation that affects adjacent gum tissue.
What That Brown Crust Actually Is
The brown crust that many Maltese owners notice — especially on the front lower teeth and the upper premolars — is tartar (calculus). It’s not staining from food or water. Tartar is hardened, mineralized plaque: bacteria mixed with food particles and saliva minerals that bonds firmly to enamel.
Tartar starts as colorless, sticky plaque within hours of eating. Left undisturbed, it mineralizes within 3–5 days into hardened yellow-to-brown deposits. These are impossible to brush off — they require physical scraping with a dental instrument.
The contrast between a Maltese’s white coat and the brown tartar crust makes this buildup particularly visible in this breed. It’s often the first thing new Maltese owners notice, and it’s an accurate indicator of the dental disease state beneath the visible surface.
Learn how discoloration relates to dental health: How to Whiten Dog Teeth (Safely)
Common Dental Problems in Maltese
Rapid, Early Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the primary dental threat for Maltese. Without regular brushing, Maltese can show significant tartar buildup and gum disease by age 2–3. The shallow jaw bone means bone loss happens faster than in larger dogs, leading to mobile, painful teeth earlier. By age 5–7 without treatment, tooth loss is common. Learn the stages: Periodontal Disease in Dogs.
Retained Baby Teeth
Like all toy breeds, Maltese frequently retain deciduous (baby) teeth alongside erupting adult teeth. The double-tooth spaces created by retained baby teeth are concentrated areas of plaque accumulation. If your Maltese puppy is 6 months or older and you see what looks like two teeth in the same spot, have the vet evaluate it at their next visit.
Very Small Teeth and Roots
Maltese teeth are quite small, and their roots are correspondingly narrow. While this isn’t a disease, it means that teeth can become loose and require extraction faster once periodontal bone loss begins — there’s less root in the bone to begin with, so the same amount of bone loss removes proportionally more support.
Maltese Dental Care Routine
Daily Brushing — The Essential Habit
Daily brushing is the foundation for Maltese dental health. For this breed specifically, the “3–4 times per week” recommendation that applies to many medium and large dogs is insufficient given how quickly tartar accumulates in the tight Maltese dentition. Daily is the clinical target.
Many Maltese initially resist tooth brushing, but their intelligent, trainable nature means they generally respond well to patient, consistent desensitization. Start with letting them lick enzymatic toothpaste off your finger. Progress to rubbing the outer tooth surfaces with a finger tip, then introduce a finger brush over 1–2 weeks.
A small finger brush is usually the best tool for Maltese — their mouth is tiny and a full toothbrush can feel overwhelming. Apply enzymatic toothpaste and focus especially on the outer surfaces of the back teeth and the gumline on lower front teeth (where tartar typically appears first). Full technique guide: How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth the Right Way.
Appropriate Dental Chews
Choose dental chews specifically sized for toy or small breeds. Full-sized dental chews are too large and too hard for Maltese teeth. Look for the VOHC seal (Veterinary Oral Health Council — indicates independent testing for plaque/tartar reduction). The chew should require 5+ minutes of sustained chewing; chews that disappear in 30 seconds provided minimal cleaning benefit.
Avoid very hard chews of any kind — Maltese teeth are small and the bite force, while enthusiastic, can fracture on hard objects. Top picks: Best Dental Chews for Dogs.
Dental Water Additive
For Maltese, a daily dental water additive is particularly worthwhile. Because some tooth surfaces in small, crowded Maltese mouths are genuinely inaccessible to brushing, a passive antibacterial agent in their drinking water provides a layer of protection that complements physical brushing. Use VOHC-approved formulas; change the water and additive daily.
Professional Cleanings Every 6 Months
Maltese need professional veterinary cleaning twice per year. The standard once-yearly recommendation applies to medium and large dogs with typical dental anatomy. For Maltese — extreme small size, severe crowding, shallow bone — 12 months is too long between cleanings. The 6-month schedule catches tartar before it causes the bone loss that is otherwise essentially guaranteed in this breed.
Maltese tolerate anesthesia well as a breed. They don’t have the brachycephalic airway complications of Shih Tzus or Bulldogs. Pre-operative bloodwork is appropriate (especially for Maltese over 7 years, or those with any systemic health history).
At every cleaning, insist on full-mouth dental X-rays. Maltese’s small teeth and roots are difficult to assess by visual exam alone, and X-rays routinely reveal root resorption, bone loss, and root fractures that aren’t visible from the surface.
What to expect: What to Expect After Dog Dental Cleaning
Signs of Dental Disease in Your Maltese
Maltese are stoic about pain — a dog with significant dental disease often continues eating normally, playing normally, and showing no obvious distress. Active monitoring is essential:
- Brown or yellow crust on teeth — visible especially on lower front teeth and upper back teeth
- Red, swollen, or puffy gum tissue
- Gum tissue pulling away from teeth (recession)
- Bad breath that persists despite home care
- Loose teeth (should never be present in a healthy adult dog under 10)
- Difficulty chewing, food dropping, preference for soft food
- Facial swelling, especially below one eye
- Rubbing the face along furniture or carpet (can indicate oral discomfort)
→ Warning signs: Signs Your Dog Needs a Professional Teeth Cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions About Maltese Teeth
How many teeth do Maltese have?
Adult Maltese have 42 teeth — the same as all dog breeds. Maltese puppies have 28 baby teeth replaced by adult teeth between 3–7 months. Having 42 adult teeth in a 4–7 pound body is why crowding and dental disease are so prevalent in this breed.
Why does my Maltese have brown teeth?
The brown coloration on Maltese teeth is tartar (calculus) — hardened, mineralized plaque bonded to the tooth enamel. It can’t be brushed away; it requires professional scaling. After a professional cleaning, consistent daily brushing and dental chews will significantly slow the return of new buildup.
How often should Maltese get their teeth professionally cleaned?
Every 6 months. Annual cleanings leave too long a window for tartar accumulation and bone loss given how rapidly Maltese develop dental disease.
My Maltese lost several teeth — will they be okay?
Yes. Maltese adapt very well after tooth extractions and typically eat and behave normally. Dogs don’t chew the way humans do, and a Maltese without teeth can eat kibble (often softened for comfort) easily. Most owners report their Maltese seems happier and more energetic after removal of chronically painful, infected teeth.
Can I prevent dental disease in my Maltese if I start early?
Consistent daily brushing from puppyhood, appropriate dental chews, and biannual professional cleanings dramatically reduce (though cannot completely eliminate) the impact of the Maltese’s genetic dental predispositions. Maltese that receive this care from an early age often maintain most of their teeth well into senior years — a completely different trajectory from untreated dogs.
The Bottom Line
Maltese are charming, long-lived dogs whose dental health requires genuine daily commitment. The good news is that the care protocol — daily brushing, appropriate chews, twice-yearly professional cleanings — is the same formula that works for all small breeds. The difference for Maltese is that the consequences of skipping it are especially visible (that brown tartar against white fur is hard to miss) and especially serious given their long lifespan and shallow jaw bone.
Start early, stay consistent, and work with a vet who takes the 6-month cleaning schedule seriously for this breed. A Maltese that maintains dental health throughout life is a Maltese that can live its full 15+ years in comfort.
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