Breed Health Guide • Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Dental Problems in Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers have one of the highest rates of dental disease in dogs. By age 3, the majority of Yorkies have significant periodontal disease. Their tiny jaws crowd a full set of teeth into a small space, plaque accumulates fast, and untreated dental disease leads to tooth loss, jaw fractures, infection, and systemic illness affecting the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Why Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to dental problems
Toy and small breeds like Yorkies have disproportionately small jaws that crowd 42 adult teeth. The crowding traps plaque and tartar. Yorkies also retain their puppy teeth more often than larger breeds (persistent deciduous teeth) — when the adult tooth grows in next to the still-present baby tooth, the two together form a debris trap. Genetics for tooth structure and oral immune function vary by line.
What you'll see at home
- Bad breath (halitosis) — often the first sign
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup on the teeth
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Drooling, especially with blood-tinged saliva
- Dropping food, chewing on one side, eating more slowly
- Pawing at the mouth, face rubbing on furniture
- Loose or missing teeth
- Facial swelling (tooth root abscess)
Red flags — go to an emergency vet
- ⚠ Facial swelling, especially below the eye — possible tooth-root abscess
- ⚠ Refusing food for more than a day in a Yorkie (dental pain or hypoglycemia)
- ⚠ Visible jaw deformity or pathologic fracture (small Yorkies are prone — even gentle jaw use can fracture a weakened jawbone)
- ⚠ Severe lethargy plus dental signs — possible systemic infection from dental source
How vets diagnose dental problems
A vet performs a conscious oral exam to assess visible disease, then full dental evaluation under anesthesia — probing pockets, charting teeth, and (critically) dental x-rays to evaluate the parts of the teeth below the gumline. Most periodontal disease is invisible without dental x-rays.
Treatment options
Professional dental cleanings under anesthesia from a young age — for Yorkies this often means starting at 1-2 years and repeating every 6-12 months. Extractions of diseased teeth, especially crowded teeth and persistent deciduous teeth. Antibiotics for active infections. Home care between cleanings — daily brushing, dental chews, water additives, and prescription dental diets.
Common medications for this condition
Don't start, stop, or change any of these medications without a licensed vet's guidance.
Living with a Yorkshire Terrier who has dental problems
- 1 Daily tooth brushing from puppyhood — yes, every day. Pet toothpaste only.
- 2 Schedule the first professional cleaning around age 1-2, then every 6-12 months
- 3 Have persistent deciduous (baby) teeth extracted at the time of spay/neuter
- 4 Use VOHC-approved dental chews and water additives between cleanings
- 5 Consider a prescription dental diet (Hill's t/d, Royal Canin Dental)
- 6 Avoid hard chews (real bones, antlers, hard nylon) — they break teeth in small jaws
- 7 Watch for any facial swelling or jaw pain — small Yorkies are prone to jaw fractures from advanced periodontal disease
- 8 Don't skip anesthetic cleanings — 'anesthesia-free' cleanings only scrape what's visible and can mask deeper disease
Can RexVet help with this online?
RexVet can help with: triage of bad breath and mouth pain, antibiotic and pain medication refills for diagnosed dental disease, planning between professional cleanings, home dental care coaching, and post-extraction recovery check-ins.
Start a $64.99 video visit →We can't do dental cleanings, take dental x-rays, extract teeth, or place crowns by video. All of those need in-person veterinary dentistry, almost always under anesthesia. Yorkies with significant dental disease need a professional cleaning — there's no telehealth substitute.
Prognosis — what to expect
Excellent with consistent care, dire without it. Yorkies that get daily home care plus regular professional cleanings keep most of their teeth and avoid systemic complications. Yorkies whose dental disease is ignored often lose most of their teeth by middle age, can develop kidney and heart disease secondary to chronic oral infection, and may suffer jaw fractures. The single biggest lever is the owner's daily brushing routine.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How often should I brush my Yorkshire Terrier's teeth?
Daily. Yes, every day. Dental disease in Yorkies accumulates fast, and brushing is the single most effective home prevention. Use pet toothpaste (never human — xylitol is toxic to dogs) and a small soft brush or finger brush. Even 30 seconds a day is meaningful if it's consistent.
When should my Yorkie get their first dental cleaning?
Most veterinary dentists recommend the first professional cleaning around 1-2 years of age for toy breeds, then every 6-12 months for life. Yorkies often have persistent deciduous (baby) teeth that need extraction at the time of spay/neuter — combine those procedures if possible.
Are anesthesia-free dental cleanings safe for Yorkies?
Most veterinary professional organizations (AVMA, AVDC) do not recommend anesthesia-free dental cleanings. They only scrape the visible parts of the teeth, miss disease below the gumline (where most periodontal damage happens), and can mask serious problems by making teeth look superficially clean. Properly performed anesthetic cleanings with dental x-rays are the standard of care.
Can dental disease kill a Yorkie?
Yes — chronic periodontal infection seeds bacteria into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of kidney disease, liver disease, and infective endocarditis. Severe periodontal disease in small jaws can also cause pathologic jaw fractures. Dental health is not cosmetic in this breed; it's part of overall longevity.
Further reading from the RexVet blog
Sources
Last fact-checked: 2026-06-01. Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM.
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