Kittens may be cute and cuddly, but their razor-sharp baby teeth are often less than adorable. Training a kitten not to bite as early as possible is the best way to avoid much more painful bites when the kitten grows into a cat.

Baby teeth, also called milk teeth, begin to emerge when a kitten is about four weeks old. This makes nursing uncomfortable for the mother by the time the kitten is around six weeks old, making this the ideal time to start the weaning process and to use toys and distractions to teach your cat what can and cannot be bitten or chewed.

Most kittens will lose their baby teeth starting when they are about three months old and ending a few months later. From this point forward, the teething process for cats is very similar to that of dogs; both tend to chew on things more as their adult teeth emerge. This is a way to decrease discomfort as well as a way of exploring the world around them, according to http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesconditionsfaqs/f/deciduous_teeth.htm. During this time, it’s perfectly healthy and normal for kittens to swallow their baby teeth. You might also be able to find them on the floor or stuck in toys, but they are so small that finding them can be difficult.

Once a kitten’s adult teeth have grown in completely, it’s a good idea to take it to the vet for a dental exam and a demonstration of the best way to clean these new teeth. This will get kittens and their owners in the habit of brushing their teeth regularly and keeping their teeth and mouths healthy.