[Python] How to recursively replace character in keys of a nested dictionary?

I'm trying to create a generic function that replaces dots in keys of a nested dictionary. I have a non-generic function that goes 3 levels deep, but there must be a way to do this generic. Any help is appreciated! My code so far:

output = {'key1': {'key2': 'value2', 'key3': {'key4 with a .': 'value4', 'key5 with a .': 'value5'}}}

def print_dict(d):
new = {}
for key,value in d.items():
new[key.replace(".", "-")] = {}
if isinstance(value, dict):
for key2, value2 in value.items():
new[key][key2] = {}
if isinstance(value2, dict):
for key3, value3 in value2.items():
new[key][key2][key3.replace(".", "-")] = value3
else:
new[key][key2.replace(".", "-")] = value2
else:
new[key] = value
return new

print print_dict(output)


UPDATE: to answer my own question, I made a solution using json object_hooks:

import json

def remove_dots(obj):
for key in obj.keys():
new_key = key.replace(".","-")
if new_key != key:
obj[new_key] = obj[key]
del obj[key]
return obj

output = {'key1': {'key2': 'value2', 'key3': {'key4 with a .': 'value4', 'key5 with a .': 'value5'}}}
new_json = json.loads(json.dumps(output), object_hook=remove_dots)

print new_json

Continue reading...