How do I brush My Dog’s Teeth.
Does your dog resist when you try to brush her teeth?
I can help you with that.
Before I tell you the step by step process of brushing your dog’s teeth, let me first tell you why it is a good idea to clean your dog’s teeth at least twice a week if not daily.
Why you should brush your dog’s teeth
In dogs, dental disease are one of the most common illnesses that both dogs and cats are vulnerable to. Dogs being on the higher side of the spectrum.
Dogs are more likely to get affected with periodontal (Anything that is related to teeth and their structure) diseases.
Periodontal disease are worse forms of Gingivitis and tartar.
And it’s because of periodontal conditions dogs lose most of their tooth.
You may ask any vet who specializes in oral care, they’ll tell you how frequently they extract the tooth because of this. And trust me, it’s costly for you and painful for your dog.
Moreover, the bacterial growth that occurs in gums because of periodontal disease can spread into the internal organs in their body. Heart, liver, and kidney being at the most risk. This can be life-threatening.
So in a nutshell By brushing your dog’s teeth consistently, you can:
- Delay or prevent calculus formation, aka tartar.
- Prevent secondary disease(Effect on internal organs, as discussed above) that are related to dental issues.
Now, why should your brush out of the way, let’s discuss:
What are the ideal oral hygiene conditions for dogs.
During your first visit to the vet, ask them to examine your dog’s oral health. And try to learn what is normal. Ask them questions about what to look for when examining yourself. That way, you’d be able to spot any problems as they arise.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- The smell of her breath
- Color of her gums
- Any tissue growth that doesn’t look normal.
Once you get yourself acquainted with what is the ideal oral health of a dog, you’ll be way ahead of the curve to tackle any problem.
Now let’s talk about:
How to brush your dog’s teeth
I’ve divided the brushing process into steps by step actions that you can take:
Things you will need:
1. A dog toothpaste
You must buy right kind of dog toothpaste that is specially made (preferably enzymatic) and flavored for dogs:
For flavors, you have many options
Since most dog’s love food, toothpaste manufacture take this fact as an advantage and they make toothpaste-like:
- Poultry based
- Malt based
- Beef based
- Seafood based
- Vanilla, mint or ginger-based
Use any flavor that makes your dog feel excited about brushing, and you are good to go.
Make sure you buy an enzymatic toothpaste (VOHC Approved) because they will prevent any plague to built up in your dog’s mouth.
Just make sure to never use human toothpaste. Because our toothpaste are made out of detergents. As dogs can’t spit out, it may disturb their system if they swallow it.
And they kinda hate those sensations induced by the human toothpaste.
2. Soft baby brush or specialty brushes made for dogs
Any baby brush will do the job. Just make sure that it is soft enough. Some people like to use finger brush as it is easier to access all parts of their mouth.
While some abstain from using a finger brush because they fear that their dog may bite their finger if something goes wrong.
3. A soft towel or a wooden toy (to keep her mouth open to access Molars)
You can use these as a prop to keep your dog’s mouth open as you access the deeper parts of your dog’s mouth.
Step 1: Make them feel comfortable.
First of all, you would want to be able to hold her head and manipulate her lips without any resistance from her.
Take about a pea-sized drop in your index finger and gently rub it on the honor gum. You will see that as your dog gets accustomed to the taste of it. It will withdraw all resistance.
Make sure that you don’t rush this process. Take your time, and everything will be fine.
Step 2: Start Brushing Her teeth.
You only need to worry about the outer side of her teeth. The tongue will take care of the inner part. More than 95% of periodontal disease develops on the outer side of your dog’s teeth.
Start with sideways and slowly work your way to the front and inner parts of her mouth.
The molars in dogs are very small, so you don’t need to worry too much about them. Use a soft towel or use a wooden toy as a prop to keep your dog’s mouth open and clean the molars.
Again, be sure that you take some time before you reach to the molars.
That’s how simple it is to brush your dog’s teeth.
How often should I brush my dog’s teeth.
There is no one best answer to it. If you have time, then your best bet is to do it daily(preferably before bed).
If not daily, then at least every alternate day, if you want to be on the safer side.
Like in all things in life, consistency is the key here.
Bonus Oral Care tips for dogs.
Tip 1: There are many drinking water additives available in the market that you can add to your dog’s drinking water.
These additives will work by preventing any plague to built up in the mouth. These additives are cheap and are available on Amazon and local pet stores.
Tip 2: There are specialized diets that you can give to your dog to maintain optimum health. WebMd has an excellent article that will tell you everything you need to know.
That’s all I have to say about how to brush your dog’s teeth.
Did I miss something or do you have a tip that may be helpful to the community, feel free do drop in the comments.