“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
If you’ve never done it before, brushing your dog’s teeth might seem like a scary undertaking. However, it’s surprisingly easy! And, with the quantity of flavored canine toothpastes and ergonomic toothbrushes available now, you’ll get the technique down in no time. Many dogs love the taste of their dog toothpaste and will easily put up with your hands in their face for a minute for the rewarding taste. In addition to regular teeth cleanings from your veterinarian, it’s important to brush your dog’s teeth daily at home.
We found this great step-by-step guide from Dr. William Rosenblad at PetPlace.com.
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Dental disease (especially periodontal disease) is the most common disease in our canine companions. It is also one of the most preventable and treatable diseases. Fortunately, we can reduce or even prevent dental disease by feeding a crunchy diet, appropriate chew treats and toys and daily tooth brushing. The following are steps to guide you on how to brush your dog’s teeth:
- The first step is to start with a clean, healthy mouth. Good dental hygiene should start with a young pet with healthy new teeth and gums, or after your pet has had a professional dental cleaning.
- You will need a soft-bristled tooth brush and veterinary toothpaste. Human toothpastes and baking soda may cause problems. Furthermore, veterinary toothpastes have flavors that are appealing to dogs. Anything other than a bristled tooth brush will not get below the gum line, which is the most important area to brush.
- There are several important facts about our pets’ mouths that tell us when, where and how to brush. Periodontal disease usually affects the upper, back teeth first and worst. Plaque builds up on the tooth surface daily, especially just under the gum line. It takes less than 36 hours for this plaque to become mineralized and harden into “tartar” (calculus) that cannot be removed with a brush. Because of this progression, brushing should be done daily, with a brush to remove the plaque from under the gum line.
- Pick a time of day that will become a convenient part of your pet’s daily routine. Just before a walk or before a daily treat can help your pet actually look forward to brushing time. Take a few days to let both of you get use to the process. Follow with praise and a walk or treat each time.
- Start by offering your dog a taste of the veterinary toothpaste. The next time, let him taste the toothpaste, then run your finger along the gums of the upper teeth. Repeat the process with the tooth brush. Get the bristles of the brush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slightly up, so the bristles get under the gum line. Work from back to front, making small circles along the gum lines. It should take you less than 30 seconds to brush your pet’s teeth. Do not try to brush the entire mouth at first. If all that your pet lets you brush is the outside of the upper teeth, you are still addressing the most important area of periodontal disease – prevention. If your pet eventually allows you to brush most of his teeth, so much the better.
- Even with the best tooth brushing, some dogs may still need an occasional professional cleaning, just like humans. By brushing your pet’s teeth daily and curtailing the amount of periodontal disease, you may reduce the frequency and involvement of dental cleanings and provide your pet with a healthier, sweeter smile.
Read the entire article and see a video here. Got any other tips and advice for how to brush your dog’s teeth? Tell our readers about it below!
Thank you for your sharing. This information is very helpful.
I managed to learn almost all the grooming procedures and I perform them in between the visit to the professional groomer of our female Yorkie. I have a trimmer so I do sanitary trims, I clean her ears, even clip the nails…and she is tolerant. The only thing I still can not do is to clean her teeth…she just doesn’t let me do it.
All the work has been much better after I bought a grooming table, it just makes my life much easier.
It is not that easy in my case. I was trying to do that but whenever I put the toothbrush into my dog's mouth, she starts to run away.
Hi, Glad to see you mentioning the need to brush dogs teeth as it is often overlooked by owners.
Joycelyn Persad
says:Early in the morning when he likes his belly rubs , he is on his back get out the toothbrush with his chicken toothpaste. I find this to be the easiest wy to brush his teeth. that way he do not bite out the bristles I use an oral B tooth brush the one for humans. it works. Heeheehee got ya. that is what I say to him and then you give him his treat.Quinoa off course.
There is a sound that most humans will experience many
times in life, that, despite being perfectly ordinary and
extremely frequent, never fails to awaken a soul-crushing sadness deep within our minds.
This is the precise feeling that stirred me each morning, as my
alarm clock stirred me from sleep. I awoke as if my alarm clock
had unexpectedly poked me with a cattle prod. My eyes shot open, while my body catapulted
itself out of bed. I stood for a moment, surveying my immaculately clean, and
meticulously modern bedroom, and allowed my mind a chance to catch up with my movements.
My girlfriend managed to stay sound asleep through
this fiasco, and looked peaceful as ever.
I glanced at the clock, and like many other mornings before this one,
realized my scramble to wake up and get going was fruitless.
I was up early, and there was no need to rush. The real
urgency was coming from my own personal rush to break away
from my horribly mundane existence.
My name is Justin Rylands, and my life is not bad by any means.
I am 27 years old with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from
Princeton. My father, Drew Rylands, was responsible for starting one of the most successful dental technology distribution warehouses in
the United States, and this provided me with a guaranteed, top dollar sales position
since the day I exited my mother’s womb. I have a sought-after career, a beautiful girlfriend, an apartment that looks like a Home Goods catalog came to life, and
a picture perfect family. I was not rebellious growing up, and
I equate this to my wealthy upbringing, and well-structured, loving parents.
I was always handsome, and intelligent. I was dedicated
to school, and sports, and rarely ever distracted
by girls. I was disinterested in parties, and the counterproductive activities my peers got off on.
I was a born success story. I was everything any parent could ask for, and they were well aware of this.
I was nothing at all like my insurgent older brother who’d flown the coop when
I was 13. My parents had convinced me that, “Andy went away for college, because
that’s what young men do when they turn 18.” But I knew this was a lie,
even as a child. My brother was an absolute shit head, and I was a
firsthand witness to his teen years full of underage drinking and cutting class.
I can recall numerous late nights that ended in my mother sobbing on the
couch while my father was on the phone explaining to the cops what crime his hooligan son got himself caught up in now.
It was not until I was 17, and overheard a
phone call between my brother and father, that
I finally discovered Andy had run off with a group of glass blowing hippies who crafted marijuana
pipes and travelled the country with the small amount of money they made selling these “art pieces”.
I was never entirely able to grasp why this lifestyle brought my brother
so much joy, but after 4 years of this perpetuating 9 to 5 grind,
I started to wonder if Andy had the right idea after all.
“Morning Boss,” I said, half-joking to my father upon stepping into his office.
“Ah, my son! Bright and early as always. Just like your father.” He clapped his hand on my back and gave me that
classic, fatherly grin. “I’ve got a project for you.” I cringed.
I figured this meant I’d be planning another painfully boring charity event
for inner-city children with no dental insurance.
To read more, register on my site to receive the free kindle
or whatever other format book!
I have been using this clipper for my Normal Poodle for about six months now –
I do his toes and confront at minimum once a month – and it is excellent
for all our requirements. I have by no means taken him to a groomer, and have experienced
display puppy friends and pro groomers inform me he
seems to be great with just the clipping we do with this clipper.
All clippers will get scorching – it really is simply a regulation of physics: two pieces of steel
rubbing together at substantial pace causes
heat. I have additional blades and a damp fabric nearby when
the blade receives very hot. If you discover the clipper “drags via the coat” it might be the identical thing that occurred to me
when I initial obtained it – the blade wasn’t
snapped down into place accurately and it wasn’t clipping at
all. For my Poodle, this clipper is fantastic, and the price tag
cannot be beat!
I had never clipped possibly canine or human
ahead of, but decided to consider performing my Regular Schnauzer at residence.
He is the terror of all regional groomers: they complain that he
struggles the complete time, so it is been a headache
for them and high-priced for me. After investigating property-use clippers at the Groomers
BBS, I made the decision on this Andis clipper established and I am delighted.
It is so tranquil that my puppy all but dismissed it (apart from about his ears)
and it minimize via his really shaggy coat like butter.
This clipper manufactured easy a task that I experienced feared would be disastrous.
The comb attachments help to mix in the brief and long coat places on the Schnauzer.
I adopted the advice of the professionals and acquired an added blade so that I could swiftly swap them as they grew scorching.
kris
says:oh please.. if you would just let them chew on a good sized raw bone a couple hours every week you would not have to waste your time doing this crap. get a good sized pork/lamb bone (like a knuckle or leg..depending on your dogs size) and give them to them a hour or 2 a week. refreeze them and use them until the dogs have gotten off anything ‘good’ and won’t chew them anymore. do not leave them unattended and make sure they are big enough so your dog can not swallow them. they should be able togrind some off but not break off hunks.
SnotRag Dave
says:No bones, ever!
Karen Mitchell
says:Are you for real? Wow, I bet your dogs a healthy!!! NOT!
Hi to every body, it’s my first visit of this website;
this weblog carries amazing and in fact excellent data
in favor of visitors.
s knight
says:i am not able to brush my precious dogs teeth but i but him dental treats he steals stuff so i try to never leave anything around hes a pusher so he does get stuff sometimes but i love him and try my hardest to take great care of him he is a rescue from my daughter who rescued him but now he is my BABY 😀