Dog Teeth Brushing Tips - How To Brush Your Dog's Teeth Yourself
Dog teeth must be kept in good condition. That is, if you want your dog to live a long, healthy life!
Why? Because things like gum disease and tooth decay are often difficult to see, and a dog's general health is directly influenced by how healthy his teeth and gums are. Once infection sets in, it can sometimes be difficult to treat and could compromise your dog's health in other ways.
American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80% of dogs show signs of oral disease by age 3. Source
There are 2 ways to maintain healthy dog teeth:
- Brush your dog's teeth yourself (using simple dog teeth brushing tools).
- Have your dog's teeth cleaned by a veterinarian (using professional equipment to remove set-in stains).
A professional dog teeth cleaning isn't cheap. So it's in your best interest to do it yourself -- regularly.
In between dog teeth brushings (or cleanings), you can keep your dog's teeth clean by giving him doggy chew toys, bones, or healthy dog treats.
When your dog bites and chews on these things, it actually removes plaque from his teeth and gums.
Your best bet is to start brushing your dog's teeth when he's still a puppy. Begin right after you bring your puppy home. That way, he will be used to the process and it will be expected from Day One that teeth brushing is a normal activity around here and it's done quite a lot. The dogs who don't mind having their teeth brushed are those who have had them brushed since puppyhood.
If you've never brushed your dog's teeth before and you're starting for the first time now, just go slow and be patient with your dog. Not all dogs like to have their teeth brushed. My dogs fall into that category. My dogs are fine if you allow them to lick the toothpaste off, but once you try to lift up their gums to brush their teeth, it's a whole other story.
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to brush your dog's teeth:
- Put toothpaste on your finger and allow the dog to lick some of it off.
- Start with 1 tooth. Put toothpaste on the toothbrush and rub in a little toothpaste where the tooth meets the gum line.
- Do not brush your dog's teeth like you brush your own teeth. Instead, just smear the toothpaste on your dog's tooth -- 1 tooth at a time. Dog toothpaste is made to dissolve the plaque without much rubbing or scrubbing.
- If the first tooth went well, then try the same thing on another tooth. Until your dog gets used to this process, you may need to do only a few teeth at a time -- in one sitting.
This video demonstrates how to properly brush your dog's teeth:
Still unsure about brushing your dog's teeth? Here is another great instructional video showing how to brush your dog's teeth.
