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How to brush your dogs’ teeth painlessly? Here is the answer.
For new dog owners, there are a million questions that all require an answer immediately. Even if you are an experienced dog owner, maybe you have recently heard about something that is supposed to be good for your dog and wanted to search the Internet for some more details about it. Learning how to brush your dogs’ teeth can be one of these cases.
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Do I need to brush my dogs’ teeth?
Yes, absolutely. Home dental care is one of the best ways to help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy. An average adult dog has about 42 teeth that need to be cleaned regularly. By starting as early as possible, your furry companion has it easier to adjust to the brushing process without a huge fuss.
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What you should use to brush my dog’s teeth?
There are several methods you can use, however, we recommend using a moistened dog toothbrush with soft bristles. If you can’t find a specially designed pet toothbrush, you can alternatively use a child’s toothbrush or a finger toothbrush. For little details, you can use a cotton swab.
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Should you use a special toothpaste for your dog?
Let’s be honest: if we could get a toothpaste that tastes like our favourite food, we would have it. So, pet toothpaste is probably your best bet. They are often flavoured like poultry, malt and other dog-friendly varieties.
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Never use human toothpaste, baking soda or salt.
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Even though they are safe for us, cleaning agents can be very harmful for your dog or pets in general.
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Tips for brushing your dogs teeth at home
- Use a specially designed dog toothbrush or a recommended alternative.
- Never use human toothpaste, always use pet-safe toothpaste.
- Let your dog sample the toothpaste.
- Don’t force your dog into any position. Sit down next to them and calmy pet them. Talk to them and explain what you are going to do next ( it calms both of you down).
- Slowly lift their lip to expose the outside surfaces of your dog’s gums and teeth.
- Gently brush with gentle motions to clean the teeth and gums, as you would your own.
- Clean the outside cheek-facing surfaces (many pets maybe a bit touchy about their inside teeth).
- Tartar easily builds up around the back upper molars and canines, so make sure to get them.
- Always reward your dogs after the brushing.
- You should use chewing toys that actually benefit your dog. Avoid metals or other abrasive elements and look for on rubber, nylon and rawhide.
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How often should I brush my dog’s teeth at home?
Your dog’s teeth should be brushed as often as possible, ideally every day. There are numerous dental care products, pastes, solutions, brushes, chew toys and dental diets that help you provide your dog with the home dental care he deserves. You should most definitely consult your trusted veterinarian about what products may be the best suited for them.
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How often should I have my dog’s teeth professionally cleaned?
Even with great home dental care routine cleaning on your behalf, a professional should clean your adult dogs’ teeth at least once a year. This also lets veterinarians assess the general oral health of your dog. Many gum diseases, gingivitis and tartar can be prevented.
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Dental gum diseases symptoms
The earlier you can identify the symptoms of gum disease, the higher is the chance of healing and preventing worsening in your dogs’ oral health.
Please remember to always consult a veterinarian,and keep an eye out for these symptoms:
- Receding gums
- Loss of appetite
- Bad breath ( Halitosis)
- Excessive drooling
- Red and swollen gums (Gingivitis)
- Gingivitis: redness and swelling of the gums
Dental gum diseases common in dogs
A bacterial infection which develops in your dog’s mouth, also known as Canine periodontitis, can often be the root of your dogs’ teeth problems (see what I did there). It usually begins with the building up of plaque. said plaque then mixes with your dogs’ saliva to become hardened tartar. If tartar and plaque spread under the gum line it may lead to periodontal disease.
Even though it is the most preventable oral disease in canines, it is also highly under-diagnosed. Periodontal disease can lead to severe problems such as tooth loss, or even bone loss.
Dog teeth Diagram
Here is a stellar example of a dog teeth diagram. it features molars, premolars, canines, and incisors. If you are interested in more about dog teeth diagrams, check out this article.
Thoughts
If it were up to me I would tell you to go out and buy that toothbrush, chew toy, and special dental treats to ensure a high level of oral hygiene for your dog to keep healthy gums.
We all love our pets and want the best for them, so we have to do our best for them.
As mentioned above, there are several other articles you can find if you want to know more about your dogs’ teeth. How about you leave a picture of your doggos’ cutest smile in the comments? Read you next time!
