Top Tips on how to brush your dog’s teeth
- Categories - Articles
By Bryony Van Niekerk
The title of this article probably has most of you really impressed and saying things like; ‘oh wow, you brush your dog’s teeth, what a great mom to have figured it all out’ But no, I do not have it all figured out (but I am still a good pet mom). I had the best of intentions when I got the new additions. I was determined to get them started early as puppies, desensitize them to me fiddling in their mouths. I even bought the toothbrushes and pet toothpaste. They were going to have perfect oral hygiene. Well, I can confirm that these intentions lasted about as long as a slab of chocolate in my house. With Ollie, I never even got the toothbrush near his mouth. He took one whiff of the pet toothpaste and ran away like it electrocuted him. From then on, just the sight of the toothbrush had him heading for the hills. Following this abysmal fail, I didn’t even bother trying with Spencer.
I definitely should have tried harder and persevered though because oral hygiene is extremely important and one area most of us ignore when it comes to our pets. By the age 3, over 80 percent of dogs have some sort of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease starts out as plaque buildup, which eventually hardens into tartar. This tartar can have a serious knock-on effect causing broken/loose teeth, bad breath and gum disease all of which is quite painful. What most people don’t realise is that leaving dental disease unchecked can result in organ damage. Bacteria in the plaque enters the bloodstream and wreaks havoc on the heart, kidneys and liver especially in older dogs whose organs may already be under strain.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. No matter the age of your dogs, it is never too late to start. And doing something is always better than doing nothing. The goal isn’t to become the Martha Stewart of canine oral hygiene but rather to start small and stay consistent.
Tips:
- TOUCH THEIR FACE
So where do you even begin when the mere scent of pet toothpaste has your dog acting like you’ve offered them poison? The trick is to start small. Get your dog used to you touching their face- just gentle strokes around the cheeks, chin and muzzle. While doing this, offer lots of encouragement, praise and treats. Then move on to lifting the lips, getting a good look at their (hopefully not too brown) teeth. Make sure you don’t make a big deal out of this. Anytime your dog pulls their head away, take a step back and try again a bit later. You want them to be comfortable with this step before you move on to the next.
USE YOUR FINGER
Start off using your finger to get your dog used to the idea and motion of brushing. Gently rub along the gumline and keep the sessions short and sweet. I found these amazing teeth finger pads that you slip over your finger. Ollie loves them and they do actually remove some of the plaque. They’re also far less intimidating than a toothbrush, which makes them perfect for beginners (both canine and human).
- INTRODUCE THE TOOTHBRUSH
If you and your dog have made it this far, you can now introduce the dreaded toothbrush and paste. Many dogs hate the smell of toothpaste (as Ollie and I so traumatically discovered), so try letting them lick a tiny bit off your finger first. If they like it, great. If not, try different flavours such as chicken, beef or mint until you find the one that your dog likes. And remember, the toothbrush does not need to go all the way into the back of their mouth on day one. Just touch it to a few front teeth, praise and treat them and stop there always keeping the interactions positive. Go one tooth further the next day and so on. The progress might be slow but it is still progress.
- TRY DENTAL CHEWS
If your dog is still giving you “over my dead body” energy when you whip out the toothbrush, dental chews can be a big help. They don’t replace brushing (sadly), but they do reduce plaque, freshen breath and make your dog feel like they’ve won the jackpot. Choose reputable brands, stick to appropriate sizes, and choose ones that actually require chewing; inhale-in-one-bite does not count as dental care. There are also water additives designed to reduce plaque and tartar while freshening breath. You just pour a small amount into their water bowl and that’s it. This is definitely not a miracle cure, but it may just help that small bit if you are really struggling.
- INVEST IN DENTAL TOYS
Some dog toys are designed to clean a dog’s teeth. Normal chewing actions can help gently remove plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and along the gumline. When selecting a dental toy opt for natural, durable materials like rubber and latex and make sure they contain nubs or ridges.
- PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
Even if you brush your dog’s teeth every day, they may still need a professional clean at the vet from time to time. Brushing can do wonders, but it only handles the surface gunk- it can’t get to the stubborn tartar hiding under the gumline where the real trouble brews. In fact, if your dog’s teeth have never been cleaned before, I’d actually recommend starting here. A professional clean gives your dog a “fresh start” by removing years of plaque and tartar in one go. Once everything is polished, sparkly, and back to factory settings, you can then start your at-home brushing routine to maintain the results. It’s much easier (and far more pleasant) to keep clean teeth clean than to try and save ones already in crisis mode.
