Brush your dog's teeth
We take brushing our own teeth at least twice a day for granted, but when it comes to brushing a dog’s teeth, most people often start to giggle. Very few people brush their dogs’ teeth. But did you know that caring for a dog’s teeth is just as important as caring for your own? Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth reduces the risk of, among other things, bad breath, dental problems, and the associated high veterinary costs.
A healthy set of teeth also prevents other health problems
Inflamed teeth and gums do not only cause pain and discomfort in the mouth; they can also lead to other health problems. Bacteria in the gums can enter the bloodstream and cause problems elsewhere in the body, for example in the kidneys or even the heart. That is why it is important to care for your dog’s teeth properly and check that they are healthy.
Give your dog something to chew regularly
This does not always have to be a chew snack or chew bone; you can also give your four-legged friend a chew toy, such as a rope or special chew wood for dogs. Most dogs start drooling as soon as they hear the package containing a tasty chew snack or chew bone being opened. Because chewing on a chew bone or toy often has a cleansing effect on the teeth, brushing is needed less frequently when you regularly give your dog something to chew. So regularly chewing on a tasty snack or chew toy is not only fun for your dog, but also for you as an owner!
Check your dog’s teeth regularly
If you get your puppy used to this routine examination from an early age, you can check its teeth regularly. Even at a later age, you can still get your four-legged friend used to dental checks. For example, begin by stroking your dog around the head. Then gently massage the mouth. If this goes well, calmly open your dog’s mouth to check the teeth.
What does a healthy set of teeth look like?
Healthy gums are firm, even and intact, and pink in color; some animals have pigmented spots on their gums, so do not be alarmed if your four-legged friend has brown or black spots on its gums, for example.
If your dog’s gums are red or bleeding, this may indicate inflammation. If this inflammation remains untreated, teeth can become loose and eventually even fall out. This can cause your loyal four-legged friend pain and discomfort, and the animal may lose its appetite. Therefore, contact the veterinarian if you suspect that there is inflammation.
Also check the teeth during a dental examination. If the teeth are white, there is nothing to worry about. Are the teeth yellow or brown? This may indicate plaque or tartar. Excess tartar can be removed by the veterinarian.
How to brush a dog’s teeth?
Once your dog is used to the routine examinations, you can start actually brushing its teeth. Proceed as follows:
- Begin by lifting the head and upper lip. Do this calmly and carefully
- If the dog allows this without any problems, reward it with a dog biscuit. This helps the dog associate having its mouth touched with something positive.
- Then gently run your finger over the teeth and molars.
- As soon as the dog is comfortable with this, put some dog toothpaste on your finger and continue rubbing. This allows the dog to become familiar with the taste of the dog toothpaste.
- Is this going well too? Reward the dog again.
- To actually brush the teeth, you can choose between a finger toothbrush and a regular toothbrush. It depends on what your dog responds to best
It is important to brush the teeth using a circular motion, along the gum line. Make sure not to forget the back molars and the outer surfaces of the canine teeth. Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth every day, but brushing two or three times a week already reduces the amount of plaque by 90%. Always make sure to reward your dog when brushing is finished. This way, the animal will always allow its teeth to be brushed because it associates the process with something tasty.
Can you brush your dog’s teeth with human toothpaste?
Absolutely not! Brushing a dog’s teeth is a serious task, and the right products should be purchased. Do not use human toothpaste when brushing. It often contains fluoride, which is toxic to dogs. If you use human toothpaste, your dog can become very ill. In addition, many dogs do not like the taste of regular toothpaste. Therefore, always use toothpaste specially developed for dogs.
