Brushing your dog's teeth
Brushing our own teeth at least twice a day is very normal to us, but when it comes to brushing a dog's teeth, most people often start giggling. Very few people brush their dogs' teeth. But did you know that caring for a dog's teeth is just as important as your own dental care? Regularly brushing your dog's teeth reduces the risk of bad breath, dental problems, and the associated high veterinary costs.
A Healthy Mouth also prevents other health problems
An inflamed mouth not only causes pain and discomfort in the mouth but can also lead to other health issues. Bacteria in the gums can enter the bloodstream and cause problems elsewhere in the body, such as the kidneys or even the heart. That is why it is important to properly care for your dog's teeth and check if the mouth is healthy.
Give your dog something to chew on regularly
This doesn't always have to be a chew snack or chew bone; you can also give your four-legged friend chew toys, such as a rope or special chew wood for dogs. Most dogs start to drool when they hear the packaging of a tasty chew snack or chew bone being opened. Because chewing on a chew bone or toy often has a cleaning effect on the teeth, brushing is less necessary when you regularly give your dog something to chew on. Therefore, regularly chewing on a tasty snack or chew toy is not only fun for your dog but also for you as the owner!
Regularly check your dog's teeth
If you get your puppy used to this routine check from a young age, you can regularly inspect the teeth. Even at an older age, you can still get your four-legged friend used to a dental check. For example, start by petting your dog around the head. Then gently massage the mouth. If this goes well, you can calmly open your dog's mouth to check the teeth.
What does a healthy mouth look like?
Healthy gums are firm, smooth/intact, and have a pink color; some animals have pigment spots on their gums, so don’t be alarmed if your four-legged friend has brown or black spots on their gums.
If your dog's gums are red or bleeding, this may indicate inflammation. If this inflammation remains untreated, teeth can become loose and eventually fall out. This can cause your loyal friend pain and discomfort, and the animal may lose its appetite. Therefore, contact the veterinarian if you suspect inflammation.
During a dental check, also inspect the teeth. If the teeth are white, there is nothing wrong. If the teeth are yellow or brown, there may be plaque or tartar. Excess tartar can be removed by the veterinarian.
How to brush your dog's teeth?
Once your dog is used to the routine checks, you can start actually brushing the teeth. Proceed as follows:
- Start by lifting the head and upper lip. Do this calmly and gently.
- If the dog allows this without problems, reward it with a dog biscuit. This way, the dog associates having its mouth touched with something positive.
- Then gently stroke your finger over the teeth and molars.
- Once the dog is comfortable with this, you can put some dog toothpaste on your finger and continue stroking. The dog will get used to the taste of the dog toothpaste.
- If this also goes well, reward the dog again.
- To actually brush the teeth, you can choose between a finger toothbrush or a regular toothbrush. It depends on what your dog responds to best.
It is important to brush the teeth with a circular motion, at the transition from tooth to gum. Make sure not to forget the back molars and the outside of the canines. Ideally, you brush your dog's teeth every day, but brushing 2 or 3 times a week already reduces plaque by 90%. Always reward your dog after brushing. This way, the dog will always allow tooth brushing because it is associated with a treat.
Can you brush your dog's teeth with human toothpaste ?
Definitely not! Brushing a dog's teeth is a serious task and requires good products. Do not use human toothpaste when brushing. It usually contains fluoride, which is toxic to dogs. Using human toothpaste can make your dog very sick. Moreover, many dogs do not like the taste of regular toothpaste. Always use toothpaste specially developed for dogs.
