Have you ever smelled your dog’s breath? Does it stink? As an owner, you need to make sure that you try your best to take care of your dog’s health, including his oral hygiene. Brushing his teeth regularly is one of the ways to maintain his oral hygiene.
Do you know that it is estimated that 2/3 of dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease? It starts with gingivitis caused by the plaque and often continues to involve the bony tooth sockets. If it is left untreated, it may lead to painful tooth loss. Make sure to read these how to properly clean your dog’s teeth too!
It is ideal to brush your dog’s teeth at least 2 times a day. For many dogs, once brushing teeth is part of his daily routine, then he will begin to expect and enjoy it. The experience of brushing teeth should be made positive for your dog.
You can do this by praising your dog throughout the whole procedure. For the best results, you should follow these following steps. Let’s get through these steps of brushing your dog’s teeth.
1. Choose the best time for teeth brushing
Try to choose a calm and quiet time to start brushing. Brush your dog’s teeth when he is calm and relaxed. Remember that your goal is to set a routine. Even when your dog’s teeth are healthy, three days a week to brush his teeth can make a difference.
2. Buy a dog toothbrush
Dog toothbrush is available at pet stores or online pet supply outlets. It is totally different with ours, human’s toothbrush. It commonly has a longer, curved handle that makes it easy to reach the back teeth. For the toothpaste, make sure it is specifically for dogs. Human toothpaste is not recommended as it may have ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
3. Assume the position
Choose the best spot for brushing your dog’s teeth. Choose a spot that is comfortable for your dog. Avoid standing above your dog, holding him down or taking a threatening stance. Instead, try to kneel or sit down in front of or to the side of him.
4. Touch the teeth and gums without the brush
Start by rubbing your finger with the surface of your dog’s teeth, using back-and-forth motion. Try to focus on the area where the gum touches the tooth surface. Use light pressure.
5. Toothpaste testing
After being successful with rubbing the finger with the gums and teeth, try to put some dog toothpaste on your fingertip. Let your dog lick the toothpaste from your fingertip. This is done to make him get used to the texture and taste. If he refuses to lick more after the initial taste, then you should try different flavor.
6. Try the toothbrush
After testing the toothpaste, then you can try testing the toothbrush. When your dog is used to you opening and touching his mouth, then you can start using the toothpaste and toothbrush together. Lift his upper lip and angle the bristles so they reach the gum line. Try placing them at a 45-degree angle against the teeth. It will help the bristles massage the gum line and clean the plaque.
7. Use circular motion
When you start brushing, brush in small circles on top and bottom on each side. Some bleeding may occur, but it is ok. When the bleeding is ongoing or heavy, it may happen because you brush too hard, or it also may be a sign of gum disease.
8. Focus on the plaque
You can brush a few teeth at once, working up to more each day. If your dog resists at first, then you can start on the outsides of the canine and back teeth, where plaque is found. If you can get the inside part, it will be great. However, if you can’t, don’t distress too much.
9. Praise him
When you’ve done brushing his teeth, make sure to praise and reward him. You can give his favorite treat and extra attention. Certain chews and treats are helpful to fight plaque build up. Don’t forget to schedule regular professional dental cleanings as well.
Regarding to dog treats, you may also want to know the ways on how to phase out treats when dog training.
After following all those steps, let’s get to know the benefits of brushing your dog’s teeth. Here are the benefits of brushing teeth for dog:
- Prevent build up of plaque and tartar – plaque is a sticky substance on your dog’s teeth after eating. It becomes tartar when it is mixed with your dog’s saliva and bacteria. If it is left untreated, it may lead to periodontal diseases which cause the gums to pull away from the teeth. Try these ways on how to clean tartar off from your dog’s teeth. They are simple and easy!
- Prevent dental disease – dental diseases may cause serious health problems for your dog. Ignoring dental issues may cause serious health complications, such as liver and kidney problems. Dogs are exposed to several fatal diseases, such as mentioned in unknown but deadly dog diseases every dog owner should know.
If you would like to treat your dog’s teeth, you may also want to read tips on taking care of dog’s teeth.