Like people, dogs also need to have their teeth cleaned. Canine teeth need regular brushing to prevent cavity build-up and tooth decay. More importantly, taking care of your dog’s teeth is a great way to protect your dog from diseases or infections that may start from the build-up of bacteria in the mouth.
Brushing your dog’s teeth does not need to be an unpleasant experience. Here are tips on how to make brushing time easy and enjoyable.
Use a toothpaste for dogs. Ask your vet for a recommended brand of doggy toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste as some ingredients may be too strong for dogs and unsafe to swallow. Also, dog's would never like the mint flavor of toothpastes people use. Introduce the new taste. Put a small amount of the doggy toothpaste on your finger and let your dog get accustomed to the taste of this new treat. Do this for a few days. You may need to experiment on different flavours of toothpastes for dogs until find out the flavor your pooch likes best. Remember, it’s important that your dog enjoys the taste of the toothpaste to make brushing time fun and easy.
Introduce the brush. Once your dog is used to the taste, you can now introduce the toothbrush. Use a toothbrush for dogs as it is uniquely designed for canine teeth. Put a bit of toothpaste on the brush and let your dog investigate it first until he get’s used to it.
Use a toothbrush for dogs. After the introduction, use the doggy toothbrush to gently clean his teeth and mouth. Doggie toothbrushes have extra-soft bristles and long handles which are perfect for cleaning canine teeth. At first, just brush the front teeth or the ones within easy reach. Make the brushing session short as you don’t want him to get upset.
Time to brush. As your dog gets used to the activity, you can start spending a few extra minutes brushing the teeth to make sure that his mouth gets thoroughly cleaned. Make sure that the toothpaste sticks between the bristles of the brush to keep the paste from falling off. Gently brush one tooth at a time, brush the gums until all parts of the mouth has been brushed.
Make tooth brushing a routine so your dog would get used to the habit. Regular brushing should be done at least once a week. It’s best to brush your dog’s teeth when he/she feels a bit sleepy or tired.Dental chews and treats should not replace regular brushing. Dental kibble or chews may help prevent cavity build-up but brushing is still the best way to clean the bacteria in the mouth.
Don't skip brushing. If you don’t have time to brush your dog’s teeth, have someone else do the job. If no one in the house can do this important task, better take him to a pet groomer.
Make tooth brushing time a bonding time. While brushing your dog’s teeth, talk to him in a calm voice and give lots of praises if he’s behaved well.
Reward him with his favorite treat. Rewarding your dog after brushing will make him remember that brushing time isn't a bad time after all.
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