How to Clean Your Dog's Teeth
Just like your teeth, a dog’s teeth can develop tarter, plaque and cavities over time without the proper care. Part of caring for your dog’s teeth is learning how to brush them. You will need doggie toothpaste and either a toothbrush, a washcloth or a piece of gauze to clean the teeth. Do not use your toothpaste as it is not meant to be swallowed and you can bet that anything you put in your dog’s mouth will be swallowed.
Step One: The Introduction
Wait until a time when your dog is relatively calm. Show your dog the toothpaste and toothbrush (or washcloth or gauze) and let them sniff the items. Try putting a small amount of tooth paste on the toothbrush and start brushing. You will probably not get far at first. Give your dog a chance to get used to the taste of the toothpaste and the feel of the toothpaste. This may take one session, or it may take several sessions over several days.
Step Two: The Fun Begins
Find a position and angle that allows you to easily access your dog’s teeth. Pick a side and gently move your dog’s lip out of the way and begin brushing the teeth and gums in a circular motion with a small amount of toothpaste. Brush every tooth, including the gums, moving around the mouth and adding more toothpaste as necessary. Don’t forget to clean the back of the teeth. This area will be harder to reach, but it is important to keep it clean. If your dog really dislikes having his teeth brushed, you may have to settle for cleaning half the mouth in one setting and the other half later that day or the next.
Step Three: Repeat
Some vets recommend brushing your dog’s teeth at home as often as every day, while some recommend at least twice a week. Others feel less frequent brushing is adequate. You may want to check with your own vet on the subject or research bred specific recommendations on the internet. Whatever frequency you decide to follow, you should make brushing your dog’s teeth a regular habit so that you both get used to the procedure.
A note about professional teeth cleaning: Depending on the current health of your dog’s teeth you may be able to get by with only brushing their teeth at home; if however, your dog has never had her teeth cleaned before, you may want to consider a professional cleaning. Your vet will clean and scale (scrape off tarter build-up) your dog’s teeth, getting them much cleaner than you could with just a toothbrush. One session may be enough if you follow up with regular teeth brushing at home, or your vet may recommend another round at a later date.
As with any other grooming procedure, cleaning your dog’s teeth should become easier over time, as the dog gets used to the procedure. And thanks to brushing, not only will your dog’s teeth be healthier, but you will also be rewarded with be fresher doggie breath the next time your dog decides to lick you in the face.
