Your dog’s teeth cleaning should be included in your dog’s hygiene. It is not just bathing them and cleaning their fur often, but their teeth must be included in their cleansing routine. Odor can develop if you leave your dog’s teeth uncleaned for a long time.
With every dog’s meal, there are food particles left on their teeth and gums. It can start plaque to form and will cause an offending smell to your dog’s mouth.
Importance of dental care for your dogs
Preventing Bad Breath
This is the most obvious advantage you will get when your pooch’s teeth are cleaned. Your dog will have not just clean teeth but will also have a pleasant smelling breath. When you get a kiss from your dog, you will not get a whiff of that offensive oral smell.
When there is plaques or bacteria buildup in their mouth, this causes a foul smell, and you don’t want this for your dog.
Avoiding Dental Disease
You only want what’s best for your dog, and you don’t want them to feel any discomfort or pain.
Gingivitis and periodontal disease are also prevalent among canines, and this causes inflammation and gum infection. When the gums are inflamed and infected, this may lead to tooth loss as the gums recede from the teeth.
Preventing loss of teeth
The structure of your dog’s teeth can weaken, and this will lead to infection, specifically when it is not cleaned and properly cared for. The infection will lead to loosening of the teeth and falling out. It will be hard for your dog to chew or feed when their tooth becomes incomplete.
They may also lead to other health issues if they cannot chew properly.
Avoiding painful teeth episodes
Dental diseases can be painful to your dogs. It will be as painful to them the same way it is painful to humans. Dogs use their teeth to chew on their food and if they are in pain because of their worsening oral health, then this is going to be a problem.
You will see your dog not being himself and even having mood changes. They may also show aggression or not wanting to be bothered by anyone. Your dog may also do not want to do their daily activities.
Sometimes the nearest sign is their refusal to eat, and this needs an immediate check-up by their vet.
Avoiding future enormous expenses
Getting them checked regularly for any issues will save you from future expenses. When there is a plaque buildup, the vet will notice it before it even gets out of control. Having the vet clean the dog’s teeth and making sure there are no starting infections or inflammation in your dog will also give you peace of mind.
How do you clean your dog’s teeth?
Tooth Brush
It may be hard at first to brush your dog’s teeth cause they will not welcome the idea of you scrubbing their teeth no matter how gentle you do it. You may start brushing your dog’s teeth as early so they will get used to the idea.
You also need to handle their mouth gently so they will not feel restrained or crowded if you suddenly grip their mouths open. Start by rubbing their gum and help them get familiar with your touch. It may take a few tries before you can even use the toothbrush.
Let your dog taste the toothpaste first, so they will be familiar with it, and they may look forward to tasting it while brushing. You need the required toothpaste for dogs and not the kind that humans used. Dog toothpaste will have ingredients that are specific for dogs and are safe for them. Getting human toothpaste will be toxic to pets because of the ingredient Xylitol, which can cause blood sugar drops in your pooch.
There is dog toothpaste with flavors such as peanut butter and chicken, beef, and even vanilla. The toothbrush will also have sizes, and there is also one type you can place on your fingertip.
Tooth Wipes for Dogs
Tooth wipes are quick and easy to use. They may use this in-between brushing. Some dog owners will brush their dog’s teeth for a few days a week and alternate it with tooth wipes. Some dog owners prefer to use just tooth wipes instead of using a dog toothbrush.
Using these wipes will help remove plaque and works just like a toothbrush, however, this cannot get in between the teeth’s small spaces.
Tooth wipes are manageable, and some dogs prefer this more than the use of a toothbrush.
Dog Dental Spray
If you don’t have time to brush your dog’s teeth, the dental spray is another way to take care of their dental health. The spray is also a brilliant solution as it has ingredients to control tartar and plaque buildup. It will also help control the smell and kills bacteria found in your dog’s mouth.
You only need a few spritzes daily to have your dog’s breath smelling fresh all day. There is a half-hour interval before and after spraying to ensure effectiveness.
Dog Chews and Dental Treats
There are dental treats used to also improve the dog’s dental health. It removes plaque buildup and, at the same time, removes the offensive oral smell of your dog. What is good about dental treats is the flavors available that you can choose from, and from there, you can decide which dental treat your dog prefers.
Dog chews are not like toothbrushes or dental wipes but also have teeth cleaning attributes. Chews will benefit your dog’s oral health as it scrapes and scrubs on plaques on your dog’s teeth, removing them in the process. Check what your vet will recommend besides rawhide chews, goodie bone, and chew strips. You may also find nylon dog chew toys helpful, as well as rubber chew toys.
Dog Teeth Cleaning with the help of a Vet.
If you have no patience or the know-how, you may opt to have a professional do the dental cleaning. It is also ideal to have a yearly check-up or even a visit to the vet for an oral check-up for some dog breeds.
Vets will know how to treat dental problems and will catch issues early on. They will also have the necessary equipment to do the cleaning, check-up, and removal of plaques.
Some vets will put your dogs under anesthesia, so the process will be fast and safe. They will also evaluate your dog’s overall oral health with the use of x-rays.
If there are any loose or even cracked teeth, the vet will be able to check moreover.
Dog Dental Water Additives
This water additive is a formula administered through your dog’s drinking water daily. The formula can help clean their mouth, as if it is a mouthwash, just like what humans usually use.
The product can help keep the dog’s teeth and gums healthy although it can never be as effective as brushing, it can have its advantages.
Dog water additives can help lessen bad breath in your dog and kill some bacteria present in their mouth. The ingredients used in dog water additives are considered dog-friendly and will not have any harmful effects.
Here are some references for you when you need to purchase your dog’s teeth cleaning necessities
This toothpaste has a peanut butter flavor. Its ingredients include sorbitol, glycerin, mushroom extract, parsley seed oil, and other known dog-friendly components. Petrodex toothpaste is all-natural but can help remove plaque from your dog’s teeth. It also prevented Tartar buildup while giving your dog that pleasant mouth smell.
This dog toothpaste is formulated with aloe, grapefruit, baking soda, neem oil, Pectin with natural flavors. All components are considered dog-friendly and will bring such effectiveness to your dog’s teeth cleaning requirements.
Tartar and Plaques easily break apart and slowly cleans away with the help of this natural dog toothpaste. The natural flavor also whitens your dog’s teeth and freshens their oral smell.
Arm and Hammer for Pets Tartar Control Kit for Dogs
This dental kit for your pooch is effective and affordable. It has baking soda that is considered helpful in teeth cleaning. The kit includes a finger toothbrush and a full toothbrush that you can use depending on your dog’s preference.
Brushing twice or thrice a week will prevent any tartar and plaque buildup and will provide your dog with a whiter set of teeth and a fresh-smelling mouth.
Having this in your armor can help you control your dog’s dental hygiene.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Liquid Tartar Remover
It is a water additive that will not just help your dog’s teeth but will keep their mouth smelling fresh all the time. You will no longer worry about plaque and tartar buildup for your dog cause this will be prevented.
It is easy to use, and you will add it to their water. All you need to do is follow the instructions on the measurement and how much you should add to their water.
Pet MD Dog Breath Freshener Dental Wipes
Another alternative to brushing your dog’s teeth. The Pet MD Dental Wipes will give your dog a firm set of teeth, fresh breath, and healthy gums. Using these dental wipes can remove plaques and prevent gingivitis.
This product is easy to use, quick but effective. There are flavors to choose from depending on what your dog will favor.
Brushing your dog’s teeth may not be difficult now if you have this product as an option.
Sonnyridge Dog Dental Spray Tartar Remover
It is an easier option compared to brushing. You may need to get your dog used to the spray. This product will help reduce bad breath and dental disease in your dog.
Each spray prevented gum disease, which can also show stronger teeth for your dogs.
How often should you clean your dog’s teeth?
It is ideal to at least brush your dog’s teeth two or four times per week. It can prevent serious dental disease. Some pet owners even brush their dog’s teeth daily since they can acclimate their dog early with tooth brushing.
Others alternate their cleaning technique with water additive or dental spray. There are also dental chews and tooth wipes that are also usable.
However, it may be helpful to clean their teeth every meal as this will prevent any food particles from clinging to the teeth and gums.
Some dogs may cry murder if you even try to poke their mouth with the toothbrush, and become such an unpleasant experience not just for them but for their owner as well. This is the reason there are other alternatives, and then there is the professional cleaning that you can count on.
A professional cleaning may not be as often, but you need to bring your dog to the vet for teeth cleaning at least twice per year. This will also let the vet inspect your dog’s oral health. Having your dog’s teeth cleaned by a professional is a tremendous help, but the problem ensues in between visits to the vet.
There should be a cleaning routine that dog owners should follow to ensure their dog’s dental health.
What is the importance of dental chews to your dog’s oral hygiene?
Dental chews can remove plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth. Dogs will chew no matter their age unless they no longer have teeth to do the chewing. There are available dental chews for your dogs, but you should make sure it is not harmful to their health.
Make sure that the dental chews you are providing are considered safe by the vet. Here are some samples of dental chews that have approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Helps control tartar and plaque buildup. This dental chew is high in protein while being low in fat content. It is quickly digestible by your dogs and also has a delicious taste that dogs will enjoy.
Using this as an alternative to tooth brushing will provide your dog a clean, fresh breath and good oral health.
This dental chew for your dog has a vegetable flavor, and it acts to reduce plaque and tartar. All ingredients are pet-friendly. It also doubly freshens your dog’s breath.
While your dog enjoys chewing on these chewable, the action slowly dislodges plaque and removes it from their teeth safely. The ingredient in this dental chew also further protects your dog’s teeth from acquiring an unpleasant smell and keeps it safe from tartar and plaques.
Your dog will have fun chewing on these dental chews while making sure they will have a clean and fresh set of teeth.
Freshens dog’s breath cleans their teeth and prevents plaque and tartar buildup. Pedigree Dentastix also has flavors to choose from and which your dog will surely enjoy.
Giving them a daily treat of this dental chew will provide the oral care they require and provide the highest benefits.
Chew Sticks and Chew Toys
It can be made of rubber, while some are of the edible form. Your dog can chew the edible form and will be beneficial to their dental health as well. This also eases boredom, anxiety, and stress. However, you have to make sure that they are not eating more than they can chew. Some dogs may be too excited to feed on their chew sticks or chew bones and may ingest too large amounts.
What you should not give your dogs as chews
You may think that your dog, being a large breed, will have a powerful bite and will have chewing power. This is not always the case and you may find yourself rushing your pooch to the vet in the middle of the night because of pieces of chew toys that have lodged to their mouth or pierced their gums. Any chew toys that are too tough or too hard when you press it may not be ideal for your pet. Below are some samples of chews you must never give to your dog.
Bully Sticks
Tough ball or bull penises can fracture your dog’s teeth, especially if given to smaller dog breeds. There are also studies made that surprisingly show that bully sticks are found with bacteria from Staphylococcus Aureus, E. Coli to Clostridium difficile. Not to mention the calorie content of these sticks is considerably high.
Sticks
Sticks may be the most common thing to give your dog for their fetching activity. However, sticks can splinter and break into pieces while your dog is chewing on them. Such can wound their eyes, mouth and gums, and even their stomach. Although sticks are free, getting them to the vet and having them treated will cost you.
Deer Antlers
It can provide your dog some hours of chewing enjoyment since deer antlers are harder and tougher compared to bones. But in reality, the tips of the antlers can be too sharp and can puncture your dog’s gum, and can even break your dog’s teeth. It can cause a lot of injuries to your pooch and it is smart to take the warnings of the vets to refrain from giving your pet deer antlers.
Bones
Bones, when chewed by dogs, can also crack and splinter in the process. Once the dog swallows part of the bones, it can also cause further problems if it lodges or pierces part of its stomach. Tooth fracture is also not uncommon when dogs chew bones.
What to do if your dog doesn’t want its teeth cleaned?
If tooth brushing is out of the question, there are other ways to get your dog’s mouth cleaned. It may not be as difficult as brushing it, but it will still be as effective.
Get some treats ready as you slowly train them, as you help them get used to having their mouth touched.
Touch their lips or their mouth slowly while giving some praise. When they are allowing you to touch their mouth, give them a treat. Try to do this twice or thrice a day till they are cooperating with you.
It should be a rewarding experience for them so they will relate the mouth touching to treats.
Next, you need to get a clean cloth or a gauze that you can use to rub their teeth gently. Reward your dog once they allow you to use the gauze to rub their teeth. Observe their reaction, and if everything is as usual, slowly dampen the gauze with lukewarm water and slowly touch your dog’s teeth with it lightly.
Once your dog graduated to having their teeth touched with a damp cloth or gauze, you may now use it with a dog toothpaste and let them taste the flavored toothpaste. Do not immediately rub and scrub their entire teeth with the damp cloth and dog toothpaste. Let your dog get used to the taste. Once they are relaxed and are allowing you to slowly scrub their teeth, you can finish the entire process. It is ideal to get toothpaste with a pleasant flavor such as peanut butter, or even chicken flavor as this will leave a delightful taste in their mouth.
You may also use dental wipes to clean your dog’s mouth, but it should also be handled with the same caution.
The key is praising, rewarding, and ensuring that each step is a comfortable process and there is nothing for them to be fearful about. Do not yell or scold your dog when they act out, or it will be a frightful and terrible experience. Be as gentle and understanding, as if you are facing a child, cause for a dog, everything is always a fresh experience.
