Brushing your dog’s teeth might seem like a daunting task, but it is an important part of grooming and maintaining your pup’s dental health.
In this blog post, we will answer the following questions: How often should I brush my dog’s teeth? what should I Use to Brush My Dog’s Teeth? How Should I Brush My Dog’s Teeth? And more.
It is recommended that a dog’s teeth must be brushed twice a day. Given the busy life schedule, a minimum of twice a week. Use only products made for dogs like toothbrushes and toothpaste. Start slowly and make it a likable experience for your dog. Reassure and reward the dog.
Why Should I Brush My Dog’s Teeth?
The answer is pretty simple. Brushing your dog’s teeth can help to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
Not to mention that it just feels good for both of you. Here are just five reasons why you should give brushing your pup’s chompers a try!
1) By brushing your pup’s teeth, they won’t need as much dental surgery in the future.
2) You’ll be able to avoid expenditure on dog dentistry.
3) A healthy mouth means less bad breath
4) Dental procedures may require anesthesia which can be avoided by brushing your dog’s teeth regularly.
5)Brushing your dog’s teeth can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and tartar buildup.
How Often Should I Brush My Dog’s Teeth?
Regular brushing is essential for your dog’s teeth and gums just like it is for humans. Twice a day brushing will help keep bacteria at bay and will keep your dog healthy!
However, let’s acknowledge it. We have a busy life where our own grooming goes down on the list. When you finally get home after a long day of work, you may just fall asleep like a log.
But it needs to happen twice a week at least! If not more often. And don’t forget that he’ll need dental chews and treats too! This way you can manage your dog’s oral health in a better way.
This is definitely better than not brushing your dog’s teeth at all!
When Should You Start Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth?
Dental health is just as important for your dog as it is for you! Dogs can get the dental diseases just like people can.
It’s a good idea to start brushing your dog’s teeth as early as possible – even when they are still puppies. The recommended age is 6 weeks of age.
You don’t need to begin brushing at this age, but the pup can get used to his mouth being handled and gums being massaged which will help the teeth grow well.
You can begin brushing by 12 weeks. This way your dog is habituated to the brushing regime and won’t be fussy as it grows.
What Do You Need To Brush A Dog’s Teeth?
Dog Toothbrush:
The first step is finding the right toothbrush for your pup. If they’re small enough, use a finger brush! Otherwise, it’s important to find one that fits comfortably in their mouth and isn’t too big or small.
It needs to have bristles on both sides – this way you’ll get into all of those hard-to-reach spots with ease.
Pro Tip: Do not use a toothbrush designed for humans. If have to do so, it has to be very soft and not hard.
Dog Toothpaste:
Many people assume that any toothpaste will do, but this is not the case. In order to brush a dog’s teeth properly, you need to use a toothpaste specifically made for dogs.
This type of toothpaste contains ingredients that are safe for canine consumption and can help to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
Pro Tip: Do not use toothpaste made for humans because the ingredients can be harmful to dogs. Unlike toothbrushes, toothpaste has to be a toothpaste made for dogs. More so when the toothpaste contains xylitol it can be toxic and fatal for dogs.
Dog Gum Massager (optional):
Whilst you can use a toothbrush for this purpose there are soft tissues that are available which can be worn on the finger and used to clean and massage the gums.
Dental Chew Sticks:
If you are brushing your dog’s teeth only twice or thrice a week then buying chew sticks will help you handle your dog’s dental health in a better way.
The chew sticks will help clean your dog’s teeth and provide the required calcium for the dog. It can also be used as a treat, thus serving a dual purpose.
Chew sticks become optional only when you’re brushing your dog’s teeth twice a day.
How Should You Begin Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth?
- Choose a calm place where you can sit comfortably:
You must be seated comfortably so that you can handle the dog peacefully and comfortably during the duration of the brushing. Brushing your dog’s teeth must not be an unpleasant experience for you either.
- Allow your pet to settle:
It is important that the first-time experience for your pup or the dog must be pleasant. If you are approach is calm your dog will remain calm.
A hustled approach can excite you are a dog and make it difficult for you to go through the brushing regime.
- Part the lips and start from the front teeth:
Slowly move towards the inside of the mouth. Going slow during the first few days is important so that your dog does not make a fuss while getting brushed.
- Do not brush too much on the first day:
Brushing is an entirely new thing for your dog. The first experience must be a focus on the fact that the dog becomes amenable to your handling its inner mouth and not the actual brushing.
Remember for the dog the brush is a foreign object in its mouth.
- Start with a soft cloth for a few days and then shift to a brush:
If your dog is comfortable, you can use a brush straight away. Starting with a soft cloth will help your dog feel the entire experience to be a massage and a slow introduction of the brush is a better thing to do.
In fact, wrapping the brush with a cloth for the first few days and slowly exposing the dog to the brush is a good idea.
- You can try wrapping your dog in a towel if it’s a small breed:
If your dog is a small one you can wrap it in a towel and hold it while you brush.
If your dog is a large breed you can teach it to sit down and place yourself in a position higher or equal to that of the dog’s mouth depending on your preference and then start brushing.
- Allow some gaps during the regime so your dog can relax:
Since it’s a new experience for your dog starting slow is very important and giving gaps in between would help your dog relax and learn to enjoy the brushing experience.
- Reward your dog at the end of your routine:
Reassuring your dog during the process and rewarding your dog at the end of the routine make your dog look forward to the experience.
This teaches your dog that it should cooperate with you so that it can get a reward.
- Allow your dog to smell the toothpaste and react:
Choosing a good toothpaste flavor for your dog is one of the most helpful things. Your dog may look forward to the brushing regime due to its liking for the toothpaste flavor.
Your dog me look forward to the brushing region due to its liking for the toothpaste flavor. Ascertaining whether you are dog likes the flavor or not is one of the first things that you should be doing.
If your dog likes the toothpaste flavor it is naturally going to like getting brushed.
What Should You Remember While Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth?
Focus on plaque areas:
Once your dog likes the brushing routine focus on the areas which have more plaque or yellow in color. Don’t expect the plaque to go away in one day.
Consult your veterinarian if you feel that there is no difference even after you brush for a few days. Over brushing the dog may hurt its gums or teeth.
Do Not Use Too Much Toothpaste:
Too much toothpaste is not necessary for your dog and can be strong in flavor. A frugal quantity is sufficient to brush your dog’s teeth and remove the plaque.
Even though it is toothpaste made for dogs it is safer that you don’t allow a lot of toothpaste to be swallowed by your dog.
Massage The Gums:
Do remember that massaging the gums is equally important as brushing the dog’s teeth is.
Gently massage the gums after you finish brushing the teeth so that the gums remain strong and hold the teeth firmly.
Do Not Brush If The Mouth Is Sore Or There Are Other Symptoms:
If the dog has symptoms like bleeding gums, red gums and is drooling, or has chipped teeth it is time that you take your dog to the vet before you start brushing the dog at home.
Your brushing The dog’s teeth at these times may aggravate its condition which is not good.
Cover Few Teeth At A Time:-
Focus on brushing two or three teeth in a circular motion at a time and do not try to brush to and fro to cover the entire set of teeth at a time.
This will ensure that all teeth get equal attention and will help remove the plaque better.
Do Not Use Baking Soda:
Some say that using baking soda will make your dog’s teeth white. This or any other product must not be used in your dog’s mouth and it can cause adverse reactions and even be dangerous.
Wrapping Up:
Depending on your dog’s diet, age, and level of dental tartar accumulation, you should brush their teeth either twice daily or twice every week.
If it’s twice a week, it will have to be accompanied by chews which help maintain dental health.
Dog toothpaste is the only thing that can be used to clean a dog’s teeth as they contain safe ingredients. Brush gently with circular motions and avoid damaging the gums and enamel.
With this, you can see your dog has nice pearl white teeth and good oral health. Last but not the least, don’t forget to let me know which part of this article helped you the most.
