What You’ll Need to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
However, you can’t use human dental products for your dog—these contain ingredients that are not pet-safe. To keep your dog’s mouth healthy and safe, use pet-approved products that don’t include any harmful ingredients.
Here’s what you’ll need to brush your pup’s teeth safely and effectively.
Dog-specific toothbrushes come in many forms, from conventional-looking toothbrushes with extra-long handles and smaller bristle heads to dental ‘wipes’ and finger toothbrushes.
You can consult the VOHC’s list of approved products and test a few different options to figure out what your dog is comfortable with.
A few of the pet-specific toothbrush products available include the Vetoquinol Enzadent dual-ended toothbrush, the Pet Republique dog and cat finger toothbrush and the Virbac C.E.T. oral hygiene dog kit, which includes both a conventional toothbrush and a finger toothbrush.
Dog-Safe Toothpaste
Your dog does not know how to “spit out” their toothpaste after brushing, so extra care and consideration needs to be given to doggy toothpaste ingredients. Ingredients contained in human toothpaste can be harmful and even toxic to your dog, like fluoride or even xylitol.
Dog-safe toothpaste also tends to come in chicken, beef or peanut butter flavors that are more appealing to a dog—but mint flavor is available as well.
A few toothpaste options for dogs are Vetoquinol Vet Solutions Enzadent toothpaste, Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic toothpaste and Sentry Petrodex veterinary strength enzymatic toothpaste.
If you are not sure which one to choose, ask your veterinarian for suggestions.
Toothbrushing should be a positive experience for your dog. To help them feel comfortable with the process, you will need to desensitize them to lip/gum handling and the toothbrush and toothpaste.
Patience is essential when building trust with your pet for toothbrushing.
Move slowly and help them build a positive association with the process by rewarding them during every step. For a food-driven dog, you can give them their favorite treats. For an attention-driven dog, give them lots of praise and then extra playtime afterwards.
Here are some tips for getting your dog to accept toothbrushing as part of their daily routine.
Desensitization is most effective when started during a dog’s puppy years, but it’s not impossible to desensitize an adult dog—as long as you provide tasty or fun incentives.
To start desensitizing your dog to gum and lip handling, move their lips and gently touch their teeth as you would with a toothbrush.
As your dog gets used you touching inside their mouth, you can introduce a dental wipe or a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger in order to mimic the motions of a toothbrush.
You will want to gently touch their teeth and provide lots of praise and treats so they learn that good things happen when you are dealing with their teeth.
Dog Teeth Cleaning VancouverOnce they tolerate this, use the wipe to begin moving your finger in a circular motion over each of your dog’s teeth.
If your pet seems overwhelmed, go back a step or two to recreate the positive association.
Be patient; while this may be easy for some dogs, it’s normal for it to take weeks to months.
Even if you never make it past this step, you at least have a pet that will tolerate toothbrushing with a dental wipe. That can still be a helpful form of preventative dental maintenance.
Introducing the Dog Toothbrush
When you first introduce a toothbrush to your dog, practice giving your pet praise or a treat each time the toothbrush is brought out.
Once your dog associates their toothbrush with positive treats and praise, you can begin gently touching your pet’s mouth with the toothbrush. Keep repeating this process until they are comfortable.
Once your dog associates their toothbrush with positive treats and praise, you can begin gently touching your pet’s mouth with the toothbrush. Keep repeating this process until they are comfortable.
You can then work on building comfort with the brushing motion.
Don’t force your dog into accepting toothbrushing. Go slow with the process until they feel comfortable with each step towards toothbrushing. You want them to enjoy or at least comfortably tolerate the process, not dread that activity every day.
Introducing Dog Toothpaste
Just with the previous steps, you will need to introduce the toothpaste slowly as well.
Since dog toothpastes are made with flavors that mimic the foods that dogs already enjoy—like poultry or beef—you can start by just letting your pup taste the toothpaste from your finger.
If they like the flavor and lick it up happily, then you can bring out the toothbrush.
If your pet allows toothbrushing but hates toothpaste, go without the toothpaste. The mechanical act of toothbrushing even without toothpaste is still helpful.
How to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth
Toothbrushing is best performed daily, but every other day can be helpful. However, brushing less than every other day makes little-to-no difference in dental health.
Some pet insurance plans may include coverage for dental issues that are caused by a specific injury, like a broken tooth due to your dog chewing on a stone. It’s best to carefully check the fine print of your policy so you know exactly what’s included.
Your dog’s dental health relies on a healthy microbiome in his mouth. Like his gut microbiome, he needs beneficial bacteria to overcome pathogenic bacteria that lead to diseases like gingivitis and periodontal disease. Dog teeth cleaning can minimize bad bacteria and prevent diseases from taking hold in his body.
These are the main methods for cleaning your dog’s teeth to keep his teeth and gums healthy.
1. Dog Teeth Cleaning Without Anesthesia
Anesthesia-free dental cleaning is the regular method used on people all the time. And it can be done on dogs too. Most clinics provide this service by a veterinarian or a trained veterinary technician.
Anesthesia-free cleanings follow a four-step process:
i. An ultrasonic cleaner or dental hygiene scaling instrument cleans the teeth and the area under the gum line.
ii. Using a probe, the technician will check for problems below the gum line.
iii. The teeth are polished to remove tartar and staining.
iv. The mouth is rinsed with a natural antiseptic to clear debris from the procedure.
Can be done on older dogs with health issues that can’t withstand anesthesia
It’s a shorter procedure that can be done on pets with anxiety
An alternative for dogs with low blood pressure, low heart rate or low blood oxygen
An alternative for dogs with poor kidney or liver function or heart issues
Can be done on dogs with a history of seizures
An option for healthy pets with a small amount of tartar
About ⅓ the cost of dog teeth cleanings with anesthesia
A good option between cleanings done onder anesthesia
Not all dogs are able to have anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. Dogs have to accept being wrapped to secure them. And there are natural calming herbal remedies or Bach flower essences that can help. A technician needs to have a gentle technique to work with skittish or nervous animals.
Dog Teeth Cleaning VancouverBut if your dog is aggressive, too nervous or has severe periodontal disease, anesthesia-free cleaning may not be a good idea. If your dog has dental issues, you should be referred to a veterinary dental specialist for the care and services they can provide.
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Concerns About Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning
There is concern within the veterinary community that this type of cleaning isn’t effective. Here are some concerns:
Many veterinarians don’t recommend anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. They say that without anesthesia, you can’t get far enough below the gum line, and without x-rays you can’t always identify any deeper problems. Ideally, choose a clinic that operates in close consultation with a veterinary clinic. Then if X-rays or other services are needed, the support is there when needed.
Here’s how professional teeth cleaning differs and why it can be an option for your dog.
2. Professional Teeth Cleaning For Dogs
2. Professional Teeth Cleaning For Dogs
Most dog owners are reluctant to have teeth cleaning done under anesthesia … but for some dogs whose teeth require deeper care, professional teeth cleaning may be necessary.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is part of good oral hygiene and dental health … but it can’t provide the deep cleaning below the gum line that’s sometimes needed. A professional dental cleaning, under general anesthesia, enables a veterinary dental specialist to do a deep, 360 degree clean of every tooth and clean below the gum line. That removes plaque and tartar and the bacteria that produce toxins, proteins and free radicals. They can damage gums and lead to gingivitis, which leads to deeper dental disease and ultimately disease throughout the body.
Teeth cleaning also enables your dog’s dentist to take X-rays and evaluate the health of the jawline and tooth roots. She can also safely fill or extract teeth as needed.
If your dog does need a professional teeth cleaning, you can maintain your dog’s teeth with anesthesia-free dental cleanings after that. At that time, the technician can advise you if a more intensive cleaning or dental care is needed beyond their scope.
The Importance of a Veterinary Dental Specialist
A veterinarian with a dental specialty, DAVDC (Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College), should perform your dog’s oral exams and teeth cleaning. Your medical doctor wouldn’t perform your dental work … and the roles of veterinarians and veterinary dental specialists are not interchangeable either. She has the training to look for specific issues and specializes in your dog’s dental health.
RELATED: Natural Dental Care and Dog Teeth Cleaning …
The Importance of Professional Dog Teeth Cleaning
Just like a physical checkup, dog teeth cleaning can be an option to help improve your dog’s overall health. Here’s how.
