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Dog teeth brushing – How and Why should you brush your dog’s teeth?

By Elma | Last Updated May 11, 2020

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As a good pet owner, you spend so much money making sure your dog is healthy. You take him to the vet, you make sure he gets regular exercise, and you give him high quality food.  But what about his teeth?  Is Dog teeth brushing important? Are you doing everything you can to make sure your dog’s oral hygiene is taken care of? Regular dental care is as important to your dog, as it is to you. While there are dog treats that you can buy that help to keep your dog’s teeth clean and his breath fresh, nothing beats regular tooth brushing.

The oral hygiene of your dog is very important, but it is so often neglected.  It’s best to start brushing your pet’s teeth when he is a puppy, but if you haven’t started yet, don’t worry.  It’s never too late to start.  It will take some time for your dog to get comfortable with you working with his mouth.  Be patient. Like any other training you’ve done with your dog, this will take time, love and don’t forget the rewards.

Dog teeth brushing

It’s all a matter of routine.  Most people brush their teeth in the morning and in the evening.  Just remember to include your dog’s teeth in the routine.  And when you’re all done, remember to give your pet a reward.  He’ll soon grow to love the brushing.  Or at the very least he’ll tolerate it, but he’ll love the treat after it!

Don’t forget to buy a doggy tooth brush.  People tooth brushes are not made to fit a dog’s mouth comfortably and may cause damage.  You can opt for the kind that slips over your finger, but be aware, if you have a small dog, your finger may be too large for his mouth.

Contents

  • 1 Why Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
  • 2 How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
  • 3 How to make dog toothpaste at home?

Why Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?

Just like humans, dogs need the same dental care that we do. While it’s true that dogs don’t eat the same sugary and enamel eroding diet as humans, they still need their teeth taken care of.   You want to brush your dog’s teeth to prevent plaque, tartar and calculus from building up. Like humans, they can suffer from gingivitis (Early stage Periodontal disease) and gum disease.

If your dog has a sore paw, you can tell because he’ll favor it.  But if a dog has a tooth ache, there isn’t any way to tell.  He probably won’t stop eating, and unfortunately the problem can go from bad to worse.  But if you’re brushing your dog’s teeth, you’ll be able to see if there are any problems in his mouth, including broken or cracked teeth, or other problems.  Left untreated, dental problems in your dog can lead to gum disease.  Ongoing infections can lead to liver, kidney and heart problems in your dog.

dog

How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

Introduce your dog to tooth brushing in phases.  You don’t want to try and do too much at once. Spend a little bit of time letting your pet get used to you handling his mouth.  Try putting a little peanut butter on your finger and let him lick it off while you gently rub his teeth and gums.  Try doing this for a few days and allow him to get used to you having your hands on his muzzle and in his mouth.  Then try using a little bit of toothpaste on your finger.  After your pet is used to this, it’s time to introduce the toothbrush.

Begin by putting a little bit of toothpaste on the brush and letting him lick it off.  Give him a chance to get familiar with both the toothpaste and the brush.  From there, try brushing gently for a few seconds.  You’re going to want to repeat this process for several weeks to give your pup a chance to get used to the process.

When you and your dog are both confident in the process it’s time to start really bushing. Carefully raise your dog’s lips to expose the teeth and the gums.  Carefully and gently begin brushing from the gum line up to the tip of the tooth.  Don’t try opening your dog’s mouth.  This could cause him to panic and make tooth brushing traumatic for both him and you. When you brush, make sure you brush in little circles, exerting gentle pressure.

As with people, pets can often have problems in the back teeth and in their upper teeth.  Make sure to get them brushed as well.  Don’t just focus on the front teeth!

How to make dog toothpaste at home?

Chances are, your dog isn’t going to be able to rinse and spit.  That means that human toothpaste is off limits for Fido.  Human toothpaste contains fluorides and other cleaners that aren’t meant to be swallowed.  This means you’ll need to get toothpaste specifically made for pets.  Or better still, it’s something you can make at home.

Homemade dog toothpaste is easy to make.  They don’t take long to prepare and can be made with ingredients that are easy to find.  You may already have them at home.  They can be stored in the refrigerator for easy access. What’s more, because you’re making them at home, you know every ingredient that is in there!

dog toothpaste

You can scour the internet and find many different recipes for doggie toothpaste.  Here are a few to get you started on your way to healthy dog oral hygiene.

Turmeric Paste

Ingredients:

Coconut Oil

Turmeric

Kelp

Parsley Flakes

Make sure the coconut oil is soft and pliable.  Mix in the turmeric, which acts as a natural whitener for Spot’s teeth.  Add in the kelp and the parsley flakes.  The kelp is a natural abrasive to remove plaque, and the parsley helps to keep your dog’s breath fresh.  Store in the refrigerator.

turmeric paste

Beefy Paste

Ingredients:

Coconut Oil

Beef Bullion

Baking Soda

Cinnamon

Melt a bullion cube in a little bit of water.  Stir in the backing soda which acts as a natural abrasive to remove the plaque and a whitener.  Add in the cinnamon which will help to make Rover’s breath nice and fresh.  Finally add the coconut oil and mix all together well.  Make sure to label this one.  The cinnamon makes it smell like a yummy treat, but it probably won’t taste to good to the human members of your family.

Don’t be afraid to experiment on your own and come up with a flavor your dog loves.  It’s simple to mix and match ingredients and come up with your own recipe.  Remember to start with coconut oil as a base.  Add something like baking soda to act as an abrasive to break down the plaque.  Now add the flavorings…bullion cubes (chicken or beef), cinnamon, tea tree oil, mint or cloves.  They add flavor and help to keep your pet’s breath smelling nice and fresh.

own recipe

While it’s not something you normally think about as a pet owner, oral hygiene is just as important as vet check ups and grooming for your dog.  If you opt for professional grooming, they’ll probably take care of your pet’s teeth as well. But you will be missing out on a a great opportunity for bonding with  your dog and saving a lot of money at the same time. You can just pickup a good pair of dog clippers and some brushes etc  still not sure  how to  just visit  our  guide to best dog clippers at https://shihtzuexpert.com/best-clippers-for-shih-tzu/

Now you have strategies to take on the task in between grooming.  If regular tooth brushing hasn’t been a part of your daily dog routine, it will take a while to make your pet feel comfortable and secure, but the time spent is well worth it.

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