How to Take Care of You Dog Teeth: 3 Effective Steps to Follow

dog teeth

To keep your dog’s teeth healthy, it’s important to regularly brush their teeth and keep an eye out for any signs of dental problems. Most importantly, if you notice anything unusual, it’s essential to bring your dog to the veterinarian.

Your dog’s oral health is often the most neglected part of his health regime. Many assume that since they’re animals, they don’t require regular brushing and teeth cleaning as much as we do. 

Yet, did you know that many dogs, especially the seniors, suffer from oral problems due to poor dental care?

In this quick guide, you’ll know how to clean your dog’s teeth easily, what to do, what not to do, and when to see a vet!

Things You Require to Take Care of A Dog’s Teeth

To clean a dog’s teeth, there’s an easy but extensive procedure that you may have to follow. For this, you’ll require some things to make the process easy for you and your dog. 

So, before we start with the dog teeth cleaning procedure, given below is everything you may need!

Now, if you’re planning to use human toothpaste for your canine friend, don’t do it as most human kinds of toothpaste contain Xylitol. It is a type of artificial sweetener that can cause blood sugar problems and liver damage, too. 

Hence, always opt for a healthy dog toothpaste. 

How to Clean Dog Teeth? 

Cleaning your dog’s teeth regularly by following the best measures can help in reducing dental problems, along with bad breath issues.

So, once you have everything required for your dog’s teeth, you can then proceed to the actual process. Given below is a step-by-step process to do it. 

Step 1: Brush Your Dog’s Teeth 

First of all, you need to brush your dog’s teeth. Keep in mind that you may want to at least brush it twice for at least three days a week. 

Now, how to brush dog teeth? Here’s how:

1. Choose a Good Time 

Dogs aren’t exactly fond of brushing teeth.

So, it becomes essential that you choose a good time when your dog is relaxed and quiet. This way you’ll be able to do the task properly without him getting aggressive or mad

2. Get All the Things Required 

In this step, gather everything you require as listed above. Go for a dog toothbrush as it has soft bristles and a dog toothpaste as it is available in canine-friendly flavors. 

3. Find a Comfortable Position 

It is essential that you find a comfortable position for both you and your dog.

You need to keep in mind that dogs may perceive certain positions as threatening.

For instance, you should refrain from holding your dog down or stand above him while cleaning their teeth. 

Instead, try to bend and be at the same level, and sit in front or beside him. If you feel like he seems upset or scared, give him a reassuring smile and stop. Once he feels comfortable and a bit relaxed, you can proceed with the next step. 

4. Get Their Gums Ready 

The next step is to get your dog’s gums ready before you start brushing his teeth. This step is essential as he needs to feel comfortable and willing to go ahead with you touching his teeth.

For this, try to rub your fingers over his gums and teeth. Make sure you do it lightly to make him feel relaxed. 

5. Make Your Dog Comfortable With the Toothpaste Taste 

In this step, you have to try both the toothpaste and toothbrush on your dog’s teeth. 

First of all, take a pinch of toothpaste on your fingertip and let your dog lick and taste it. This way you’ll know whether he likes the taste or not. If he moves away from you, he probably doesn’t like the flavor. So, try another one. 

6. Brush The Dog Teeth 

Finally, move on to brushing your dog’s teeth. Follow the below steps accordingly to do it successfully!

  • Firstly lift your dog’s upper lip gently
  • Angle the toothbrush’s bristles with the teeth at 45 degrees to reach his gum line properly
  • Start brushing in a circular motion. Move up and down softly. If you notice light bleeding, don’t worry as it is normal. Yet, in the case of heavy bleeding, you might have gone too rough. So, go slower and apply less pressure. 
  • Lastly, make sure you focus on the removal of plaque. For this, try brushing mainly on the front and back teeth. 

Throughout the process don’t forget to encourage your dog! You can also check out a video tutorial here.

As for the total time of brushing, you can do it for about 2-3 minutes. Initially, your dog may resist but he’ll get comfortable after some time. 

7. Reward Them 

Lastly, it is always a good idea to reward and praise him so he’ll be encouraged rather than running away from it. 

Give him some healthy treats and tummy rub!

Step 2: Try Out Dental Chews and Chew Toys 

Along with brushing, you can also try giving your dog some dental chews and chew toys. It is also effective if your dog is too reluctant to brush.

The science behind it lies in the fact that when dogs chew a lot, they lessen the buildup of plaque by almost 70%. Thus, leading to fewer dog teeth problems. 

Before buying the dental chews make sure you consider a few factors, like the products used, allergens (if any), calories, and many more. As for toys, consider the materials used and size to make sure it doesn’t cause any harm to your dog. 

Step 3: Regular Vet Visits For Dental Checkups

Lastly, it is essential that you take your dog to the vet regularly for dental checkups.

It is because veterinarians can help in cleaning up your dog’s teeth thoroughly. They can also further check for any oral problems that may become serious after some time if you don’t get them checked. 

Moreover, if you don’t brush your dog’s teeth and just rely upon dental chews, then it is even more important to look out for any signs of dental diseases. 

When it comes to the frequency of visiting a vet, once in 6 months is an ideal option. If your dog is old, it is better to visit the vet regularly as they are very susceptible to oral health problems. 

Final Thoughts 

Taking care of your dog’s teeth may seem like a tough task. But once you form a routine, trust us, you’ll notice your dog’s dental health becoming better gradually. 

So, we hope you enjoyed the guide and found it useful. If you want, feel free to drop a comment below and let us know. You can also share the post to help out your friends and family having dogs!

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