How to Brush a Dog's Teeth
with
Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM
Just like humans, dental care is very important for dogs. Having a healthy mouth will not only affect the teeth and gums, but also the heart, liver, kidneys, and the overall health of your dog. Learn the basics to doggie tooth brushing.
Transcript: How to Brush a Dog's Teeth
Hi, I'm Janet Tobiassen Crosby, the Guide for veterinary medicine at About.com, and today I'm going to show you how to brush your dog's teeth.Why Brush a Dog's Teeth?
Dental health care is very important for our pets. Having a healthy mouth will not only affect the teeth and gums, but it will also affect the heart, liver, kidneys, and the general overall health of your pet. Taking care of your pet's teeth at home is very important because it allows you to keep a check on what's happening and will extend the regular visits by your veterinarian.So, by taking good care of your dog's teeth, you will be extending their life potentially with good overall health.
When to Brush a Dog's Teeth
Ideally, you should be brushing your dog's teeth every day. And if you get into a habit, it makes it easier. It makes it a positive experience for your dog, and they will remind you and look forward to it. At the very least, once a week is a good place to start. But basically, just like us, we need to brush their teeth as often as possible.Starting the Tooth Brushing Habit
Every dog is different in how they will accept you working in their mouth and touching their teeth. You know your dog best, but you don't want to get hurt. So, we want to start with short, very positive sessions. And you can just be getting them familiar with the brush. Let them sniff it, and let them lick off some toothpaste.Dog Brushing Toothpaste
The toothpaste we use, we do not want to use human toothpaste. That can upset your pet's stomach and you do not want to use that. They make pet toothpaste in various flavors: chicken, beef, malt, as well as mint. Try a few and see what your dog prefers.How to Brush the Dog's Teeth
Once you've worked up to the stage where your dog is comfortable with the toothbrush, the toothpaste, or the finger sponge that you've decided to use, its time to start brushing. When you do this, start slow. Work from the tooth, from the gum to the lower part of the tooth, and in a circular motion. We're using gentle toothpaste - it's an enzymatic toothpaste, and it'll help break down the tartar and plaque build-up, and the bristles are soft. Use a gentle, circular motion, and work your way around the mouth.Tips for Successful Tooth Care
Some tips for a successful brushing session would include - start slow, short sessions, and very positive. Your first sessions might only be letting your dog sniff the toothpaste, and work up from there. Keep it short and keep it positive and your dog will start to look forward to a daily brushing routine.Thanks for watching. To learn more please visit us on the Web at About.com.