Dog Dental Brushes
Why do we need to clean our dog’s teeth?
Dogs like humans need to have their teeth cleaned in order for the teeth and gums to remain free from disease and tooth decay. It can greatly reduce any smell from their mouth too. Dried food is better than moist food as it’s the moist food that sticks between the teeth and can cause bad breath and tooth decay Dried food creates an abrasive action on the teeth and this can be used separately or together with moist food which can aid digestion as well as helping the teeth though this alone cannot replace a regular routine of dog dental brushing with canine toothpaste. This preventative care along with regular checks at the vets will help your dog keep it’s teeth for many years
How to clean your dog’s teeth.
It is best to introduce a puppy to getting it’s teeth cleaned from a very early age. Never use human toothpaste on your puppy or dog there are many dog toothpastes out on the market which are specifically designed for dog dental hygiene. Canine toothpaste is made with meat flavours so your dog should generally like it.
Start by getting the dog used to your dry finger inside of it’s mouth before eventually adding a pea sized amount of dog/canine toothpaste on the end of your finger to rub along the outside of the teeth only. This includes front and sides both top and bottom layers. When your dog lets you do this comfortably, then try using a toothbrush as the teeth will be kept clean much better with the abrasive action of the brush.
What type of dog dental brush?
There are various dog dental brush products out on the market depending on the type of breed, size and personality your dog has. This will enable your dog to be compliant with getting their teeth cleaned so it will not be too stressful for them or you!
You can purchase a baby toothbrush with a handle but make sure it has soft bristles. Another choice is a soft bristle toothbrush with a handle with the bristles being longer on the outer edge and shorter on the inner part. This allows the brush to rub against both areas of the teeth. If your dog prefers the feel of your finger rather than the brush, then you can buy finger brushes. These are made of rubber and the bristles are rubber too. This type of brush slips onto the end of your index finger.
Other aids to help with preventative dog dental care.
All dogs love to chew, it massages the gums and jawbone and helps the teeth with it’s abrasive action. Puppies especially will want to chew as they are teething, so they wont destroy your shoes or furniture you can provide your puppy or dog with Gumabone or Nylabones. These are a natural pacifier as well as helping to massage the gums and cleaning the teeth. They are also available in different flavours your dog is sure to like.
Another product on the market is Hi Life dental chews, these contain fluoride and when the dog chews on them, they go soft so the fluoride can get into the teeth.
Tug ropes are also a good way to let your dog chew, because as the dog’s teeth grind into the rope it actually helps to get rid of debris in between the teeth.
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I know the importance of using a toothbrush on a dog as my dog ended up with a gum infection which resulted in her losing a few teeth. I now brush my dog’s teeth twice a day with a baby toothbrush and a pea size amount of dog toothpaste. I would strongly recommend anyone who has a dog to use a toothbrush on their dog’s teeth even if it is the rubber finger brush variety as the teeth really do need the abrasion to help clean off the plaque.
My dog likes chicken and beef flavoured toothpaste, so she doesn’t really mind the brushing. It is actually quite funny how she is ready to open her mouth. There are occasions when she will object, but mainly that happens if she wants to sleep, so I leave it till later. Once she was at the dog show and I was concerned about a bit of plaque which will not come off with the brushing. One lady recommended me to use a penny to “shift” it. It worked like magic. Sally from puppy dog food.