Do you know how to clean a dog’s teeth? If not, a veterinarian in New York will brush them the next time you take them in for a visit. A veterinary dentist will also examine your pet’s mouth to ensure they aren’t suffering from dental diseases.
However, you shouldn’t rely solely on a veterinary care specialist to tackle your dog’s toothbrushing. Most experts advise pet parents to brush at least a few times each week. Some even suggest pups need daily brushing to maintain good oral health.
With this in mind, you should learn how to clean a dog’s teeth effectively. You might need to practice brushing on a regular basis before you truly get the hang of it. But you should eventually master brushing your pet’s teeth to prevent dental problems like tartar buildup, tooth decay, and even tooth loss and serious issues along your dog’s gum line.
Here is a guide to help clean your dog’s teeth and enjoy a positive experience.
Commit to Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth From a Young Age
The saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” exists for a reason. As pups age, it typically becomes more challenging for dog owners to establish new routines, even if they’re well behaved and easygoing.
Does this mean you can’t make them feel comfortable if you create a toothbrushing routine for them later on? Of course not! You can — and should — make this your mission at any time in their life.
But in a perfect world, you should figure out how to clean a dog’s teeth when they’re still on the younger side whenever possible. This will get them used to the idea of you brushing them regularly.
Additionally, setting up a toothbrushing routine for your pup when they’re young will reduce their chances of developing periodontal disease and other problems.
Invest in the Necessary Toothbrushing Supplies
If you have a spare human toothbrush, you might assume it’s perfectly fine for your pup’s teeth. While using a toothbrush like this isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world, it isn’t a good idea over the long run.
Instead, purchase a special dog toothbrush. Some companies make finger toothbrushes that will help you learn how to clean a dog’s teeth quickly. Just slip a silicone finger brush like this on, and you will likely be surprised to see how receptive your pup is to it.
Don’t stop there, either. In addition to buying a toothbrush, find an enzymatic pet toothpaste — not human toothpaste, since ingesting even a small amount is often toxic to dogs — to accompany it.
A dog toothpaste like this will come in different flavors and do battle with:
- Their build-up of plaque and tartar
- Their chances of developing gum disease
- Their breath (which might be bad if you haven’t started brushing yet!)
- Their overall oral hygiene
As long as you have a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, you can perform plaque removal and promote tooth and gum health. If you want to go the extra mile, pick up a bag of dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Your pup will probably mistake these dental chews for dog treats since they’ll taste so good, but they’re an excellent supplement to regular toothbrushing.
Choose the Ideal Time To Brush Their Teeth
If you’re not intentional about when you will brush your dog’s teeth and decide, “I will just brush them whenever I think to do it,” you will set your dog up for failure. It won’t take long for you to forget to brush once or twice, and before you know it, you’ll think, “Wait, when was the last time I did it?!”
To prevent this problem, choose a specific brushing time and stick with it from now on. Whether you want to do it first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, or at night, you and your dog will benefit from selecting a regular brushing time.
Pick a time when you aren’t usually busy and when your pup is typically taking it easy. This will ensure you can focus on the task at hand.
Provide Them With a Proper Introduction to Toothbrushing
Some dogs respond positively to their owners brushing their teeth right away. If you’re lucky enough to have one like this, you won’t have to worry too much about doing it. You should ease into a routine and stick with it for the foreseeable future.
Other pups don’t take too kindly to having a toothbrush shoved into their mouths without any warning. If yours falls into this category, the key to getting your pup to warm up to the process is providing them with a proper introduction.
Work to make them more comfortable with toothbrushing by taking these steps:
- Touch their head and mouth in the days leading up to their first toothbrushing session to make it feel normal.
- Let them sniff their new toothbrush and toothpaste and express their curiosity.
- Reward them with affection and treats if they respond well.
Once you feel like your dog is ready to go, you can slowly incorporate actual toothbrushing into the mix.
Make Sure You Brush Their Teeth at the Correct Angle
When you reach this point, you should feel confident in your dog’s readiness for toothbrushing. However, you might still have second thoughts about whether or not you are prepared to go through the process.
You will be happy to hear that bringing your pup to this point is arguably the most challenging aspect of brushing their teeth. As long as your pup cooperates, it should all be downhill from here.
Use one hand to lift and hold your dog’s lips, exposing all their teeth. Then, brush them in a circular motion, holding their toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with it facing their gums.
Brush each tooth — or several at a time if you suspect they might not sit still for long — using three back-and-forth strokes before moving on to the next tooth or set. Puppies have about 28 deciduous teeth, while adults have about 42, and brushing each is essential to achieving optimal oral health.
Avoid Putting Too Much Pressure on Their Teeth and Gums While Brushing
Studies have shown that 10 to 20% of humans brush their teeth too hard. This unhealthy behavior causes dental problems like tooth enamel damage and gum recession.
If your dog’s teeth aren’t in the best shape, you might be tempted to apply more pressure when brushing them. This could inevitably lead to many of the same issues humans struggle with when overbrushing.
If you see the bristles on their toothbrush flaring out or flattening while brushing them, you’re overdoing it. You might give them a negative first impression of toothbrushing and make them less likely to cooperate the next time.
Increase the Time You Spend Brushing Their Teeth Gradually
No matter how well your dog does the first few times you brush their teeth, they might not be prepared to sit still long enough for you to brush them thoroughly. For this reason, you should only spend a short time brushing at the beginning.
From there, you can gradually start brushing for longer stretches over the first couple of weeks as you learn how to clean a dog’s teeth safely. Your ultimate goal is to brush the entire tooth surface of all their teeth every time, but you might need to work up to this. It’s better to take things slow initially and pick up the pace later rather than trying to rush through it and ruining your initial experiences.
Take Short Breaks While Brushing Their Teeth As Needed
In certain instances, your dog might sit still the whole time you’re brushing their teeth and not present any problems. But in other cases, they may start squirming shortly after you begin brushing.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, you might think, “I’m just going to power through this!” Instead, take short breaks to allow your pup to calm down before getting back to business.
Offer praise to your pup during these breaks. You might even want to pull out a bag of dog treats and toss them one or two before promising them more for their continued cooperation. This positive reinforcement may work wonders for their behavior and make toothbrushing more effortless for both of you.
Ask All Your Family Members To Help Brush Their Teeth
If you live alone with your dog, brushing their teeth will be your responsibility. But if you share them with other family members, you shouldn’t be the only one doing the work.
When you start brushing, you should invite your family members to watch so they know how to do it. You should also welcome them to step right up and take their turn.
If you get into the habit of doing it every time yourself, they may not respond well to someone else coming along and trying to do it later. You and your family members should share the responsibility so that everyone plays a part in improving pet health.
Kids, in particular, tend to enjoy brushing dogs’ teeth. They see them as their best friends and appreciate assisting their parents in caring for them. Use this opportunity to give them more responsibility while also talking to them about the importance of taking good care of their own oral hygiene through brushing and flossing.
Keep an Eye on Them for Signs of Dental Issues
If you know how to clean a dog’s teeth from when they are a puppy and you keep doing it at least a few times each week throughout their life, you shouldn’t have to stress out about them dealing with major dental issues. They will have clean mouths and healthy gums and even make “dog breath” delightful.
Still, you shouldn’t assume their oral health will stay in great shape just because you’re brushing them. As your pup gets older, you might start spotting signs of dental problems that will only worsen if you ignore them.
Here are a few signs that could represent a cause for concern:
- Loose or missing teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Unexplained drooling
- Trouble eating
- Sudden weight loss
- Facial swelling
If your pup constantly paws at their mouth, this is another sign that you should seek veterinary care. Even if there isn’t a problem with their oral health, it will indicate that something is going on with your dog’s health that needs to be checked out by a veterinarian.
Schedule Appointments With a Veterinary Dentist Regularly
Did you know your dog should see a dentist almost as often as you do? While they might not need to visit a veterinary dentist every six months, scheduling annual appointments with one is the best way to keep everything inside their mouth healthy.
During their visit, their dentist will look for any signs suggesting trouble with their teeth and/or gums. They will also perform a professional cleaning to remove any tartar and plaque buildup you may have missed.
Dogs need to see dentists, and those who don’t may develop dental disease, which can increase their chances of being diagnosed with heart disease later on. Congestive heart failure and endocarditis are two common issues for pups with severe dental problems. Caring for their oral health may minimize their odds of being diagnosed with these diseases.
Need Help Figuring Out How To Clean a Dog’s Teeth? Give Us a Call Today
Learning how to clean a dog’s teeth isn’t as daunting as you might think. Follow the steps listed here, and you will be well on your way to establishing a toothbrushing routine that works well for you and your pup and leaves them with beautiful pearly whites.
If you need help learning the proper toothbrushing techniques, Hudson Animal Hospital is always here to help. We can also supply your canine companion with the dog dental care services they need.
Request an appointment for a dental checkup by contacting us at 212-706-4088 today.