Dental Care

Owners should brush their dog's teeth regularly.

Brushing a dog's teeth is easier than brushing your own. Their narrow teeth are spaced more widely than human teeth, eliminating the need for flossing. Their teeth only touch in one or two places. A toothbrush can reach 90% of the areas that need to be brushed.

Toothpaste Always use a specially formulated dog toothpaste. Because dogs can't rinse and spit after a brushing, the paste must be safe for pets to swallow. Some human toothpastes contain detergents which can irritate pets' stomachs, and, in addition, large quantities of ingested fluoride can harm pets. A typical dog toothpaste is chicken or beef-flavored and contains water, sorbitol, silica, cellulose gum, Trisodium EDTA, Methylparaben, propylparaben, and titanium dioxide.

Toothbrush Most dog dental kits contain a toothbrush and toothpaste, sold together. If using a human toothbrush, pick a soft, nylon bristle, and, for a smaller dog, child-sized brush. Finger brushes can be purchased as well. These fit on a fingertip and allow owners easier access to their dogs' mouths. Electric toothbrushes can be used if dogs can tolerate the mechanical noise.

The Act of Brushing Let the dog taste the toothpaste before attempting to brush his teeth. Allow him to lick the toothpaste off your brush. When he has tasted the toothpaste, reapply paste to the brush and start brushing in a circular motion. It is important to keep your dog calm and relaxed by praising him and stroking his neck area. When your dog is relaxed, pull back his lips and cheeks to gain access to the premolars and molars.

Brushing Frequency Veterinarians recommend that a dog's teeth be brushed at least twice a week, perhaps more frequently for dogs with stubborn dental problems.

Professional Cleanings Depending on the individual dog, professional tooth cleaning is recommended every one to three years. This cleaning, which takes place under general anesthesia, consists of scaling to remove tartar above and below the gum line; polishing to smooth the surface of the teeth; and flushing, to dislodge tartar and bacteria.

The act of brushing a dog's teeth twice weekly, while initially daunting, becomes easier with practice and routine.

Caring for your dog's dental hygiene will assure good dental health and prevent many more serious dental and medical problems as he ages.