Researches shows dogs are more likely to improve teeth diseases than we do. Diseases of your dog’s teeth can easily get worse because dog’s don’t usually show pain when they have teeth issues, therefore hard to diagnose. So here we discuss how to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth At Home.
Loose teeth, crooked, cracked teeth or infection are common dental issues that we see in dogs.
Bad breath might be a prominent sign that you need to do clean up in your dog’s teeth.
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Clean Your Dog’s Teeth at home will Also Take Care of ‘Bad Breath’
Taking care of dog’s teeth will obviously lessen the chances of your dog’s possible dental health threats and bad breath!
Make sure to use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
You can use child’s toothbrush, finger toothbrush, gauze around a finger(or tooth wipes) or cotton swabs. Just use something soft so you won’t hurt his teeth.
It is better if you can use a dog toothbrush but still the previously mentioned will do fine.
but if you are looking for-this dog toothbrush set has 8 different brushes with a set of finger brushes. Having this set of equipments won’t be a waste. ($7 for all)
Do You Need Special Toothpaste for Your Dog?
Yes, you need toothpastes specially made for dogs. They come in poultry, malt or other dog friendly flavors. Chemical that dog toothpastes contain are healthy, antibacterial and they prevent plaque build up.
How to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth at Home
Follow these steps,
1.Introduce him to toothpaste
Give him a taste of toothpaste to get him familiar therefor more calm! He will obviously panic if he doesn’t know what you are giving. And he will also love the taste like most dogs.
2.Lift his lips, brush with gentle motions.
Simply lift his lips and brush with gentle motions. No need to clean the inside of the teeth, just the part you can brush after lifting his lips.Most dogs won’t let you clean the inside of teeth anyway.
3.Clean back upper molars, canines
Those parts have the tendency to build up tartar the most.
Be sure to pet him, give a treat, reward after the cleaning to make it a positive experience for him.
That’s how easy it is to clean your dog’s teeth at home & check out 3 Step Guide to Crate Train Any Dog.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dog’s Teeth
More frequently, the better! It is better if you can do this daily. But obviously this may not be a easy task for everyone.
You can have a schedule for this-once a week, once a month.
It is still necessary for your dog to get a professional clean up at your Vet once a year.
Are Chew Toys Good for Teeth?
Chew toys are great to keep your dog’s teeth healthy while giving him something to enjoy. But make sure you pick a size that fits your dog. For instance they can swallow it if the chew toys is too small.
Nylabone chew toy is a popular chew toy among many dog owners.
Nylabone Dura Chew Power Chew Dog Toy
- safe for your dog
- contains delicious flavors
- most popular and recommended among dog owners
While chew toys are useful in naturally cleaning dog teeth; bones, antlers, bully sticks are also fantastic to maintain healthy teeth.
Cooked vs. Raw Bones
Never give cooked bones to chew. Splinters in cooked bones can stuck in throats or even damage intestines. Raw bones are better than cooked bones.
Is natural bones and store bought bones same?
Store bought bones are often processed and differ from the bones you get from a butcher. So no, store bought bones are different from usual bones.
In fact FDA warns that commercially available bone treats may cause health problems in dogs.
These health problems are,
- Gastrointestinal blockage
- Choking
- Cuts in the mouth
- Vomiting
- diarrhea
- Rectal Bleeding
- Even death(8 out of 35 reported dogs)
Raw natural chicken, turkey, lamb or beef bones are soft to chew, eat and digest. But with all bones there is a risk of choking or swallowing. (You may have to supervise)
What If Your Dog Doesn’t Let You Brush His Teeth
Here’s a few ways you can clean up your dog’s teeth without brushing.
1.Proden PlaqueOff Dental Care
Proden plaque dental care is a powder to add in your dry or wet food daily. The natural compound in the solution comes out through the saliva and works to break down the bacterial biofilm that forms on the teeth and gums.
This is how the natural bacteria in the mouth take hold onto the teeth and gums, colonizing and creating the oral problems of plaque and tartar, bad breath and gingivitis.
It does not change the ph of the mouth or kill off the normal levels of bacteria. Proden plaqueoff has been proven to reduce plaque and tartar on the teeth and gums, depending on composition, diet and how long it has been there. It then works to prevent bad breath, plaque and tartar from returning
- Remove plaque build up
- No need to clean the powder
- Just add to dog’s food
2.Dental Treats
Dogs that chew actively have less chance to plaque build up. Some dental treats can reduce plaque by 70% .
Greenies dental treats are very popular among dog owners and Recommended and accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
- Cleans down gum and prevent bad dog breath.
- veterinarian recommended.
- Made with natural, easy-to-digest ingredients.
3.Water Additives
Now cleaning your dog’s teeth is easy as adding a few drops of the solution to your dog’s water. This is effective and very easy way to control plaque build up and bad breath.
Water Additive Dental Care Solution
- The easiest way to clean your pet’s teeth, fight periodontal disease, and strengthen gum tissue
- Recommended by veterinarians!
- No brushing required – It’s so easy, just add a capful to their drinking water
4.Bully Sticks
Bully sticks are no doubt dog’s favorite chew toys. In fact biggest health benefit of chew toys maintenance of dog’s dental health. It also works to strengthen your dog’s teeth and can also reduce the amount of tarter and plaque build up.
Bully sticks can,
- stop cavities forming
- prevent gingivitis
- prevent other periodontal diseases
You can find many bully stick brands and if you want a recommendation Natural Bully Sticks is the most popular and budget-friendly brand.
