Articles

Why

Good dental health is an important factor in your dog's overall physical condition and well-being. Painful teeth and gums can be detrimental to nutrition, overall health, and quality of life. The long-term consequences of poor dental hygiene in dogs include:

• Bad breath, often a symptom of dental disease
• Dental abscesses and tooth loss due to periodontal disease
• Pain from infected teeth and gums
• Systemic infection starting in the teeth and gums and possibly spreading—via the bloodstream—to your dog's kidney, liver, heart or lungs
• Expense of repeated dental treatments, anesthesia, extractions and surgery

The good news is that by caring for your dog's teeth on a daily basis, you can greatly reduce or even eliminate such problems.

How

First, it's always smart to bring your dog to your veterinarian for an initial dental health assessment. Your dog need a professional cleaning before you start a home care regimen. Your veterinarian can also advise you about your dog's dental risk factors, products you should use, and even show you how to brush your dog's teeth.

Once you get the go-ahead from your veterinarian, the next step is finding products that work well for your dog. Be patient, as this can require some trial and error.

• Dog toothbrush—There are a variety of dog toothbrushes on the market. They come in various shapes and sizes for different breeds. Look for one with an angled head and soft bristles. There are even toothbrushes that fit over your finger. These give better control but with one trade-off: Their soft latex bristles may be less effective at mechanically removing tartar. Do not attempt to use a human toothbrush.
• Dog toothpastes—Use dental products only made for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. The strong flavorings are very unappealing to dogs, and the fluoride and other ingredients, if swallowed, could be harmful. Ddogog toothpastes are safe to swallow (since animals don't rinse) and made in yummy flavors like chicken, fish, tuna, and beef. Some contain enzymatic agents to help loosen tartar.
• Dental-healthy treats—while not a substitute for brushing, some dental treats can help reduce the rate of tartar buildup. Give these treats to your dog as rewards and also for dental hygiene. Not all over-the-counter dental treats are created equal. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

Follow these steps to polish those pearly whites:

1. Get your dog get used to your fingers around and eventually touching her mouth. If this is a new sensation for your dog, you may need to proceed at a very gradual pace.
2. Acclimate your dog to the toothpaste and brush. Start by letting your dog lick the dogtoothpaste off your fingers. Next time, use your dog toothbrush and, again, encourage your dog to lick the toothpaste off the brush. At this point, your dog may even look forward to this yummy habit, so it's not a bad idea to brush your dog's teeth around the same time every day.
3. When it's time for the real thing, position your dog in front of you—small dogs on a table, larger dogs on the floor. Restrain gently so as to minimize squirming and maximize access to the mouth. Start by lifting your dog's upper lips and slide the brush in a fine circular motion along the gum line. Focus on front teeth first, back teeth if you can, uppers first, then lowers. Brush outside tooth surfaces only (if you want to keep your fingers, that is) as dogs don't build up much tarter on the inside surfaces of their teeth. As you and your dog get more comfortable, work towards reaching the upper back molars. This is usually where plaque builds up the most. This should take about one minute once you and your dog get the routine down.
   
   Some tips for dogs that become overenthusiastic at the taste of the toothpaste:
   • Put your dog in a firm sit/stay position to establish calm.
   • With your free hand, try gently clamping your dog's muzzle to a nearly-closed position. This will calm your dog and prevent her from trying to lick and chomp on the toothbrush (and your fingers).
   • Retry the procedure with plain tap water on the brush.
4. Follow every session with enthusiastic praise, dogting, and/or playtime—whatever your dog appreciates—and possibly a dental-healthy treat. Reward your dog no matter how far you get. Over time, this will become a habit, something that you and your dog can even look forward to—and smile about.

For more tips and a great video tutorial on brushing your dog's teeth, go to http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-brush-your-dog-s-teeth-204590/.