The Ultimate Guide to Tooth Brushing Your Dog: Dental hygiene is just as important for your dog as it is for you to maintain your own dental health. When you take the time to ensure that your dog’s teeth are kept clean and in good condition, you not only give him a better chance of warding off periodontal disease, but you also have the potential to improve his overall health. There are a lot of dog owners who complain about having to brush their dog’s teeth because their dogs do not like it.
The Ultimate Guide to Tooth Brushing Your Dog
However, if you want to know the truth, we can tell you that it is not very enjoyable for the owners either. If you teach your dog how to brush his or her teeth, it will be easier for both of you to achieve the desired results. As much as sixty-five percent of dogs that are diagnosed with periodontal disease do not receive treatment, as stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). In the event that appropriate dental care was initially provided from the very beginning, this number could be significantly decrease. In the event that you are able to instruct your dog to brush and clean his teeth on a consistent basis, he will be able to maintain the health of his teeth for the rest of his life.
Getting Started
In order to get started with the process of teaching your dog to brush his teeth, you are going to require a few very important tools, such as a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Take care not to use toothpaste designed for humans. Fluoride, which is frequently found in toothpaste designed for humans, is potentially lethal to canines. Both the office of your veterinarian and the pet store in your neighborhood are good places to look for toothpaste for your dog.
The selection of the ideal toothbrush for your canine companion is also of utmost significance. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the most effective method for cleaning the gum line, which is essential for the overall dental health of your dog, is to use a toothbrush with two heads and bristles that are angled at a 45-degree angle. If you want to make sure that your dog is comfortable with the toothbrush and the motion that it makes in their mouth, you should be prepared with some additional treats as well. You might even want to consider having a companion for the first few times.
Method
1.The Introduce Slowly Method
Start with fingers
- It’s possible that your dog is becoming accustomed to having your fingers in his mouth. Play with your dog’s lips and gums and put your fingers in his mouth several times a day for a few days prior you even begin to brush his teeth. This will help your dog develop healthy teeth and gums.
Introducing toothbrush
- After your dog has become accustomed to having his mouth touched, you can then gradually introduce him to a toothbrush. Let your dog sniff and investigate the toothbrush by holding it up to his nose and allowing him to do so. After you have introduced the toothbrush to your dog for the first few times, you should simply allow him to investigate, lick, and sniff it as he pleases.
Introduce toothpaste
- Introduce your dog to the toothpaste and the brush by first placing a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the new toothbrush that you have purchased for your dog. Give him the opportunity to smell it and taste it, but do not allow him to consume it.
Brush
- To begin, introduce the toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste to a few of his teeth by running the brush along the gum lines and the length of the teeth. This should be done without brushing all of his teeth through.
Reward
- Make it a point to give your dog a treat every time he gives you permission to brush his teeth.
Build up
- You should gradually increase the amount of teeth you brush your dog’s teeth after he has become accustomed to having his mouth touched, having your fingers in his mouth, the toothbrush, and the taste of the toothpaste.
- From the moment you first introduce the toothbrush to your dog, you have the ability to gradually increase both the amount of time you brush for and the number of teeth you brush.
2.The Brush with Fingers Method
Start with fingers
- One or two fingers should be placed in your dog’s mouth, and you should begin by massaging along your dog’s gums. Do this very gently.
Repeat
- Repeat this process over the course of a few days until your dog is accustomed to having your fingers in his mouth and you have rubbed the gums along his upper and lower teeth so that he is comfortable with the sensation.
Increase time
- After a few days, try to increase the amount of time that you leave your finger in your dog’s mouth and make it a goal to claim more during each interval.
Add toothpaste
- Once you have added some dog toothpaste to the tips of your fingers, proceed with the steps that came before it, but keep in mind that you should never use human toothpaste.
- Make sure that your finger stays in his mouth for a longer period of time so that you can apply toothpaste to as many different surfaces as possible.
Toothbrush
- Introduce a dog toothbrush into your dog’s mouth along with a pea-sized amount of dog toothpaste once your dog has become accustomed to the taste of toothpaste and the sensation of your finger in his mouth.
Brush
- After your dog gets used to the sensation of the toothbrush and the flavor of the toothpaste, you should continue brushing his teeth on a weekly basis.
3.The Hold Your Pup Method
Hold tightly
- You should wrap your arm around your dog’s shoulders and hold it firmly while maintaining a gentle approach.
Lift upper lip
- Grab your dog’s upper lip from over his nose using the same arm that you used to grab it.
Brush
- While your dog is positioned so that he is comfortably under your arm and his lips are pulled upward, you should use a small toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste that is designed specifically for dogs. This should be done while your dog is in this position. Brush his teeth as many times as he will allow you to before he loses his composure and moves out of position. Do this before he moves out of position.
Repeat
- When you get up the following day, repeat this process with your dog’s bottom teeth. It is possible that you will want to perform the top teeth and bottom teeth on different days as he becomes accustomed to this new routine.
Practice
- For your dog to become accustomed to the position and the act of brushing his teeth, you should continue to follow these steps every few days. In order to maintain proper oral hygiene, you should make it a habit to brush your dog’s teeth once a week.