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If there is one area of canine grooming that is often overlooked, it is the dog鈥檚 teeth. Most dog owners remember to brush the coat until it shines and to clip the nails so they don鈥檛 click on the floor, but not everyone cares for canine tooth brushing. Brushing is important because it cleans away the plaque that leads to bad breath or more serious problems such as decayed teeth or gum disease. According to the , 80% of dogs show signs of canine periodontal disease聽as early as age three.

Practicing good dental care at home will lead to more than sweeter-smelling kisses: your dog can live a happier, healthier, and longer life. Thankfully, cleaning your canine companion鈥檚 teeth is surprisingly simple even on a tight schedule. Taking care of your dog鈥檚 teeth can come in forms other than just brushing. Even the busiest dog owners can easily incorporate these practices with just a few minutes each week so your four-footed friend鈥檚 pearly whites will sparkle for years to come.

Tips to Brush Your Dog鈥檚 Teeth

Choose a Good Time and Place for Teeth Brushing

Especially if your dog gets nervous getting their teeth brushed, you don鈥檛 want there to be other things to stress them out. Try to limit other distractions when you鈥檙e brushing your dog鈥檚 teeth. It should be you and the dog without a living room full of active children or other pets. Pick a place that鈥檚 comfortable for your dog as well. You鈥檒l need to have good lighting so you can see what you鈥檙e doing.

Buy a Dog Tooth Brush and Dog Toothpaste

are available at pet stores or online pet supply outlets. Specifically-designed dog toothbrushes with angled handles, soft bristles, and even multiple heads make reaching all the tiny nooks and crevices inside your dog鈥檚 mouth easier and quicker.

You鈥檒l specifically need , as human toothpaste contains toxic ingredients like xylitol and fluoride that could cause significant harm. Dog toothpaste comes in many appealing flavors like peanut butter, beef, and chicken. Try different combinations of toothpaste and toothbrushes to see what your dog likes best.

Get Your Dog Used to Toothbrushing

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1. Touch the teeth and gums without the brush. Can you do this initial step? Ideally, your pup has been in AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen classes and is used to have his mouth handled. 聽Lift the top lip up and hold it while you touch the teeth; then pull the bottom lip down and touch the bottom teeth.
2. Touch the toothbrush to the teeth. Touch the front, side, and back teeth on the top and bottom. Praise and reward your dog for tolerating this step.
3. Introduce the toothpaste to the dog. Start by showing your dog the toothpaste and letting them lick it from your finger.
4. Add the toothpaste to the toothbrush.
5. Start brushing the top teeth. Hold the upper lip up. Brush the front teeth. Praise your dog.
6. Move from the front teeth further back to the side and back teeth on the top.
7. Start brushing the bottom teeth. Hold down the bottom lip and brush the bottom teeth. Start with the front teeth, then move to the side and back.
8. On the bottom teeth, now brush the sides and back. If your dog is tolerating toothbrushing, you can brush both the outside and inside of the teeth when you are brushing. The inside of the teeth will be a little harder to brush, so if necessary, work on adding this step after your dog is calm with the outsides of the upper and lower teeth being brushed.
9. Praise and reward. Getting their teeth brushed is unnatural for dogs. To make this a positive experience, frequently praise your dog. You can also give the dog a treat at each step. This seems counterintuitive because you are cleaning the teeth and then giving some food. However, the initial goal is teaching the skill and later you can work on removing food from the equation.

Alternative Dental Care

Dog Dental Chews

clean your dog鈥檚 teeth while also stimulating your dog鈥檚 natural cravings for a tasty treat. Plus, your dog will be too busy chomping on their treats to create trouble elsewhere. These chews are designed to minimize the build-up of plaque and tartar while polishing a dog鈥檚 teeth to a sparkling shine. Dog dental chews come in different sizes and shapes, and feature ridges and nubs that dig into crevices between a dog鈥檚 teeth to encourage blood flow through the gums. The hollow shapes and spaces allow dogs to better grip and chew more evenly. Always supervise your dog when they have a dental chew within reach.

Spritz Dog Dental Spray

If your聽dog鈥檚 stinky breath is causing you to miss out on cuddles or kisses, or if you only have a short amount of time to spare, are the ideal solution. It鈥檚 a quick and easy way to take care of your dog鈥檚 teeth, as dog dental sprays can be used alone or in between brushings. These sprays kill plaque-causing bacteria to聽make your dog鈥檚 breath smell fresh. In addition to odor-eliminating effect, dental sprays can also remove and prevent tartar and plaque build-up. Most sprays are simple to use: they simply require owners to spritz the teeth and gums. Since some dogs just won鈥檛 stay still for an oral cleaning, dental sprays can also be applied to dog toys and licked off for instant fresh breath with minimal effort. Dog dental spray works best when dogs don鈥檛 eat for a half hour before and after spraying.

Gnaw on Chew Toys

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If you鈥檙e raising a fun-loving dog, they鈥檒l聽love playing with a chew toy聽and you鈥檒l love how it destroys their boredom instead of your shoes. When it comes to keeping your dog busy and entertained, chew toys are one of the best solutions. Providing dogs with a chew toy satisfies their natural instincts to chew, keeps them occupied, and helps improve their oral health. Dogs of every age explore the world through their teeth. For puppies, gnawing naturally soothes teething pain and keeps adult dogs mentally-stimulated.

Chewing is the natural way for dogs to clean their teeth as the constant gnawing scrapes plaque off of teeth. They are made of a variety of materials ranging from plastic, rubber, nylon, and rawhide. We suggest rotating different types of boredom-busting chew toys to keep dogs interested. These toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you鈥檙e sure to find something that settles your dog鈥檚 playfulness.

Dog Dental Powders

contain a probiotic that helps boost healthy bacteria in your dog鈥檚 mouth and simultaneously kills plaque-building bacteria. The powder can be applied to every meal your dog eats for the most benefits. Not only does dog dental powder prevent tartar and plaque from building up on your dog鈥檚 teeth, it also helps freshen your dog鈥檚 breath.

Attend Regular Professional Veterinarian Cleanings

An essential way to protect your dog鈥檚 oral health is through regular professional cleanings with your veterinarian. Veterinarians are skilled at identifying, preventing, and treating any dental problems they find that may otherwise go unnoticed. Most dogs need oral exams and cleanings at least once per year so veterinarians can check for early warning signs of serious problems. Some breeds, like Bulldogs,听Yorkshire Terriers, and聽Dachshunds, are more susceptible to periodontal disease. They may require more frequent cleanings, like every six months.

Veterinarians can remove plaque below the gum line, where toothbrushes can鈥檛 reach. Dental cleanings involve taking x-rays to evaluate the health of the jawline and tooth roots. Veterinarians will scale and polish teeth to remove plaque and tartar while your dog is under general anesthesia. Veterinarians can also safely fill or extract teeth as needed. Though this is the most expensive and time-consuming option, we recommend making veterinarian oral exams a priority. Your dog鈥檚 teeth will thank you for it!

What to Do if Your Dog鈥檚 Teeth Are Stained

We鈥檝e all been told to brush our dog鈥檚 teeth. We know we should. We mean to do it. Unfortunately it鈥檚 a task that often falls through the cracks.聽 For some, time is the problem, for others it鈥檚 an uncooperative dog who makes it impossible to get a toothbrush near her molars. Whatever the reason, your dog鈥檚 oral health鈥攐r lack of it鈥攎ay have reached a point where it requires a professional veterinary dentist.

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Veterinary dentist Thoulton W. Surgeon says that tooth brushing should be on every dog owner鈥檚 daily agenda. Spend as much time as you can, and for as long as your dog will allow. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important, maybe more so than what I do,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat I do, in terms of removing calculus and plaque, is about a third as important as brushing teeth on a daily basis.鈥�

When teeth are already covered with brown- and yellow-stained tartar and gums are bleeding or showing signs of inflammation, your dog needs a professional cleaning. But it鈥檚 important to start brushing again immediately after the dentist has scaled away the tartar and polished the teeth. That鈥檚 because plaque starts to accumulate within two or three days, so catching it early may delay or eliminate the need for another cleaning down the line.

Getting Your Dog Used to Dental Care

Many things can contribute to a dog鈥檚 fear of having their teeth brushed, starting with the plastic thing you鈥檙e trying to stick in their mouth, the weird-smelling paste you put on the plastic thing, and the way you鈥檙e trying to force their mouth open to get the plastic thing with the weird-smelling paste in! This problem can be solved by using a desensitization program and lots of patience. These can all be done on the same day, but in a different session to give your dog some time.

Select a Location

Pick a tooth-brushing place (like the bathroom) and start by making that room a place where fun things happen. As many times a day as you can, take your dog into the bathroom, armed with their favorite toys and treats. If they鈥檙e particularly food-driven, you can even start feeding them meals in the bathroom. By doing this for 10鈥�15 minutes multiple times a day, you should see them relaxing and even enjoying the time in the bathroom with you.

Get Your Dog Used to the Brush

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The next step is to desensitize your dog to the toothbrush with the toothpaste on it. Instead of keeping it in a cabinet, start moving it around the house. You can put it on the kitchen counter, on the floor next to their toys, even near their food bowl (with supervision). Eventually the smell and sight of the toothbrush and paste will become commonplace to them, alleviating their stress.

Touching the Teeth

Next, let鈥檚 work on your dog being OK with having his mouth handled. Note: If your dog has shown aggression when you鈥檝e tried to handle his mouth, or is extremely fearful, seek the advice of a vet or behaviorist.

For this, sit on the floor with your dog on a leash. Make sure they are hungry, and have a stash of their favorite treats. Start by petting them and slowly migrate the petting to under their chin. Feed them the treat, and repeat two or three more times. If your dog is relaxed and still interested, repeat, but after you鈥檝e petted them under their chin, run your hand up and over the top of their muzzle and feed. Repeat two or three times and end the session. Once your dog is calm and happy with you opening their mouth, the final step is pairing the toothbrush and the handling. Go slowly; don鈥檛 be afraid to go back a step if your dog looks concerned or frightened.

There鈥檚 so much more to the process than 鈥渙pen mouth, brush teeth.鈥� With patience and great treats, you鈥檒l eventually have your dog happily open wide鈥攖he saying 鈥渁hhh鈥� part may take a little more time.