How Often To Get Dogs Teeth Cleaned

Oral hygiene is necessary for humans, and the same goes for your dog. The fact that they are animals does not exempt them from getting serious dental diseases. They can develop swollen gums, painful swallowing, and tooth loss. Although many pet owners usually wonder how often to brush dogs teeth, they tend to overlook this and forget that oral care is important for the overall health of their dogs.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dog's Teeth?

Humans are advised to brush daily, if not more than once or twice a day. Just like you do, it is better to clean your dog's teeth daily to avoid plaque and tartar buildup which can lead to problems like periodontal disease.

Depending on the dog's breed and age, the frequency of brushing your dog's teeth might change. Larger breeds might not need as frequent brushing as smaller breeds because the latter are more prone to dental problems. The same goes based on age. Unlike younger dogs that can skip a brush or two each week, older dogs need to have their teeth cleaned more often.

Ideally, the recommended tooth-brushing frequency for dogs is daily. Generally, your dog should at least be getting its teeth cleaned twice or three times a week.

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Brushing your dog's teeth can be a difficult task during your first attempt. Follow these tips to make the process comfortable for your dog:

Get the Right Supplies for Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

While brushing your dog's teeth, you need a pet-safe toothpaste and a pet-friendly toothbrush. Unlike a pet-safe paste, human toothpaste is not good for pets because it has fluoride, which can upset your pet's stomach.

Pet-safe pastes are safe to swallow as they do not contain foaming agents. They even have peanut butter or poultry flavors to entice pets. For smaller pets, try to brush with a toothbrush that fits on your finger's end to make maneuvering in their mouth easy, just don't use baking soda as many people recommend.

Larger pets respond well to bigger toothbrushes with handles as they make reaching the back of their mouth easier.

Conduct Some Test Runs

Once you have essential tools, try to familiarize your dog with the toothbrush. Before using it, ensure your dog is comfortable by lifting up their lips regularly and giving them rewards for cooperating.

Rub a wipe or your finger along their gums and teeth to make your dog get used to having a brush in its mouth. Once they become accustomed to the toothbrush, begin with short brushing sessions before increasing the time gradually.

Position Yourself Comfortably

When you try to brush your dog's teeth, you may have noticed that it squirms and even gets away. This is because pups won't sit still for the duration needed to brush. I advise positioning your pet in a way that allows you to hold them in place easily.

For smaller pups, sit next to them or wrap them in a towel and bring them closer to your side by wrapping your arm around their body. This helps keep them still as you work with their head. Similar to smaller pups, sit next to larger pups and wrap your elbow around their head when brushing.

While in this position, use your hand to move their lips so that you brush comfortably. If your puppy is uncomfortable or upset, do not force it to stay as it can feel brushing is a negative experience. If your pup begins fidgeting a lot, allow them to go and try later. Also, be careful with how you're holding or restraining your pet to prevent neck injury.

Brush Your Dog's Teeth at Their Gum Line

While opening your dog's mouth, focus on where their gum line meets their teeth. Also, focus on their back teeth because this is where tartar and plaque accumulate. As you brush your dog's teeth, target this area with circular motions.

Strike the right balance between being too gentle and brushing too hard. Most dog owners rarely scrub enough to remove plaque buildup. Like our own mouths, plaque removal can be effective if you spend enough time brushing their teeth.

Continue With a Regular Brushing Routine

Although brushing several times every week is crucial to maintaining your pup's oral hygiene, you can supplement dental care with healthy chews. However, they're not as efficient as a regular brushing routine because they can only reduce plaque buildup.

How to Make Brushing Easier

Most dogs may not be comfortable while brushing their teeth. So you'll have to do certain things to make them get accustomed to the process. This not only makes your dog more comfortable with the process but also makes it easier for you

Begin Slowly

Avoid brushing your dog's teeth quickly. Instead, begin slowly and ensure they're comfortable with you touching their teeth, gums, as well as lifting their lips. Also, ensure they're comfortable with the toothpaste taste before attempting to brush. If they cooperate, reward them with lots of praise and treats.

Make Rewards Tasty

Dogs like sweet treats. So if you associate tooth brushing with a sweet reward, your dog will get more comfortable and even love the process. If you have some gauze, dip it in a tasty treat like bone soup or peanut butter. Once your pup realizes this can be a tasty and fun procedure, they may be interested in tooth brushing.

Take Frequent Breaks

Since it might take your pet some time before getting used to the teeth brushing process, take breaks as you're getting started, especially if the pup seems uncomfortable.

Choose the Right Time

Brushing your dog's teeth at the right time is very crucial. You don't want to brush your dog's teeth when they're playing. Instead, brush your dog's teeth before going to bed or after a walk, when they're relaxed and calm.

Alternatives to Cleaning Your Dog's Teeth

If your dog doesn't want its teeth brushed, there are products you can use to prevent dental disease. There are effective gels, wipes, and a water additive that target biofilm, the major cause of dental decay.

Dental chews can also work as some contain enzymes that clean the mouth. However, it's best if you consult me before giving your dog chews. Also, do not allow your dog to have chews unsupervised as they're hard and can be a choking hazard.

Whatever dental care products you pick for your dog, ensure they're approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council). Such products have been screened by a professional for dangerous additives that could impact your dog's dental health.

Things to Check When Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

As you're brushing, look for signs of discomfort, lip injuries, or tooth pain. If your dog pulls away or cries when you touch a certain area, it could be a sign of pain. If your pup shows any sign of discomfort, get them examined by a vet.

Do Dogs Really Need Dental Cleaning?

It is very important for you to not overlook your dog's dental cleaning. Dogs need it to prevent tooth decay, dental damages, and oral health problems.

How Important Is It to Get Your Dog's Teeth Cleaned?

If you aren't convinced with how important it is, research says that around 70% of dogs develop periodontal disease before they even reach the age of 3. If left untreated, this disease makes them more prone to issues with their blood pressure, kidney or liver, cardiovascular diseases, and worse, cancer.

These are just some of the potential health problems you are preventing for your dog. To avoid these, commit to regularly cleaning their teeth and going for a once-a-year dental cleaning and checkup with a veterinarian.

What Happens if You Don't Get Your Dog's Teeth Cleaned?

It may be uncomfortable for you and your dog when you initially start cleaning their teeth at home. Be sure to use pet-friendly toothbrushes and enzymatic toothpastes. They're better than human pastes as they do not contain chemicals that may poison your pet if they swallow any. Hang in there, because you will get used to it at some point.

If you don't end up getting your dog's teeth cleaned at all, this could lead to many disadvantages, such as poor tooth care and oral hygiene. At first, it may not be that obvious. But, as the bacteria and tartar builds up in their teeth, your dog may suffer the following:

Tooth decay
Loose teeth
Bad breath from rotten tissues
Excessive, involuntary drooling
Painful eating hence losing appetite
Heart, liver, or kidney diseases
Bleeding or excessively red gums

A simple oral problem overlooked can cause long term (and even fatal problems) with your dog's well-being.

Conclusion

I can't emphasize enough how important and beneficial it is both for your dog and you as a pet owner to regularly clean their teeth. Ideally, daily. Two or three times each week would do, too. You should also schedule a yearly professional dental cleaning done by a veterinarian. This will help to ensure prevention against tooth decay, dental damage, and health problems resulting from the buildup of plaque and tartar in your dog's teeth.