Oral hygiene is very important for dogs and without the proper dental care; your dog is at risk of developing oral diseases such as tartar, cavities, plaque, or even gingivitis. Dog’s teeth need to be brushed and flossed regularly to prevent this since they aren’t very picky eaters, you can’t be sure about where your dog’s snout has been. Dogs have been known to drink from toilet bowls. Germs and bacteria tend to accumulate in warm, damp places – much like the inside of your dog’s mouth. As dogs are exposed to them regularly, they are more prone to develop oral and dental problems.

You need to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, and you need to do it right! However, you can’t use a regular toothbrush and toothpaste. Some veterinary gel/toothpaste will be needed, asks your veterinarian and he’ll surely carry them. There are various types of dog toothbrushes a popular kind can be fitted on a finger. If your dog needs extra-soft bristles, they are available as well. While in some cases, using a regular toothbrush for humans would work okay, using regular toothpaste could pose some health hazards. It is not meant to be swallowed, but your dog may not have control over it. Furthermore, you will definitely have a harder time trying to brush your dog’s teeth; toothpaste for dogs is usually meat-flavoured.

Brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t that hard. All you have to do is coat the bristles of the toothbrush (either finger-brush or a child’s toothbrush) with dog toothpaste. Make sure that it is distributed evenly among the bristles as your dog will just eat the paste up if it just sits right on top of the bristles. To brush your dog’s teeth, use a mechanical, back and forth motion. Make sure that every tooth is clean; look out for any left-over food stuck in between teeth as it could accumulate and cause their teeth to go bad.

Puppies should be trained to be brushed every day at a young age. Prepare small treats and prizes so that s/he will feel safe letting you put a foreign object in his/her mouth. After a few tries, you’ll generally be able to coax the puppy into the routine. It may be harder for dog-owners who have a new, grown-up dog. They can be harder to train for brushing though you can ask your veterinarian to show you what kind of technique would be better in order to brush your new dog’s teeth properly.

Who says hygiene can’t be fun? Rubber toys can also be used to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy. Don’t reach for a soft toy as those will only damage your dog’s gums when they wear out. Hard rubber toys are best, as they clean the teeth with every bite. They are especially good with dogs that bite aggressively. They don’t wear out easily so your dog will be able to use them for a long time. With many different ways to take care of your dog’s oral hygiene, there’s no reason why you can’t give your pet the best there is.