Caring for Your Dog’s Teeth

Many people are unaware that although dogs rarely experience tooth decay (thanks to their naturally non-acidic saliva and habit of chewing on whatever they can find!), they can still be at risk for infection. If you have noticed that your dog’s breath seems particularly stinky, this could be a sign that your dog’s gums have become infected. This is often caused by tartar build up below the gum line which traps bacteria inside. If this is the case, you should take your dog to the vet immediately, as infection can be highly uncomfortable for your pet and could lead to serious gum and tooth problems.

One way to prevent infection is by brushing your dog’s teeth. Yes, that’s right! Toothpastes and toothbrushes designed especially for dogs are already available in the market. The finger brush - similar to that for the human infant - is a rubber hood worn by the owner over his finger. The product has soft rubber bristles on one side and is used by the owner to clean the teeth and massage the gums of his pet. The finger brush can later be replaced by a regular dog toothbrush after the pet becomes accustomed to the cleaning process.

As we were taught when we were first learning to brush our teeth, circular motion is the proper way to brush, and the same applies to brushing your dog’s teeth. After you have brushed all over your dog’s teeth with a circular motion, follow up with soft vertical strokes.

It is not necessary for you to brush your dog’s teeth every day (remember that your dog’s saliva isn’t acidic, like a human’s, and they get a lot of natural tartar removal through gnawing on bones and toys!). If you brush your dog’s teeth two or three times a week, that will greatly help to reduce any tartar that might build up below the gum line. If you are able to, try scheduling an appointment with your dog’s vet to scale and clean his teeth. It’s not a very expensive procedure and only needs to be done about once every three years - or two if your dog seems to have problematic chompers. You can also get a copy of the Dog Food for Life eBook, which has helpful information about doggy hygiene and diet.

I encourage you to visit Dog Food for Life for more information about canine hygiene and diet.