Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning Your Dog's Teeth

Oral health is often overlooked when thinking of caring for a dog or puppy. A dog's teeth can greatly impact it's overall health. This is the main reason it is important to make sure their teeth stay in good condition. It is often difficult to tell if a dog or even a younger puppy has healthy teeth. In this article, we will discuss the methods and reasons to keep your dogs teeth clean and healthy.

The biggest reason to keep your dogs teeth properly cleaned is for their overall health. Dogs can contract many serious diseases from infections within the teeth and gums. The only way to be sure a dog's teeth is healthy is to have them vet checked. It is often difficult to visually determine if your dog has healthy teeth and gums. The veterinarian will do a simple exam to rule out infections and disease. This should be done at least annually.

Build up of plaque can often cause pain to a dog. This is usually unnoticed, but a dog may actually whimper or have trouble eating and chewing their food. The pain can also be thought to be normal teething in puppies. This is why it is very important to have your puppies check as young as possible. Tooth and gum disease can travel and cause serious infections in other areas of the dog's body. A reputable veterinarian will not perform and surgery on a dog with unhealthy teeth and gums.

Most often, tooth and gum cleaner can be found at any store that carries pet items. Do not use human toothpaste on your dog. The toothpaste developed for dogs comes in a variety of tasty flavors. Dogs may prefer a flavor that is similar to the foods they are used to eating. These products are usually fairly inexpensive. Some will come with a finger brush or larger brush similar to the human toothbrush.

Some dogs will be reluctant to have their teeth brushed at first. Do not force them because it will often cause trauma. The best method is to get them used to you touching their teeth a few days before beginning. You may want to use a muzzle at first due to any fear or aggression. After a few days you can take the muzzle off and see if your dog will let you touch the outside of it's teeth barehanded. Practice by rubbing their teeth gently until they become used to it.

Finally, you may begin introducing small amount of the toothpaste on the finger brush. Go slowly because a dog may not recognize the foreign object in their mouth. Be careful not to be forceful or push too hard because it may cause pain or bleeding. In time, some dogs will enjoy this as part of their daily routine.