Should You Brush Your Dog's Teeth?

Your dog can have the same issues with his teeth as you do, and it is just as important to get your dog the dental care he needs as it is for humans. While your dog's teeth should never be neglected, dental care for your dog is increasingly necessary as your dog ages.

To easy your dog into the routine of having his teeth brushed you should start to introduce this to him at an early age. The first thing to do is to get your pup accustom to having you touch his mouth and teeth. Next, you should allow him to become accustom to the taste of toothpaste by putting a very small amount on your finger and rubbing it on his teeth. Over a period of time, you will be able to advance this method to a cotton ball of soft cloth application, and then proceed to make use of a doggie toothbrush. Never use human toothpaste as many times dogs have a negative reaction to this. Instead purchase toothpaste which is especially made for dogs. Remember when you are introducing your dog to dental care, be sure to start out slowly and after each session reward your pup with a treat. When your dog has behaved in a manor which is acceptable, praise him highly as well.

With regular dental care at home, you will only need to take your dog to the vet once yearly for routine dental care.

There are various bones and such on the market which claims to clean your dog's teeth. This would be a simple solution to this problem if it were affective. However, while these products may work to a certain degree, they are not effective if not used in conjunction with regular brushing.

Many dogs have bad breath. If your dog has bad breath this could be a sign of a dental problem called periodontal disease. In addition to bad breath, your dog may be a risk for loosing his teeth from the disease. You may think that dental issues in your dog are not important, but dogs which do not receive dental care, can suffer from various infections which can lead to serious conditions such as heart infections, or live and kidney problems.