Taking Care of Your Puppy or Dog's Teeth - Dental Care for Dogs

A lot of people think that because their dog or puppy chews on bones or toys and had more concentrated saliva than humans that additional oral care is not necessary. While it is true that dogs and puppies have less tartar build up than humans they still can develop many problems without proper oral hygiene.

In dogs, just like in humans, oral health problems can include tooth decay, cavities, periodontal disease, abscesses and tooth loss. The good news is that by taking care of your dog's teeth many of these potential problems can be prevented, or at least lessened.

Caring for your dog's teeth is easy. All you need to do is brush their teeth once a week. If you have a puppy it is good to get them used to tooth brushing while they are still young. If your dog is older you probably still will do fine since most dogs are receptive to having their teeth brushed.

Toothbrushes for dogs are usually either brushes that look quite similar to human toothbrushes, or they are ginger brushes that are a piece of rubber that slides over your finger in much the same way as a thimble does.

If your dog isn't too excited about having their teeth brushed with a large, standard toothbrush they may be more receptive to a finger toothbrush. However, if your dog growls or acts at all aggressive when you try to brush its teeth it is best to stop and call a professional to help.

Never use human toothpaste when brushing a dog's teeth. Instead, they make toothpaste that is specifically made to be safe for dogs and can be swallowed. These dog toothpastes usually come in meat flavors which can make getting their teeth brushed seem more like a treat to dogs.

To brush your dog's teeth, just apply some toothpaste to either your standard brush or your finger brush. Slide the brush into your dog's mouth between its cheek and teeth and brush away. Some dogs will try to lick at the toothpaste which can make for tricky brushing, but just to your best to try to loosen any food particles or plaque that may have accumulated in your dog's mouth.