Tricks for Cleaning a Dog's Teeth

Cleaning your dog̵7;s teeth regularly not only keeps doggy breath tolerable, it also helps to preserve your pet̵7;s health. Poor oral hygiene can result in periodontal disease caused by the build-up of plaque and the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which can result in organ damage if absorbed into the dog̵7;s blood stream, according to Pet MD. It̵7;s never too late to start cleaning your dog̵7;s teeth, even though you may have to use tricks to get older dogs to accept the process.

  1. Toothpaste

    • Give the dog a chance to get used to the taste of the toothpaste, which is specially formulated to appeal to animals. If you have other pets, give them a lick first. This will make the dog curious and want to taste it. Allow one lick of toothpaste a day, followed by a tasty treat as a reward. The dog will learn to associate the toothpaste with the reward, and understand that swallowing it is something pleasant that wins your approval. If one type of toothpaste doesn̵7;t work, try another brand until you find one the dog seems to find palatable.

    Brushing

    • If your dog is playful, try to interest him in playing a game with the toothbrush. Wave the brush in the air and let the dog grab it. Throw it and send the dog to fetch it, if he is trained to retrieve. Work the toothpaste into the bristles of the toothbrush and let the dog lick it off, so he becomes accustomed to the texture of the brush. For a less playful dog, allow him to chew the bristles, which will work some of the toothpaste into his mouth. If the dog already has periodontal disease and his gums could be sensitive, use a soft plastic finger toothbrush, which gives better control over the pressure you exert on the teeth.

    Frequency

    • Once the dog is comfortable with both the taste of the toothpaste and the feel of the brush, begin brushing properly, one tooth at a time. Lift the side of the dog̵7;s lip and brush one tooth back and forth, not up and down as is recommended for humans. Give him lots of praise and reward him with a treat once you have finished, even if the brushing lasts only a few seconds. Then don't attempt to brush his teeth again until the next day. This will prevent him from becoming bored or stressed with the process. The following day, do one tooth and reward the dog again afterwards. Do this continuously for a week, after which you can gradually increase the length of time you spend working on the teeth.

    Patience

    • Be patient with the dog if he resists at first. For a dog of 2 years or older, the act of brushing his teeth is foreign and may frighten him. Aim to brush the dog̵7;s teeth daily, but it may take a few weeks to work up to this. Brushing only a tooth or two twice a week is still beneficial and beats doing nothing. If your dog absolutely won̵7;t allow you to put a toothbrush or finger into his mouth, you can spray a veterinary formulated oral hygiene rinse onto his teeth and gums to disinfect them and reduce the bacteria count.