How to Get Rid of Bad Plaque on a Dog

Almost every pet at some time in their life will be affected by dental problems. Plaque on a dog's teeth may eventually lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. These conditions also lead to infections and eventually tooth loss. Combating plaque is important to the overall health of your dog, as the chronic inflammation of gingivitis and periodontitis is a contributing factor to kidney failure as your dog ages.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog toothpaste
  • Dog fingertip toothbrush
  • Dog biscuits
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog's teeth every day with a toothpaste designed especially for dogs. Gently brush the dog's teeth with a fingertip toothbrush. Brush the dog's teeth in the same fashion as you would your own, making sure to concentrate on the gumline. The length of time you brush depends largely on what your dog will tolerate.

    • 2

      Feed your dog dry dog food and hard biscuits. Many moist dog foods have a high sugar content, which promotes rapid plaque formation. Hard food and biscuits also keep the plaque deposits from working down into the gums.

    • 3

      Have your dog's teeth cleaned on a regular basis by your veterinarian. Just as when a person sees a dentist, the veterinarian will scale and polish the dog's teeth, removing plaque and tartar deposits.