Canine Dental Cleaning Tools

Dogs can suffer if they have poor oral hygiene. Since a dog can't brush its own teeth, it is up to the the owner to get her reluctant pet to endure some dental upkeep between annual dental checkups with a veterinarian. Fortunately, there are some cleaning tools that can help with this task.

  1. Chew Toys

    • Dental chew toys are generally made from a very tough rubber that encourages even the strongest canine jaws to keep chewing. As they do so, the rubber helps to chip away at the tartar on their teeth. Some of the brands that make these chew toys are Kong Toys, Planet Dog Toys, Petstages Chew Toys and Nylabones.

    Tooth Scaler

    • A tooth scaler is a cleaning instrument made from stainless steel that is designed to scrape away any plaque, tartar or bacteria between your dog's teeth. It can also be used to clean below the gum line and on the surface of the tooth. Scalers are designed to be used by owners between professional veterinary cleanings.

    Toothbrushes

    • Dog toothbrushes come in both manual and electric types. Some manual toothbrushes fit over your finger while you move it over the dog's teeth. Electronic toothbrushes require less movement on the part of the owner and are designed to get between the teeth. Recent brands have introduced different directional motions to help clean dogs' teeth better.

    Toothpaste

    • Dogs should not be given human toothpaste. Instead, there are dog toothpastes available that generally have a meat-like flavor that a dog will like the taste of.

    Breath Fresheners

    • Dog breath fresheners are sprays designed to put an end to the occasional case of foul breath in dogs. They help to keep the flora levels in a dog's mouth down while most of them have antiseptic qualities. Dental rinses and wipes also exist to help clear up the same problem while also fighting tartar and helping protect a dog's teeth for 24 hours.