How to Brush a Dog's Teeth With Toothpaste

Periodontitis, or the inflammation of the gums, is a dental disease which can cause enormous problems with your dog's teeth, gums, and bones. If you're not taking care of your dog's teeth and brushing them consistently or having your vet tech care for your dog's teeth on a regular basis, he could eventually lose his teeth, develop infections in his gums, and deal with bone loss in his jaw bones. Brushing your dog's teeth is not just about removing tartar and plaque and getting rid of dog breath, it is also about your dog's overall health. Training your dog to brush his teeth makes it much easier. You can get your dog used to the feel of the toothbrush, the taste of the dog toothpaste, and you playing around in his mouth by repeating the process often and brushing as fast as you can.

If your dog is not used to having his teeth brushed he may be a little apprehensive about you poking around inside his mouth with a big plastic tool. When you are not brushing your dog's teeth, give him lots of rewards such as treats that are used to help clean teeth. Make your dog's teeth cleaning sessions short at first, cleaning only a quarter of his teeth at a time until he's used to what it feels like to have the toothpaste and a toothbrush in his mouth. Give him lots of verbal praise and attention and, of course, after brushing offer a tasty treat to reward him for patience and tolerance.

• Do not use human toothpaste on your dog’s teeth. Fluoride is poisonous for dogs.
• Using a double-headed dog toothbrush and brushing at a 45-degree angle will help remove the tartar and plaque at the gum line.
• Caring for your dog's teeth is important for your dog's overall health not just for his oral health. Periodontal disease can cause infections throughout your dog's body that can affect your dog’s major organs--not just his gums and teeth.
•  Dog toothpaste you can find at your veterinarian's office or in a pet store often tastes like beef or something delicious your dog will love.
•  When you are teaching your dog to let you brush his teeth, you may need to work on a few at a time.
•  Brushing your dog's teeth, for the first few times at least, is much easier when your dog is sleepy than when he's excited. Try to do these brushings at night time before bed or after extensive exercise.
• If your dog is irritated with you during the teeth brushing process, take a break and come back to it. You don't want him to become upset and not want you in his mouth at all.

Pearly whites aren’t just for humans. Give your dog nice healthy chompers while helping him maintain great overall health as well. It might take some time, but with a healthy mouth, your pup will be thanking you for the gift of a sparkling smile.