How to Brush a Dog's Tongue
Easy
5 - 10 Minutes
1 Week
Need regular grooming services?
Introduction
There's a saying that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's mouth. Knowing all the things your dog licks throughout the course of his day, you might not want to take that as absolute truth. Bacteria can grow on your dog's tongue and cause bad breath or doggy breath. Brushing your dog's tongue will not only freshen his breath but could also eliminate some of this bacteria. When paired with a healthy diet, healthy flora can thrive on your dog's tongue, giving him a fresh mouth and cleaner oral health. Get your dog involved in his oral health by making this simple task part of his oral health routine.
Dog's Perspective
If brushing your dog's teeth is troublesome, getting to his tongue might cause a little anxiety for you both. Have your dog do more of the work at first licking the toothbrush rather than trying to pry his mouth open to brush his tongue. Don’t forget to always offer a tasty treat for a reward.
The Toothbrush Method
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Step
1
Paste
Add dog toothpaste to your dog’s toothbrush. Do not use human toothpaste. Dog toothpaste typically has a flavor your dog will be interested in tasting, and human toothpaste may be toxic to your dog. Apply a small amount of the paste to the brush and push it down into the bristles so it is not sitting on top of the brush.
Step
2
Show your dog
Let your dog see and sniff the toothbrush with the tasty dog toothpaste on the top. He should smell the paste and show an interest.
Step
3
Brush
Because your pup will be interested in the toothbrush, getting him to open his mouth shouldn’t be too difficult. He’ll want to taste this yummy stuff. Be sure to put the toothbrush in his mouth with the bristles facing down.
Step
4
Move the brush
Let your dog lick the brush trying to get the toothpaste off the bristles. If you’ve pushed the toothpaste down into the bristles, you should be able to brush with the top part while he tries to lick the paste off.
Step
5
Lick
Let your dog lick the brush. Just be sure you move it around to different areas of the tongues to get it all clean. Though it might feel counterproductive to use a flavored paste to clean his tongue, the action of moving the brush along his tongue will do the job. The paste is really there to keep your dog motivated to keep brushing.
The Tongue Cleaner Method
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Step
1
Pick a tongue cleaner
Rubber bristle brushes are available for your dog’s oral health and to assist with bad dog breath. Pick one the right size for your dog.
Step
2
Apply paste
Many dog tongue cleaners come with a special paste your dog will lick off the brush. This gel or paste will help to kill bacteria that causes bad breath. Or you can use a small amount of a tasty pliable treat such as peanut butter or dog toothpaste. If your dog is interested in licking the brush without product, this will work better without introducing food to the brush.
Step
3
Lick
Once the gel or paste is applied to the brush, let your dog lick it clean. Be sure to move the brush a bit from side to side so his tongue is fully covered.
Step
4
Time
Be sure your dog is licking the brush for at least one minute. Move the angle of the brush every few moments so all areas of his tongue are reached.
Step
5
Rinse
Be sure to rinse the tongue brush after each use. Not rinsing will give bacteria a chance to grow and spread back to your dog’s mouth.
Step
6
Treat
End your dog’s tongue brushing session with a nice simple treat to reward him for a job well done. Though the brush has something tasty applied, you still want to reward your dog. This will help him stay interested in tongue brushing again.
Caution & Considerations
- Never use human toothpaste for your dog's teeth or tongue. Human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs or, at the very least, cause an upset tummy.
- You can use a regular toothbrush or a dog toothbrush to brush your dog's tongue or you can purchase a special tongue cleaning brush for your dog specifically for brushing his tongue.
- A dog tongue brush has bristles and scrapers to remove bad-breath-causing bacteria.
- Getting your dog involved in brushing his tongue makes the whole task easier for you. Your dog can lick the tongue brush rather than you brushing for him, which makes the task more gentle and leaves your dog in control.
- Oral health for your dog does not just stop with teeth and gums. Your veterinarian should also be checking his tongue for pre-cancer or any appearances of irregular bumps.
- Brushing your dog's tongue on a regular basis will help improve his overall oral health.
- Improving your dog's overall oral health also improves his general health. Oral diseases can affect your dog's heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys.
- Â Maintaining overall health through brushing teeth gums and tongue impacts your dog's entire body.
Conclusion
Get rid of that horrible doggy breath with a good tongue brushing. Your dog can go back to giving your puppy kisses with a cleaner tongue and better breath. Oral hygiene is important for your pup. Help him stay healthy with great oral hygiene habits.
