How to Groom a Small Dog's Teeth

Young or old, big or small, no dog should ever go without proper dental care. There is nothing quite like having your dog start licking your face and filling your nostrils with something akin to "road kill" breath. What you may not realize, is that your dog's teeth and gums need to be brushed just as frequently as yours do. Well at least once a day in order to keep his teeth and gums clean. Just because your pup won't get cavities, does not mean he can't get gum disease. Good oral hygiene can help reduce the risk of gum disease and your pup losing his teeth. 

Let's face it, your small dog could care less what his breath smells like and really doesn’t worry about what his teeth look like. The only time he ever worries about his teeth and gums is in the event that they cause him pain. Getting your pup used to having his teeth brushed as early as possible. The sooner you start, the better the odds are that your pup will simply grow up having his teeth brushed and will let you do it without fussing. 

• It cannot be said enough that you should never use any type of toothpaste or oral care product intended to be used by humans. They contain fluoride that can be deadly to dogs and a number of other ingredients known to be harmful to dogs.
  
• Never use a human toothbrush as the head is not angled correctly, which means you may end up missing parts of his teeth and areas of his gums.
  
• Always take your time and use the brush gently. There is no need to scrub hard, all this will do is injure your pup's gums.
• Being rough can also make your pup more nervous and reluctant to have his teeth brushed in the future.
  
• If his teeth are so discolored they won't come clean with a gentle brushing, you may be better off taking your little dog to the vet for a professional cleaning.
  
• You should take your pup in to see his vet once a year for a thorough dental exam and cleaning. This gives your vet a chance to catch problems early.
  
• Make sure you brush your pup's teeth every day to ensure he reaches old age with all his teeth intact. After no one wants their dog to have dentures. 

The good news is that once your pup has become used to having his teeth brushed, you should be able to get the whole job done in no more than a few minutes. If you have an older dog who has not had his teeth brushed regularly, be sure to have the vet check his teeth and gums over first to make sure they are healthy. Then you can get on with taking care of his teeth and enjoying those pretty pearly whites and fresh breath.