How can you brush a dogs teeth

Only use toothpaste that is specifically for dogs. While it works well for us, human toothpaste can have ingredients that are toxic to dogs. Select a good spot for teeth brushing. Touch the teeth and gums without the brush. Can you do this initial step? Ideally, your pup has been in AKC S. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen classes and is used to have his mouth handled. Lift the top lip up and hold it while you touch the teeth; then pull the bottom lip down and touch the bottom teeth. Touch the toothbrush to the teeth.

Touch the front, side, and back teeth on the top and bottom. Praise and reward your dog for tolerating this step. Introduce the toothpaste to the dog. Start by showing your dog the toothpaste and letting them lick it from your finger.

Add the toothpaste to the toothbrush. Start brushing the top teeth. Hold the upper lip up. Ideally, they should be white. If you are seeing yellow, grey, or a greenish tinge to the teeth, it is most likely that there is tartar accumulating there. That is not something that you will be able to brush off, and they will need professional dental cleaning. Also, the gum line should look nice and pink. If you see a red line at the gum line, that is gingivitis or inflammation of the gum tissue. Get your dog used to toothbrushing.

Get them used to you touching their mouth and teeth. Put your fingers in their mouth, touch their teeth, as well as their gums so that they get used to it.

If you have an adult dog who has never brushed their teeth before, we recommend starting with lifting their lips and looking at the teeth. It is a good starting point to make sure they will tolerate you handling their mouth. From there, you can work your way up to touching the teeth, and even putting a bit of toothpaste on your finger wiping it on the tooth, and let them get used to the flavor.

Once your dog is used to having their mouth handled, you can try using a toothbrush. You want to get kind of close to the gum line, but not on the gums because you can make them bleed. So kind of focusing more on the actual crown of the tooth. Make your goal something that as a pet owner you can actually follow through with. Nothing will replace when your veterinarian tells you to get a dental [cleaning].

Some brands Rossman likes include C. She said the chews could complement teeth brushing. So great. Some jobs are better left to the pros. If your dog is whimpering in pain every time you try to brush his teeth or you notice a lot of blood after brushing, book an appointment with your veterinarian.

Your pet might need a professional teeth cleaning. Dogs may be telling you something when they're shy about their mouth, and it's because it hurts. Teresa K.