There are lots of ways to help keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy. You can get specially formulated dry foods, additives for their water and chew toys that can help clean teeth if used frequently. But often the best way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is by brushing.
The basics
When should you start brushing your dog's teeth?
It's a good idea to introduce your dog to having their teeth brushed when they’re a puppy. For dogs of any age, toothbrushing needs to be introduced in a gradual and positive way
Ideally, brush your dog's teeth daily
If your dog pulls away or is uncomfortable at any point, stop what you’re doing and take a break
During your next session, go back a stage to when your dog was comfortable and practise that step slowly and gradually before progressing again
If you're struggling to brush your dog's teeth or they show any signs of being worried, speak to your vet or seek support from a qualified behaviourist.
What should you use to brush your dog's teeth?
You can buy enzymatic dog toothpaste and a brush or rubber thimble from your vet/pet shop. Enzymatic toothpaste helps break down plaque and reduces bad breath. They also come in enticing flavours like chicken or liver.
Never use human toothpaste as it can be toxic for dogs.
Do you need to brush your dog's teeth?
It’s important to look after your dog's teeth. Dental disease is one of the most common health problems experienced by dogs and can result in significant pain from sore teeth and gums.
Daily teeth brushing can help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar which can lead to gingivitis and dental disease.
Possible signs of dental problems
It can sometimes be difficult to recognise if a dog is in pain because of dental disease — they will often continue to eat which can mask the severity of the problem. But there are a few signs to look for that could indicate that your dog has dental problems.
red or swollen gums (gingivitis- A thin red line along the gum will indicate inflammation of the gums)
discolouration of the teeth (plaque- this is a sticky, colourless film of sugars and bacteria that builds up on the teeth)
Plaque can then lead to (tartar- a hard calcified deposit that will build up and cause dental disease)
Dog Teeth Cleaning Vancouverfractured or missing teeth.
Your vet will check your dog's teeth on a regular basis but if your dog shows any of these signs, seek veterinary advice. Many vet practices offer free dental clinics with their vet nurses or free nurse checks with pet care plans.
Illustration of how to teach a dog to rest their chin on your hand.
Illustration of owner giving dog treat, close up.
To get started, you'll need to teach your dog how to rest their chin on your hand.
Hold your open hand flat with your palm up in front of your dog’s snout slightly below chin level.
In your other hand, hold a treat in front of your dog just below their nose. As your dog reaches for the treat, slowly lower your hand holding the treat towards your open palm. As your dog places their chin across your open palm, mark that they got the behaviour right by saying 'yes' or 'good' and reward them.
In your other hand, hold a treat in front of your dog just below their nose. As your dog reaches for the treat, slowly lower your hand holding the treat towards your open palm. As your dog places their chin across your open palm, mark that they got the behaviour right by saying 'yes' or 'good' and reward them.
Repeat this a few times and once your dog is getting it right, start to fade out the treat by repeating the steps with the same motion but with no treat in your hand.
Reward them with a treat when they place their chin onto your palm. Once you have practiced this, start to fade out the moving hand by moving it less and less until you are able to present just your palm and your dog will place their chin across it.
Reward your dog every time they get it right. Once they’ve got the hang of it you can add a verbal cue like ‘chin’, wait for a second, then present your palm for your dog to place their chin on. You can also start to increase the duration over sessions by waiting a second before marking and rewarding your dog.
It's important to understand your dog's body language so you can tell when they're feeling uncomfortable or apprehensive. Once they have mastered this you can get them used to having their mouth and teeth touched and cleaned.
Illustration of how to massage dog's mouth.
Illustration of hand cupping down on dogs snout.
Illustration of dog licking toothpaste off owners finger.
Illustration of dog licking off toothpaste off rubber thimble brush.
Illustration of owner brushing dogs teeth with rubber thimble and toothpaste.
