August is Pet Dental Health Month

In Australia and some parts of Europe, August is Pet Dental Health Month.  In honor of the occasion, we find it only fitting to examine how to brush a dog’s teeth, the easy way.

The essence of proper dog grooming is sprinkled with the obvious functions such as nail clipping and dog washing but often lost by the way side is how to brush a dog’s teeth.  Cleaning Fido’s chompers may not  seem needed or even appropriate, but don’t assume.  Learning how to brush a dog’s teeth is simple and can be done in minutes.

Brushing a dog’s teeth is as necessary as brushing our own teeth, maybe even more so.  After all we don’t often lick and bite our own private parts, or eat out of the garbage or chew on our “BFF”s poop for fun so it should seem obvious that we know the importance of brushing our dog’s teeth.  This could be the reason that the American Veterinary Dental Society reported that 80% of all dogs has some form of gum disease by age 3.

More Than Just Fresh Breath

The reasons for brushing a dog’s teeth is more than just to smell their minty breath when in close quarters.  As a matter of fact, although mint is one of the common flavors of dog toothpaste, beef and chicken flavors are more popular.  Can you imagine brushing your teeth with a pork chop flavored paste?…Well, good thing they aren’t for us; and frankly speaking, human toothpaste isn’t for dog’s either. The first step in learning how to brush a dog’s teeth is to realize that one will require a toothpaste made especially for dogs.  Dogs will swallow the toothpaste and if it isn’t made specifically for pets (dogs), don’t use it.

I’m Not Sharing my Tooth Brush!

Brushing your dog’s teeth is necessary, sharing brushes is optional.  Tooth brushes for dogs come in many different sizes and step two of how to brush a dog’s teeth dictates that the appropriate sized brush is used.  A Chihuahua and a Mastiff shouldn’t use the same sized brushes.  Any pet store will have a choice so simply pick the size right for your 4 legged roommate.  There are actual brushes, which look like their human counter part, or there are finger brushes which slip over your finger.  Both are effective.  In a pinch, one can even use some gauze rolled around your finger and wet with water.

It’s All in the Wrist

The Academy of veterinary Dentistry states that over 95% of tartar build up on the canine teeth are on the outside of the teeth.  Reason being that the semi-rough surface of the dog’s tongue cleans the inside of their teeth fairly effectively.  The take away from that is don’t do the hard work that you don’t have to.  You see the real secret in how to brush a dog’s teeth effectively is knowing that simple fact.  There are plenty of opinions out there that dictate that you need to open the dog’s mouth widely and get all the inside as well.  That makes for a pain in the butt for you and quite frankly, it’s going to piss off your pooch.  See below for a good demonstration.

The easy way to brush a dog’s teeth is to simply lift the lip and get the outside of all the teeth.  The canine mouth structure makes it easy to access all the teeth, even the back ones, especially with longer “snouted” dogs.  Don’t make it harder than it should be.    It’s helpful to find a flavor of paste your dog likes, but beyond that, brushing with a back and forth or circular motions on the outside of the dogs teeth is the idea hygiene habit.  If your dog is uneasy, start slow with just a few front teeth and work your way up to a couple minute sessions if possible.  Daily is best, but shoot for no less than three times a week.  Thats how to brush a dog’s teeth, the easy way.