How do you keep your dog’s teeth healthy ?

The teeth are one of the most important body parts of your dog. They use them to eat, play, and also to defend themselves. We humans can brush our teeth to keep them clean and strong. A dog cannot do this on its own, so it’s important that we regularly engage in dental care.

Why is dental care important for your dog?

Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from plaque and tartar. Plaque can lead to gum inflammation. This is not only painful for the dog, but it can also bleed and cause damage to the teeth and their roots. In the worst case, the bacteria from the inflamed gums can enter the dog’s bloodstream. This can cause problems in the rest of the body, such as in the heart.

Brushing your dog’s teeth

The way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is by brushing them. You can buy special dog toothbrushes that allow you to easily reach all the teeth, and there is also special toothpaste for dogs. Never use toothpaste for humans!

Brushing teeth is not very fun for your dog at first, so it’s wise to teach it early on. If your dog is still a puppy, you can quite easily teach your dog through play or clicker training that brushing teeth is not a bad thing.

How do I brush my dog’s teeth?

Do you want your dog to let you brush its teeth without fuss or stress? Then it’s a good idea to get him used to the rubber toothbrush, the toothpaste, and the feeling of brushing at a young age. This goes in steps:

1. Have your dog sit next to you and gently lift his lip while holding his head. Reward with a healthy snack if that goes well.
2. If your dog accepts this smoothly, carefully open his mouth. Remember your reward! Is your dog not cooperating fully yet? Try again the next day.
3. Once you have control over the head and teeth, bring out the toothbrush. Don’t start brushing immediately, but hold it close to the teeth or gently place the toothbrush against them. Reward your dog again! Then do the same with a little bit of toothpaste.
4. Once your dog allows the previous steps, you can gently brush – and reward. Mission accomplished!

Useful tools

Not all dogs allow their teeth to be brushed. If this is the case with your dog, it’s best to look for alternative ways to maintain your dog’s oral hygiene. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives on the market!

• Chew bone

A chew bone can provide an alternative to brushing the teeth if necessary. It’s even better to see this as a supplement to brushing!

• Chew snacks

There are many chew snacks on the market that are good for your four-legged friend’s oral hygiene! Our personal favorite is the snacks from Garden Bites. With their unique texture and shape with knobs, they are ideal for oral hygiene! Believe us, dental care for your dog has never been so tasty and healthy!

• Barkbox

Barkbox offers many products that contain toothpaste. You should never use human toothpaste on your dog, but Barkbox products are completely safe!

Regularly check the teeth

Your dog can’t tell you when it has dirty teeth, so as an owner, it’s your job to keep an eye on this. Signs of bad teeth include a foul smell from the mouth and difficulty eating. Always have the teeth checked when you visit the vet. If it has gotten out of hand, there is a chance that your dog will need a dental treatment under anesthesia.

Want to learn more about dental care for dogs or dental sticks? Be sure to listen to our dog experts!