Your dog’s dental health might not feel like the most important part of pet care. That’s until you get a whiff of their morning breath! Just like us, dogs can develop plaque, tartar and gum disease. But with some routine, you can keep your dog’s mouth healthy, pain-free and smelling fresh.
Brush up on dog dental care
To learn more about dog dental care, check out this short video.
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Pets
Absolutely. It’s the single best thing you can do for their mouth.
And whether you’ve got a tiny pup, a rescue finding their feet, or an older dog set in their ways, you can introduce brushing at any age.
You can start proper brushing from around six months old, once the adult teeth have arrived. Before that, the goal is simply to make face, head and teeth touching feel normal. Build up to tooth brushing slowly to allow your dog to become accustomed to it.
- Some gentle face time
Gently stroke their muzzle and cheeks, and reward any calm behaviour. At this stage, you’re just helping them realise that having their face touched isn’t a big deal.
- Try a lip lift
Once they’re relaxed, gently lift their lip to take a quick look at the teeth. If your dog is overly aggressive however, we don’t recommend putting your fingers in their mouth.
- Enter: toothpaste
Let them lick a bit of dog-friendly toothpaste from your finger. There are many flavours available, from coconut to finger-lickin’ chicken.
- Bring in the brush
Start with a finger brush or a soft dog toothbrush, and just apply the toothpaste to a few teeth. When they accept that, you can gently massage it in. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle, and brush along the gums in a circular motion. If they’re tolerant of the outside of the teeth being brushed, you can progress to the inner surfaces.
- Make it a routine
Pick a calm moment each day. So ideally not mid-zoomies. If they’re resistant, pause and try again later. Forcing things only turns brushing into a battle scene. Every little step forward counts. Some dogs get it straight away, others act like brushing is a shocking betrayal. Both are perfectly normal.
Every day if you can. Plaque builds up quickly, so a daily brush helps keep it on a short leash. But if that’s not realistic, brushing a few times a week still makes a real difference.
No, human toothpaste is off the menu. It can contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, and the strong minty flavours also don’t go down well. Dog toothpaste is made just for them: safe, tasty, and packed with ingredients that keep their teeth and gums in good shape.
Some dogs happily accept a toothbrush. Others need a moment to sink their teeth into the idea. If brushing isn’t on the cards right now, that’s okay. There are still ways to support their dental health. Look for the VOHC stamp, which shows a product has met their approval criteria. Good alternatives include:
- Dental care diets – Crunchy kibble that helps maintain a clean mouth as they chew. Check out Royal Canin Expert Dental Dry Dog Food.
- Dental treats – Chews and sticks that help keep breath smelling fresh. For example, Pedigree Dentastix Dental Chews..
- Dental foams and powders – Great additions to their regimen, helping to keep their teeth looking their best. Try ProDen Plaqueoff Powder For Cats & Dogs.
Plaque is soft, sticky and quick to set up camp. Brushing is the best way to keep it on a short leash. Dental chews, diets and additives can help slow things down, but when it comes to fully seeing the back of plaque, brushing is the real front-runner.
Tartar is just plaque that’s dug its heels in. Once it hardens, no brushing or shop-bought product will shift it. Only your vet can remove it using an ultrasonic dental scaler while your dog is under anaesthesia. This lets them clean above and below the gum line and check each tooth properly.
Yes, but only when they’re used by your vet under anaesthetic.
The ultrasonic scaler can break down tartar above and below the gum line, and that kind of precision needs the dog to be anaesthetised and still. The BVDA strongly advises against anaesthesia-free scaling because it only removes the tartar you can see, and can cause soft-tissue injuries to the gums or damage the surface of the teeth. So we don’t offer it.
At Pets Grooming, we’re happy to give your dog a visual dental check and help you with brushing techniques. But when it comes to proper dental treatment that gets to the root of things, your vet has it covered.
They’ve got a bit of a buzz around them, but here’s the rundown:
They’re not backed by the British Veterinary Dental Association.
There’s no reliable proof they remove tartar.
There’s no way to fully sterilise them between pets.
They may cause pain if your dog has existing dental disease.
If your dog’s breath starts announcing itself, something may be happening under the gum line. Persistent smell, swelling, bleeding or a change in chewing are all reasons to let your vet take a look. If the vet finds nothing that’s specifically wrong, there are lots of products that can help with their breath.