The secret to good oral health lies in a simple routine that best suits you and your pet's lifestyle. Although daily brushing is the gold-standard, brushing 2-3 times a week is enough to see a marked improvement. In-between brushing, why not consider additional care options from the Beaphar Dental Care Range.Brushing takes just 60 seconds; aim to brush each quadrant of your pet's mouth for 15 seconds. Tongue-facing surfaces do not need brushing, as they benefit from the natural cleaning effect of the tongue. Even though brushing your pet's teeth won't take long it is still important to introduce your cat or dog to teeth cleaning slowly and always give them lots of praise.The following steps should be achieved gradually. Do not move onto the next step until your pet is happy with the current step. The duration and frequency of each step needs to be built up steadily to avoid teeth cleaning becoming a stressful experience for both you and your pet. 1.Lift your pet’s lips to expose the teeth. Reinforce this by giving them lots of praise.2.Once your pet is used to having their mouth touched on the outside, start running your finger along their teeth. The back and upper teeth are the parts of the mouth most prone to plaque and tartar, so focus on getting your pet used to these areas being touched. 3.When they are accustomed to this, introduce them to a small amount of toothpaste. Place some on your finger, allowing them to lick it off. We recommend Beaphar Toothpaste or Beaphar Peppermint & Parsley Toothpaste; both are liver-flavoured and most pets love them.4.When they are used to the taste and texture of the toothpaste, and having their mouth touched you can start to introduce the Beaphar Finger Toothbrush. To do this, simply wet the bristles on the toothbrush and place some toothpaste on it.5.Allow your pet to investigate and lick the toothpaste off the Beaphar Finger Toothbrush. Be sure to give them plenty of praise. 6.When they are comfortable with each of the steps, it is time to combine all elements of the training. Start by brushing a few teeth on this session and gradually build-up each time until all their teeth can be cleaned for a total of 60 seconds, aiming to brush each quadrant of their mouth for 15 seconds. Ensure you thoroughly clean the Beaphar Finger Toothbrush after each use. Try to keep your pet from chewing on the brush. Replace the Beaphar Finger Toothbrush every 3 months or sooner if it looks worn. If you have been using the Beaphar Finger Toothbrush as a first toothbrush, once your pet is comfortable with the steps above you can switch to the Beaphar Toothbrush or Beaphar Bamboo Toothbrush. Make sure you always have a bowl of fresh drinking water available after brushing.