How to brush your dog’s teeth? Isn’t it too much? Quite the opposite, say veterinarians. Experience shows that oral health in dogs is often underestimated. Over time, harmless plaque can turn into a serious problem, affecting the whole body of the animal.
Our dogs are full-fledged members of the family and, whenever possible, are always with us, whether consciously or unconsciously. Sometimes we perceive our four-legged friend more as a human being and treat them as an equal. Do you catch yourself doing this? However, when it comes to dental care for dogs, accusations of humanizing are entirely misplaced.
How to brush your dog’s teeth
The good news is that, due to the larger spaces between their teeth, saliva cleans their mouths much better in dogs than in humans. Food particles are more easily washed away by saliva in dogs than in people.
However, dog teeth are subject to the same „attackers“ as human teeth. Deposits and bacteria can cause the same problems in a dog’s mouth as they do in ours.
Therefore, leaving everything to nature is detrimental to our dog’s oral health. In most cases, the natural cleaning process caused by chewing is not enough to maintain oral hygiene. After all, our dogs’ diets are no longer what they originally were, so they can’t manage on their own.
What should we use to clean our dog’s teeth?
Nowadays, manufacturers offer many products to help you brush your dog’s teeth. Conventional dental care products are unsuitable for your four-legged friend because:
- Regular toothbrushes are generally too large.
- The bristles on the brush head are too stiff.
- The taste of human toothpaste is too strong.
- Toothpaste for humans may contain harmful ingredients (e.g., xylitol).
Therefore, we can clean our dog’s teeth with an alternative dog toothbrush, designed to fit on your finger. It’s made of silicone or microfiber with antibacterial silver content. You can also make homemade toothpaste from coconut oil or consult a veterinarian on which toothpaste to use.