Essential Tips on How to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth
How much time did you spend on learning proper dog teeth care techniques before bringing your furball home? While it is easy to ignore the importance of dog teeth cleaning, dog parents from across the world are starting to realize the serious damage that it may cause. The best way to clean dog’s teeth varies with every single case and is for you to decide based on the preference of your four-legged friend.
As per a study, signs of periodontal diseases start showing on most dogs by their third year. It also confirms that nearly 80% of the dogs show significant oral diseases by the age of three.
Important Tips on How to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth
Why is Canine Teeth Cleaning so Important?
A dog’s teeth stay naturally cleaner than humans, making them less prone to cavity and dental issues. However, ignoring canine teeth cleaning completely might lead to serious problems such as gingivitis, plaque buildup, and tartar. A case study perfectly highlights the extent of damage improper dental care can cause to dogs.
How to Clean Dog Teeth?
Much like humans, the dental care of dogs also revolve around some basic tips that need to be followed on a daily basis. There are also some natural ways to keep adult dog teeth clean. End of the day it is for you to fix the routine that suits you and your dog best.
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
The best dog teeth cleaning products include the two-headed dog tooth brushes with bristles aligned at 45 degree. This helps to thoroughly clean the area just below the gum line without much effort.
However, your dog might not seem too comfortable with brushing at first. Here’s a list of things that you can do in this regard.
- Try brushing your dog’s teeth when he is tired.
- Don’t overdo.
- Leave your dog if he gets too agitated.
- Slowly increase the brushing time.
- Give your dog a treat once you finish brushing.
- Start this when your dog is still a puppy.
Pick the Right Toothpaste
Never use human toothpaste for your dog. This is a mistake that many dog parents unknowingly make. Human toothpaste contains fluoride and can prove to be extremely harmful for your canine friend. Get hold of the ones that have been formulated especially for dogs from any well-known pet store.
Choose the Food Wisely
Dry food is always a better option as compared to the softer alternatives, when it comes to dental care for dogs. Soft food has a tendency to stick to your dog’s teeth and may cause decay.
Chew Toys and Bones Can do the Magic
Have you tried giving your pet dog teeth cleaning bones and toys? These synthetic items are designed to add strength to your dog’s gums and teeth. However you will need to ensure that the objects that you let your dog chew are not too hard.
Note: Though chew toys and bones help in strengthening your dog’s teeth, ignoring the brushing completely is not the best way to go. Look at this option as a supplement to your dog’s overall dental care.
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When Must You Visit Your Dog Dentist?
As a conscious dog parent, you need to have a close look inside your dog’s mouth once every week. The moment you find any of the following pointers, you need to visit your vet without delay.
- Bad breath.
- Sudden change in chewing or eating habits.
- Frequent pawing at the mouth or face.
- Signs of depression.
- Excessive drooling.
- Missing teeth.
- Broken, crooked, or discolored teeth.
- Swollen, bleeding, or painful gums.
- Brown tartar crust on the gums.
- Growths inside the mouth.
Removing Plaque from Dog’s Teeth
The introduction of tooth wipes has made it lot simpler and easier to remove plaque from your dog’s teeth. These wipes are also the best solution if your dog is totally against the brushing. All you need to do is to rub these wipes against the teeth to remove plaque.
Wrapping it up
A dog’s dental care is as important as getting the vaccinations done on time. Most dog parents ignore the topic of pet teeth cleaning without realizing the severe consequences.
However, this negligence can have a serious impact in the general health of your furball that can even prove to be fatal. Why take that chance when you can avoid it with almost no effort?
Follow the simple steps mentioned in the article and keep the pointers in mind. That will ensure that your four-legged friend stays fine and happy.