You've got to brush Fido's teeth at least once a week

Take a trip to any pet supply store and you’ll find entire aisles devoted to dental health. Sure, Fido has “dog breath,” but do you really need to brush his teeth? Without regular brushing, your pet can suffer from health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and periodontal disease, not to mention extremely bad breath. Treating infections and extracting teeth can be very expensive, but it can also be avoided by making brushing a part of your pet’s regular routine.

Ideally, your dog should be introduced to having his or her teeth brushed at an early age. Many of us, though, either didn’t own our dogs as puppies or didn’t realize until they were older the importance of brushing their teeth. That’s OK! Your dog is never too old to start having clean teeth! If you are just starting a brushing routine with your dog, speak with your veterinarian first about their dental health. Your vet will look for loose teeth, possible infections, and, if your pet’s teeth are in too bad of condition for regular brushing to fix, they will recommend a professional dental cleaning.

To help ease your dog into having his teeth brushed, try using your fingers to massage his lips, teeth, and gum. Do this with your pet several times a week, being sure to offer them lots of praise (okay, and a few treats wouldn’t hurt!) to help them learn that having their teeth brushed is not a bad experience.

Before you begin actually brushing your dog’s teeth, make sure you have the right tools. Never use toothpaste designed for humans to clean your pet’s teeth. There are many different toothpastes available designed specifically for pets that come in dog-friendly flavors likes chicken or peanut butter. You’ll also want to get a toothbrush specifically made for dogs as these are often smaller and softer than brushes made for humans. In addition to traditional looking toothbrushes, smaller brushes that fit over your finger are also available. Your dog might respond better to one style of brush over the other. Similarly, you might find that you have more control using one style over the other. Head to your local pet supply store to check out all the options, or find an online retailer like vetdepot.com.

Remember to be consistent – you need to brush your pet’s teeth every week to maintain their oral health. Between brushing, offer your pet treats and toys designed to help keep their teeth and gums healthy. By gnawing on these treats and toys, they will scrape away build up on their teeth, making it even easier to keep them clean.

While some owners may scoff at the idea of brushing their dog’s teeth, remember that poor dental health can cause your pet to lose their teeth or be in constant pain from tooth problems. Brushing your dog’s teeth is an easy way to help your pet have a happy, healthier life!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org