How to help make those pearly whites shine
Dental health is a very important part of your dog’s overall health. A healthy mouth means no stinky breath, or hefty dental cleaning bills from the vet! We brush our own teeth twice a day, so why not take the same care for our dog’s teeth? Here are some dental health tips for your dog to make those those pearly whites shine!
Brush your dog’s teeth
Here’s a great place to start! You can find a good dog toothpaste at your local pet store, and a special doggy toothbrush as well. Right from puppyhood, you should get your dog accustomed to having their teeth brushed. This is important to make brushing their teeth an easy task when they grow up (trust me!).
If they don’t like the toothbrush at first, you can start by rubbing toothpaste in their mouth with a finger. Often, they like the taste of the toothpaste and will gradually grow accustomed to the toothbrush as well. Be patient with this and treat it like you’re training your dog to do a trick.
You should brush their teeth as often as recommended on the toothpaste packaging.
Cut down on treats containing sugar or starch
One of the contributing factors to plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth comes from treats with a lot of sugar or starch, which can build up on teeth and gums. I prefer to stick with very simple/minimal ingredient treats and avoid anything with flour in it, for this very reason. Peanut butter is also very sticky, and I’ve found some on Isla’s teeth long after she’s devoured her treat.
While Isla and Harley love dog cookies, those treats are only given on special occasions and their teeth look great!
Try out some “dental toys”
There’s a whole market for toys designed to clean dog’s teeth, and some actually seem to work. Isla and Harley like to chew on their Benebone (similar to a Nylabone), which helps to clean their teeth a little. Other types of toys you can get are tough rubber balls or bones that your dog can’t rip apart, but enjoys chewing.
If you’re not sure what to go with, I always recommend choosing a natural solution, such as a raw bone. Often, raw bones last a little while and they’re free of any chemicals or preservatives that might be in artificial dental bones and toys.
Whatever you decide on, please be sure to supervise your dog when chewing! There’s always a chance (even if minimal) that a toy could become a choking hazard and you want to be there to help your dog, should that ever happen.
Frozen, frozen, frozen!
I’m all about frozen foods for dogs. Both of our dogs eat raw frozen food for their meals and totally love it. If you don’t feed your dog raw, you can still give them a frozen treat once in a while to help clean their teeth. I’ve mentioned in my 6 hot weather tips blog and my fun fall leftovers blog some ways to make yummy frozen treats that your dog will love!
Check their teeth regularly
Finally, even if you brush their teeth, given them awesome dental toys and treats and plenty of frozen foods, you still need to check their teeth often. Once a week, do a quick check to make sure their teeth and gums look healthy, and their breath does not smell foul. Check their back teeth for any signs of cracking, which can result from chewing hard toys or bones.
If you aren’t able to clean your dog’s teeth properly, bring your dog to the vet and ask for their advice on cleaning tips. You can also take your dog to a groomer or vet for regular teeth cleaning, although it is quite expensive.
Whatever method you choose to maintain your dog’s dental health, be sure to be mindful of it. I hope you enjoyed these dental health tips for your dog and encourage your to try a few, if not all! If you have any tips to share about dental health, please comment below.