Have you noticed your pooch’s kisses are getting stinkier and stinkier? Do friends comment on your furry friend’s rotten breath?
Without proper care, dogs can start suffering from tooth decay and gum disease at just a few years of age. To keep those doggie kisses from being daily stink bombs, you can maintain your pup’s teeth healthy and clean through regular teeth brushing and even certain types of chew toys!
In this article we’ll discuss why it’s important to brush your dog’s teeth, how to do it properly, and how to recognize bad oral hygiene or if a trip to the vet is necessary. We’ll also cover our top picks of dog toothpastes and even some DIY options!
Why Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
Just like people, animals develop plaque buildup on their teeth. Without being cared for, this can turn into tartar, which can develop into gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
Simply brushing your pooch’s teeth can go a long way to maintain his optimal level of health and comfort, as well as save you tons of money on costly dental procedures at the vet. It can even add years to his life!
It is important to find a toothpaste that is made specifically for dogs. Do NOT use human toothpaste on your pooch! Human toothpaste often contains fluoride, a mineral that helps keep our teeth healthy but is poisonous to dogs.
Does Your Dog Need His Teeth Cleaned?
Normal dog breath won’t smell minty fresh, but it shouldn’t be too repulsive or pungent either. If you notice your pooch’s breath getting stinkier, you may want to start thinking about developing a regular oral hygiene routine. Or better yet, start one before there’s an issue! You can also check to see if your pup has healthy gums with a quick examination to make sure there isn’t any swelling and that they are a nice, pink color (not white or red).
You’ll want to make sure to keep an eye out for serious signs of tooth decay. Along with extra offensive smells coming out of your dog’s mouth, other signs include vomiting, loss of appetite, and excessive drinking and urinating. If it gets to that point, it may be wise to take a trip to your vet to make sure a dental procedure isn’t necessary.
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Most dogs, at least initially, don’t love getting their teeth brushed. Developing a technique is a helpful way to maximize efficiency and keep your pup happy while also getting his teeth clean.
Use a small brush or just wrap gauze around your finger and brush against your dog’s teeth in small, circular motions. Most tartar accumulates on the outside of your pooch’s teeth where they touch the gums, so it’s best (and easiest!) to focus on brushing along the outward facing sides.
Depending on your pooch, it is smart to get in the habit of brushing at least a few times a week.
The younger you start getting your pooch used to this, the easier it will be to get him to sit still and let you brush his chompers – so start when they’re puppies! This will help avoid costly trips to the vet and painful tooth decay in your pooch’s mouth as he gets older.
Methods for Keeping Your Dog’s Teeth Clean
Option #1: Professional Dental Cleaning: What to Expect
A professional dental cleaning for your pet can be a costly procedure. Since dog’s don’t know that a cleaning is for their own good and can’t be told to sit still, they have to be anesthetized in order to avoid injury and ensure a proper cleaning is done. X-rays are sometimes necessary as well to make sure the jaw and tooth roots are healthy.
Some vets recommend a professional cleaning as often as every year, but with proper oral hygiene and regular tooth brushing at home, these expensive vet oral hygiene procedures can be done much less frequently. It is always a good idea to have your dog be anesthetized as infrequently as possible, and trips to the vet can be a stressful experience as well!
Option #2: Chew Toys
Chew toys are a great way to help keep plaque and tartar from building up on your dog’s teeth. Gnawing on bones, rubber chew toys, and dental chews (such as Greenies) is a great way for your dog to keep his teeth healthy and at the same time fulfill his natural desire to chew!
We have an article detailing our top picks for the best dog dental chews – check them out for some ideas!
Option #3: Healthy Diet
Some dogs are more susceptible to tooth decay than others. In these cases, there are different kinds of specially formulated food that are designed to reduce plaque buildup.
Providing dry food in your pup’s diet helps scrape off plaque as well, and is less likely than wet food to stick to your pooch’s teeth and cause decay.
Option #4: Teeth Brushing With Dog-Friendly Toothpaste
As discussed earlier, regularly brushing your dog’s teeth with a canine-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste will go a long way in keeping your dog’s chompers in tip top shape.
5 Best Dog Toothpastes For Cleaner Canine Teeth
Below we’re reviewing the best dog toothpastes – try one of these on your dog’s mouth!
1. Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
About: Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste provides natural antibacterial action to help prevent the formation of plaque in your canine’s mouth, as well as eliminate mouth odors.
This product is made for both dogs and cats, and is formulated to taste good to make brushing easy and enjoyable for all!
Product
Details
This toothpaste comes in a 2.5 ounce tube and can be purchased in beef, malt, seafood, poultry, or vanilla-mint flavors. There are no foaming agents, which makes this product safe for your dog to ingest!
Pros
Users report their dogs liking the taste of this toothpaste (especially the vanilla-mint), as well as liking the smell of their dog’s breath afterward!
Some users found that the aluminum tube the toothpaste came in started to corrode or split after use.Cons
2. Sentry Petrodec Enzymatic Toothpaste
About: Sentry Petrodec Enzymatic Toothpaste is a toothpaste made for specifically for dogs and comes in a large, 6.2 ounce tube. Designed to help control plaque, this toothpaste will help you keep your dog’s breath from getting too stinky.
Product
Details
- DOG TOOTHPASTE: Petrodex Advanced Dental Care Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste helps reduce plaque and...
- PATENTED ENZYMES: With patented enzymes, this non-foaming formula of dog toothpaste does not require...
- FIGHTS BAD BREATH: With regular use, Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs helps reduce plaque and...
- POULTRY FLAVOR: Dog toothpaste comes in a delicious poultry flavor that dogs love
Sentry toothpaste is poultry flavored to ensure that your pooch will love getting his teeth brushed, and it’s safe to swallow so it’s okay if he ends up eating some of it. This product is made in the U.S.A.
Pros
Most users were happy with this product’s effectiveness in plaque control.
Some users reported that their dogs did not like this product’s taste and found minimal difference in plaque build-up.Cons
3. Sentry Petrodex Natural Toothpaste
About: Sentry Petrodex Natural Toothpaste is peanut flavored and made with all natural ingredients. There are no artificial preservatives or additives, so you don’t have to worry about your dog swallowing some of this product while you brush his teeth!
Product
Details
- Petrodex natural toothpaste for dogs contains natural abrasives to safely help remove plaque while...
- Helps clean teeth, freshens breath and reduce tartar and plaque buildup
- Contains only natural ingredients, no artificial preservatives or additives
- Peanut flavored to assure acceptance
This toothpaste comes in a 2.5 ounce tube and contains natural abrasives to help remove plaque while brushing.
Pros
Users love the all natural ingredients and most report their pooches liking the taste!
Some owners did not like the smell this toothpaste left in their dogs’ mouths.Cons
4. Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Enzymatic Toothpaste
About: Arm & Hammer Advanced Care Enzymatic Toothpaste comes in a 2.5 ounce tube and is designed to remove and prevent plaque buildup. The baking soda in the formula cleans, whitens, and deodorizes your pup’s mouth.
Product
Details
- PROMOTES HEALTHY GUMS - Gently and effectively eliminates bad breath, reduces tartar buildup, and...
- MADE WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS - Formulated with natural ingredients that work as a dog breath...
- USE WITH FINGER OR A TOOTHBRUSH - For first time brushers, put a small amount of toothpaste on your...
- 100% SAFE - Infused with baking soda, this enzymatic gel is suitable for all dogs and puppies and is...
This product is designed to taste like beef but smell minty to ensure that both you and your pooch are happy! Arm & Hammer Toothpaste is made in China, which is certainly less than ideal.
Pros
Some users were pleased with the whitening effect of this toothpaste and reported their dogs liking the taste.
Some users were not pleased with the smell of this toothpaste and wanted a product made in the U.S.A.Cons
5. KissAble Dog Toothpaste
About: KissAble Dog Toothpaste comes in a 2.5 ounce tube and is an all natural, vanilla flavored product. The natural sweeteners create a delicious flavor for your pooch, while tea tree oil acts as a natural antiseptic and creates a refreshing, fresh aroma in your dog’s mouth.
Product
Details
- PROMOTES HEALTHY GUMS AND PREVENTS TARTAR BUILD UP — Kissable All-Natural Tartar Control Dog...
- VANILLA AND TEA TREE OIL — Made with vanilla and tea tree oil, for a healthy formula your dog will...
- SAFE TO SWALLOW — Kissable toothpaste is safe to swallow, no rinsing necessary!
- FOR ALL DOGS — Suitable for all dogs and puppies
This toothpaste can be safely swallowed, and for best results can be used in conjunction with a KissAble Toothbrush.
Pros
Most users report that the vanilla flavor is appealing to their dogs and also smells good to the owner!
Some users found that their dogs were not interested in the taste of this toothpaste.Cons
DIY Doggie Toothpaste
If you aren’t sold on any of the commercial options out there, you may want to try a DIY toothpaste! By making your own product, you can be sure of what ingredients you’re giving to your furry friend.
Most homemade toothpastes include baking soda for whitening, parsley for a fresh smell, salt, and some kind of beef or vegetable broth for flavor. Here is an example of a homemade toothpaste for your pooch:
- 6 tablespoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cube of beef bouillon (or vegetable for a vegan version)
- 1 teaspoon dried or fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon water (add more or less to get it to the consistency you like)
After preparing this recipe, just store it in an airtight container and you are ready to brush your canine’s chompers!
Don’t Neglect Your Canine’s Teeth: Get Your Doggie Some Toothpaste!
Depending on your canine companion’s flavor preferences or allergies, some dog toothpastes may be more of a hit than others. Once you find a flavor and smell that suits you both, you can get into that regular brushing routine to keep your pooch healthy and his kisses from being too smelly!
Have you used a dog toothpaste? Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments section below.
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