Teeth And Gum Disease In Dogs

Your dog may not smile as much as you do but he still has beautiful pearly whites that need regular attention.  Doggy dentists (yes, there are doggy dental specialists) say that dogs should have their teeth brushed daily.  At the very least you should brush your dog’s teeth on a weekly basis.

Brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t difficult.  It’s basically the same procedure that you follow for taking care of your own teeth.  Manufacturers make toothbrushes designed to fit a dog’s mouth.  They are long with angled handles to help you reach a dog’s back teeth.  Or, you may choose to use a small rubber finger that fits down over your own finger.  This little rubber finger has a small rubber brush on one side.  In either case you simply put a little dog toothpaste on the brush on brush your dog’s teeth.

Speaking of dog toothpaste, make sure that you don’t use your own toothpaste for your dog.  Human toothpaste has artificial sweeteners in it that can be harmful to dogs.  Instead, use specially-formulated dog toothpaste.  This toothpaste comes in flavors that dogs like such as chicken, beef and peanut butter.  Believe it or not, most dogs don’t object to having their teeth brushed.  Just put a little on the brush and let your dog taste the paste.  He will probably like it a lot.  Then you can start applying it to his teeth and brushing.  He may lick at the brush but that’s okay.  Most of the paste and the brush will go on the teeth.  It only takes a little regular brushing each week to keep the teeth looking nice.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth try to brush to the gum line.  Many dogs already have gum disease by the time they’re 3 years old.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth you should also check his mouth for any unusual lumps or bumps, broken or cracked teeth, and red or bleeding gums.  Look for tartar and notice if your dog has bad breath.  Any of these things would be important to talk to your veterinarian about.

Dogs rarely get cavities but they do get plaque and tartar which can lead to periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, abscesses and infections.

Regular visits to your vet will include an oral exam for your dog.  You can remove the regular build up of plaque at home when you brush your dog’s teeth.  But tartar build-up will require cleaning by your vet from time to time.

Hard kibbles have been shown to be somewhat better for the teeth than soft canned foods.

You can also help your dog remove plaque by providing him with toys such as Plaque Attacker dental toys, rope toys and rawhide chips.  Avoid toys that can wear down the teeth.  If your dog is a very active chewer or likes to bite down on his toys and crack them, you should probably take that toy away from him.  Instead, give him a toy that he can’t get his whole mouth around.  Rawhide and other chews that get softer as your dog chews on them may be a good option.

With good care there is no reason why your dog shouldn’t have his teeth in good condition into old age.  He may have some wear on some of his teeth but he can have pretty white teeth without any disease for his entire life.