Tips for Cleaning a Dog’s Teeth
Cleaning a dog's teeth is not as simple as it might first seem. Many dogs just don’t like the idea of being held down and having their teeth scrubbed. There are certain techniques and equipment which can make the task of cleaning a dog’s teeth a lot easier. In some cases, you might find it’s impossible of just too much trouble – in those cases, there are other options you can use to get your dog to clean his or her own teeth. We’ll also talk about how to deal with bad breath in dogs
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Why Routine is Important
If you want to clean your dog’s teeth yourself, it’s important to start as early as possible in the dog’s life and do it on a regular basis. The more often you check you dog’s teeth and gums, the more used to the process he or she will become. If you’ve never cleaned your dog's teeth before, it’s best to start slowly but just checking out her teeth until the dog is comfortable. If you try to force the dog to sit still and start scrubbing away, you might scare it and make the process even more difficult in future.
Remember to offer your dog some treats before and after to create more positive associations to teeth cleaning.
Avoiding Bites
Some dogs are resistant to having your hands in their mouth, and will snap at you. This may be a sign of a behavior problem that needs to be addressed, and you might be better off using a less hands-on approach. If all else fails you can have you dog’s teeth cleaned by a professional under anesthesia to eliminate the chance of a bite happening.
What to Use for Cleaning a Dog’s Teeth
Exactly what kind of equipment do you need for dog teeth cleaning? First of all, you should never use human toothpaste to clean your dog’s teeth. You should use a specially formulated dog toothpaste. Alternatively, you can just use a mix of baking soda and water, but you may find it a lot harder to get your dog used to the taste.
Dealing with Bad Dog Breath
Bad breath in dogs is the result of bacteria in the mouth, so sometimes giving the teeth a scrub is not sufficient. You also need to use something to kill off the bacteria. There are various sprays and gels available for this. Keep an eye out for products that contain ingredients like grape seed extract, thyme oil and neem oil. Studies have shown these ingredients are active in killing bacteria that cause bad dog breath.
Self-Cleaning Alternatives
There’s a good reason dogs like to chew things – it helps keep their jaws strong as well as cleaning their teeth and keeping their gums healthy. If your dog is resistant to cleaning, try using nylon bones as an alternative. Look for a bone with little raised studs – these help clean the teeth. You may still need to use a spray to eliminate the dog's bad breath
