There is a common saying that dog's mouths are cleaner than human mouths. Whether that is true or not I am not sure, but I do know humans aren't capable of licking certain areas that dogs sure do 😮 Also, just as a toothache can affect your health and happiness, your dog can experience the same thing. So it is always a good choice to pay attention to your dog's mouth and overall dental hygiene.
Firstly, get your dog used to your hands in their mouths. It is best to do this when they are a puppy; but even adult dogs need to get used to it. Stick your fingers in there, play with their jaw, rub their tongue, lift up their cheeks; pretty much any sort of touching will help normalize it for them. Once that has been achieved, you can find a dog tooth brush at your local pet store. There are many kinds of toothbrushes out there that will work but I have found most success with the one pictured below.
These particular brushes are made out of thin material with soft bristles so to your dog, it feels like your finger in their mouth instead of a weird foreign object. Along with the brush, your should purchase some dog friendly toothpaste. NOTE: Do NOT use human toothpaste to brush your pet's teeth. It contains fluoride and xylitol which both can be toxic in dogs. There are plenty of yummy flavored, pet friendly toothpastes available at your local pet store.
Start off small, only brush for a minute the first time and increase as they get used to it. Eventually they will know what time it is and will sit still for their brushing. As far as how often to do this? I like to brush my dog's teeth once a month. And of course if I notice any strange odors, inflammation, or change in my dog's eating habits, I will have the veterinarian take a look. Most veterinarians will offer dental cleanings for your pet. This can be done once a year for maintenance.
Personal Story:
I became a foster mom for Zoey the rescued bulldog on my birthday, September 1, 2016. She came from a bad breeding situation, and was not a healthy girl. With me, she loved to snuggle, eat, sleep, and repeat. She always had a good appetite as well as some stinky breath; but I attributed that to "her being a bulldog". Eventually the Humane Society that rescued her won custody of her and she was eligible for adoption. I didn't adopt her but someone even better did, my parents! They fell in love with Zoey the day they met her so even though she wasn't "mine" anymore, I still got to see her all the time. My mother took Zoey to our vet for a check up and the bad breath stood out to her and she said, "definitely time for a cleaning, I think there are some rotted teeth that need to be pulled". We scheduled a dental cleaning, where the dog is put under general anesthesia and monitored while teeth are cleaned/pulled. They had to pull 4 rotted teeth! Once her mouth healed up a few days later, Zoey the bulldog still had the same appetite, but now she wanted to play! Something I never saw her do. She tugged on ropes, chewed on chew toys, and was overall way more spunky. So even though she seemed like a perfectly happy dog before, her teeth definitely bothered her. Dogs are very good at hiding pain and discomfort. So it is important to pay attention to their dental hygiene as it can dramatically affect your dog's health and behavior.
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