How Often Do I Really Need to Brush My Dog’s Teeth?

If you are a pet owner, then you’ll probably agree that you will do your best to make sure that your dog has the best physical and mental well-being. It is your duty to make sure that they are getting the right food, exercise, and leisure time. You also need to take regular care of your dog’s hygiene as well, and this includes bathing them and brushing their teeth. However, dental care for your pet dog can be quite tricky at times. Why? Dogs may not particularly like getting their teeth brushed. Nonetheless, as a pet owner, you should recognize that dog dental care is an important aspect in terms of the overall hygiene of your pet dog.

Neglecting your pet dog’s teeth will leads to various problems such as the buildup of tartar, and even bad breath, which can eventually result and turn into periodontal disease. Just like humans, dogs need to properly take care of their dental health as well. How would you feel if you didn’t brush your teeth for a month or a week? But how often should you really brush your dog’s teeth?

REGULAR BRUSHING IS IMPORTANT

Ideally, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth daily in order to prevent the buildup and dirt, and the risk of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has negative consequences, such as gum inflammation and bleeding, accompanied by tooth loss.

Just like normal people, brushing your pet dog’s teeth daily will also bring in benefits. Doing this will help get rid of all the accumulated bacteria at the end of each day, even before it begins to cause damages like tartar, tooth decay and other diseases, not to mention foul-smelling breath!

You can set up a daily time for brushing so that you won’t forget about the task. You can even schedule brushing your dog’s teeth the same time as you, so that it can become a part of your daily routine as well. If your dog is young, or is still a puppy, brush its teeth during its early age possible, so that it will start to get used to the process, routine, and sensation. While brushing your dog’s teeth daily is preferable, you can also do this at at least three times a week. To further avoid bad breath, there are dog breath fresheners available that can supplement brushing to leave your dog with great breath.

HOW DO I BRUSH MY DOG’S TEETH?

Some pet owners may find it hard to brush their dog’s teeth. But brushing the teeth of your pet dog isn’t that hard, as long as you know what to do. When brushing your dog’s teeth, take note of the following:

• Make sure that you use the right toothbrush. Purchase a special dog toothbrush, or buy a small toothbrush that has soft bristles.
• Don’t use the regular toothpaste that humans use. This is because it might contain harmful ingredients or chemicals that might harm your pet dog. There are special kinds of dog toothpaste that are made for dogs and puppies.
• When brushing your dog’s teeth, put a small amount on your finger and let your pet taste it. If your pet seems to like it, then rub some on the gums, and gradually clean your pet’s teeth with a toothbrush.
• Whenever you successfully finish brushing your dog’s teeth, make sure that you praise it. This will be your way of reinforcing the activity as something that is enjoyable.