A Bright Smile for Your Best Friend: Tips for Maintaining Your Dog's Oral Health
Did you know that maintaining your dog's dental health is just as important as maintaining their overall health?
Neglecting your dog's dental hygiene can lead to serious health issues, including tooth loss and infections.
One easy and effective way to keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy is by brushing them regularly.
In this blog, we'll discuss the benefits of dog tooth brushing, how to do it safely and effectively, and recommended products and alternatives in between teeth brushing sessions.
The Benefits of Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Dog’s oral health is directly related to their overall health, specifically, heart health and distant organ health.
The bacteria that resides in the oral cavity is breathed into the lungs and can get into the bloodstream through superficial tears in the gum line, meaning an increase in inflammation throughout the body.
Small preventative measures such as regular brushing, appropriate chews, treats and water additives can significantly slow the progression of gingivitis, plaque, and tartar accumulation.
The best method for staying atop of oral health is a multimodal one:
1) daily teeth brushing - rids the teeth of the biofilm that turns to tartar in ~48 hours to a few days.
2) long-term chews - another great adjunct way to keep those pearly whites...well pearly white!
Periodontal Disease
▪️What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the structures around the teeth.
▪️What is the best way to prevent periodontal disease?
Well, it’s brushing! Unfortunately, though, in order for brushing to be most effective you need to brush your pet’s teeth at least 3 times a week. The best practice is to brush DAILY 😁
Is my pet’s dental health really that important?
Well, like people, every pet’s mouth is different.
Some animals and breeds are more susceptible to dental disease than others.
In some animals, a neglected mouth will result in some degree of plaque buildup over time, and gingivitis.
In some animals that neglected mouth will lead to severe infections of the mouth, abscesses, pain, and bad breath, and can make it more difficult to regulate other disease processes (such as diabetes).
In the more severe cases, treatment may involve tooth extractions or complicated dental procedures.
Additionally, periodontal disease in general can lead to infections of the liver, heart, and other internal organs so should never be considered "just a tooth" problem.
If you have concerns about your dog’s oral health, always consult your veterinarian.
They can guide your care, fully assess the tooth and gingival health, take dental x-rays to assess tooth root and bone health, and fully clean (including beneath the gum line) the teeth.
Sometimes we find that teeth are far more diseased than what initially meets the eye and extractions or referral to a veterinary dentist may be indicated to bring the mouth back to health.
Choosing the Right Products
First let’s talk about the 2 products you’ll need: a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste.
I use this toothbrush and toothpaste by Bow Wow Labs.
Toothbrush: This patented 4in1™ four-head design toothbrush allows for quick and effective cleaning. It is available in sizes small and large. Ellie and Emma have a Large.
Toothpaste: I like Bow Wow Labs Gel because it is tasteless and odorless, which means dogs will not find taste or scent offensive or off-putting. There is less likely to be an aversion to this product. The enzymatic gel helps reduce bacteria in the mouth and supports overall oral health
The “WHY” behind the Ingredients:
Sodium bicarbonate- breath freshener
Aloe Vera- antioxidant that has been shown to reduce plaque
Parsley: potent antioxidant that may help reduce breath odor
Glucose Oxidase- provides enzymatic properties in gel
Manuka Honey- natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral & antioxidant
Sage- anti-inflammatory, mild astringent, and antioxidant herb that has an affinity for the mouth. It helps to tighten the soft tissues in the mouth and can calm sore gums
*Antioxidants improve different immune functions and can help with inflammation and bacteria growth
Dental care is essential through all stages of your dog’s life. Therefore, start introducing them to dental care from a young age so they are comfortable with the process.
For most dogs, teeth brushing can be a pleasant, non-stressful experience.
How to Get Started with Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Set your pup up for success: From day one, get your puppy used to you handling her mouth; touch her lips, gums, and teeth in a gentle, playful way. This will get your puppy used to having her mouth felt and make it easier for you to brush her teeth and maintain a dental care regimen.
Apply a pea-sized amount of dog toothpaste gel to the toothbrush.
Gently open your dog’s mouth and insert the brush with the bristles surrounding the bottom teeth.
Brush back and forth then flip the brush to clean the upper teeth.
Repeat on the other side of the mouth and with the front teeth.
Rinse the brush thoroughly and cover.
Additional Options for Maximizing Oral Health
In addition to teeth brushing, I offer Ellie and Emma Dog Dental Sticks from Pet Honesty. These chews have special grooves and formulations that scrape off plaque and tarter from your dog’s gums and teeth, freshen breath, and aid gut health. They’re easy, and Ellie and Emma absolutely love them!
The promo GOLDEN will get you 25% off Pet Honesty products.
Bully sticks and collagen sticks are other healthy options for your dog that aid teeth cleaning, deliver nutrients, and keep them occupied by satisfying their urge to chew.
I would highly recommend using a Bow Wow Buddy with a bully and collagen stick. This safety device reduces the risk of your dog swallowing the last end of the stick, which can cause choking or intestinal blockage.
🔹 More information about the Bow Wow Buddy is available in our blog and video below.
3 Blogs to Learn More about Puppy Teeth
➡️ Puppy teeth development doesn't have to be scary - this blog has all the information you need to care for your puppy's teeth and keep their oral health in top shape. From teeth coming in to teething and adult teeth, we've got you covered. Keep your puppy's pearly whites healthy and strong with our tips and tricks.
➡️ Puppies are initially unaware of how sharp their teeth are and how hard their bite can be. I’d recommend making puppy socialization a top priority in the first few weeks with your puppy so they can learn bite inhibition. This blog explains the importance of puppy socialization.
➡️ This blog further explains the benefits of bully sticks to keep your puppy busy.
You may also be interested in our free training app!
