Dental Care for Dogs: Everything You Need to Know for Healthy Dog Teeth

Marius

Dental care for dogs and the associated dental health are extremely important for your furry companion. That’s why it is essential to ensure that your dog’s teeth are taken care.

Basic Requirements For Healthy Dog Teeth

Your dog’s teeth require a certain amount of care. The right dog food is an essential requirement for healthy walkers. 

A dog looking straight with its mouth open.

Many products contain grains and sugar. This sugar promotes the formation of certain bacteria in the dog’s mouth. These bacteria and other ingredients in the lining can attack the tooth enamel and destroy natural protection, providing an easy target for bacteria and tooth decay. 

At the same time, teeth exposed to these bacteria and ingredients are more prone to tartar build-up. This tartar is an ideal nutrient medium for bacteria, leading to gingivitis and other problems.

If you give your pup the wrong food, not only will it affect the teeth’ health, but their overall health as well. In addition, many dogs do not drink enough fluids, which affects the mouth’s well-being. 

Just like you, your puppy needs regular oral checks. Hence, make sure that there is always enough water available, especially on long walks or excursions. Visit the vet once or twice a year to have your dog’s teeth checked. 

It is also important that you regularly provide your furry friend with special chewing items and preventative health products. These are given in the form of toys, treats, or chews. Regular engagement with these articles promotes dental health.

Why Dental Care for Dogs is Important

Dental care is necessary for dogs because dental conditions can be linked to other health problems. Some of these conditions can significantly reduce the lifespan of your furry companion. As a pet parent, you’ll want to ensure that your dog has healthy teeth. 

A dog suffering from dental disease.
Photo Credit: tanglewood_dog_grooming_spa

Unfortunately, if the dental care of your four-legged friend suffers, they can have the following issues:

Inflammation Of The Gums

Another name for inflammation of the gums is gingivitis. Plaque build-up on the teeth causes gingivitis when it leads to inflamed gums. However, regular dental cleaning can reverse the condition. Contact your vet if your dog’s teeth become worse or if the gums bleed or change color.

The symptoms of gum inflammation are:

  • Bad Breath
  • Reddened Interior Of The Mouth
  • Bloody Saliva
  • Purulent Deposits In Saliva And Mouth
  • Loss Of Appetite
  • Refusal To Feed
  • Weight Loss
  • Tooth Loss
  • Fever Flare-Ups
  • Unilateral Chewing
  • Pains

Tooth Decay

While tooth decay often occurs in humans, it is relatively rare in dogs. Tooth decay in canines is a similar process to human teeth. It happens when the enamel, the teeth’ hard outer layer, starts to decay due to bacteria.

Mainly this issue is caused by poor dental care. As plaque forms on your dog’s teeth, the acid attacks the teeth’ protective coating. Unless you maintain your pup’s dental care, their teeth can wear down over time. 

And eventually, due to tooth decay, your friend’s teeth can loosen and fall out. Another common cause of tooth decay is improper diet. Often most industrially manufactured products have high sugar content.

The most effective way to avoid tooth decay is by brushing your pet’s teeth, especially on the chewing surfaces in the back of the mouth. You can also try certain tartar-removing chew toys and dental treats for a better oral hygiene routine that will quickly keep harmful bacteria away from developing into cavities!

Plaque And Tartar

Plaque and tartar are indications of gum inflammation and tooth decay. Due to the tartar build-up, your pet might not be able to chew food properly, making it challenging for them to eat.

Because of this plaque, the stomach and intestine may also suffer. As plaque and tartar make chewing difficult, most meals get into the stomach without chewing. Because of this, the stomach works harder than usual, leading it to produce more acid than normal. This, in turn, weakens the lining of the stomach and intestines as well.

6 Tips For Dog Dental Care

Eating a healthy diet can prevent some problems, but it’s not the only cure for dental problems. The proper dental care for your furry companion should be approached from various angles. Below we have compiled some of the best tips to help you stay on top of your pup’s dental health. 

An owner taking care of his dog's teeth

Proper Nutrition

First of all, it is important to look after your pup’s nutrition since it is essential for excellent dental care. Do not give your dog any low-quality, industrially manufactured products. Usually, these products contain too much grain and sugar, weakening dental health. 

Dietary Supplements

You can use various supplements for your dog’s good health. The products are free of harmful chemicals and promote your dog’s dental health. Furthermore, they aren’t that expensive and can be found at your nearest pet store or on the internet. And all you have to do for your pup to take them is add them to their food and water.

Treats

Dogs love treats! And it may come as a surprise to know that they can play an important role in oral hygiene. Since many dog treats contain too much sugar, pick those with low sugar content. This will allow your furry friend to enjoy his treat without suffering the effects of sugar on teeth.

Special Chews

The market is full of chew toys that promote oral hygiene in dogs. In fact, there are so many of them that it can be hard to find the right one for your pooch. We have put together the best options for you at this point. 

If your dog has strong and healthy teeth and is middle-aged, the following articles can be helpful for dental care:

  • Ox ears
  • Ox tail
  • Salmon chew bones
  • Natural dental care chips
  • Beef tendons
  • Peppermint snacks
  • Beef bones
  • Wild antlers
  • Beef lung as snacks
  • Cattle hooves
  • Chewing roots

Toys For Dental Care

You can always combine dental care with playtime using the right toys. However, to be on the safe side, remember that dental care toys are especially suitable for adult dogs. 

Do not use these toys when playing with puppies, as they can easily damage their teeth. Young dogs need unique toys, and you can speak with your vet to recommend a few.

Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth

When it comes to brushing their teeth, dog owners have different opinions. While some are against brushing their teeth, others advocate this method as optimal. Ideally, you should brush your furry friend’s teeth once or twice a day.

Make sure the teeth brushing experience is a fun one as well. Stress and pressure are out of place and have a detrimental rather than beneficial effect.

How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

A dog with a brush in his mouth.

If you’re scratching your head wondering how you can brush your dog’s teeth, don’t worry. Just follow the tips below:

Pick the Best Teeth Brushing Command

With the right command, your pup will be able to associate the current situation with teeth brushing. The order can be any word. However, make sure that the chosen term is not too long and only applies to scenarios where brushing teeth is the goal.

Touch the Mouth Area

Make it a routine touching your dogs mouth area. This helps get your pooch used to the procedure. Just start by placing your hand on your puppy’s snout. Open your mouth now and then and give him the command you have chosen. 

Everything should take place casually and without pressure. You can apply the second step for a while. Better to give yourself too much time than too little. After your dog gets used to the touch, you can bring the toothbrush into play. Touch his muzzle with the toothbrush and try to slide it casually into his mouth.

Get Your Pup Used to the Taste of Toothpaste

When you use the previous steps successfully and your dog is used to these steps, you move on to the third step. In this step, you get your dog used to the toothpaste. Dog toothpaste already has a pleasant taste that dogs simply love. Start by touching the snout with the toothpaste so that your pup gets a taste of this product.

Combine the Toothbrush and Toothpaste

After using steps 2 and 3 for a while, you can repeat these steps. However, you should combine them using both the toothbrush and the toothpaste. Gently move it backward and forward for a good two minutes, making sure to brush thoroughly, and voila, your dog is good to go.

FAQs

If you look at the diet for dogs over several centuries, you will find that it has changed dramatically. Dogs are predators and feed on prey. Most of them used ear fur, meat and bones raw. In addition to providing the necessary nutrients, the rumen, bones, cartilage, and hair from the prey helped remove food bits from the dog’s teeth.

These food bits in the form of plaque are no longer sufficiently removed from the dog’s teeth with the current feed. As a result, the dog also struggles with tooth decay, tartar, and gum disease. This change in diet has made it compulsory to take care of your dog’s dental health.

As predators, dogs have a powerful will to survive, meaning they rarely show their pain. If you forget to take them for regular checkups, you might not notice that your four-legged friend has problems with his teeth. 

When this goes on for a long time, tooth decay will make it hard for your pooch to eat properly (this is when most owners notice). Inflammations that are overlooked and penetrate deep into the root of the tooth and jaw can, in the worst case, affect the dog’s organs.

Unnoticed teeth problems can also lead to injuries such as cracks and broken teeth. With the wrong toy and romping around, such injury patterns are more common in young dogs.

If your dog already has dental problems, the first point of contact is your vet. Inflammation, bleeding gums, and tartar must be treated early as possible. This way, you can prevent, for example, inflammation from spreading to your dog’s organ, which can cause pain or worse.

If the damage to the teeth is very advanced, your vet will refer you to a specialist in veterinary dentistry. With today’s resources, these specialists can get the problem under control. Unfortunately, the services of a specialist tend to be expensive in most cases.

The selection of various dog toothbrushes is large. There are models that you can slip on your finger and models that look similar to human toothbrushes. The finger toothbrushes must fit snugly on your finger. If they fall into the animal’s mouth, they might swallow it.

If you use a toothbrush with bristles, they should be soft. A double-headed toothbrush with two heads of different sizes makes it easier for you to take care of your dog’s teeth. With a large head, you can clean broad surfaces quickly. With the small one, you can get to hard-to-clean areas.

Ultrasonic toothbrushes for dogs are a particular help. They are easy to use and do not generate any vibrations. With a toothbrush like this, you don’t expect your dog to make any brushing movements. It cleans the dog’s teeth and gums thoroughly and gently using air vibrations. 

If the dog already has problems with his teeth, he will, in most cases, accept this toothbrush after a slow familiarization. Should your dog bite on the toothbrush’s head and detach it in the process, the device will switch off immediately.

With additives added to food and water, you can improve your pup’s oral health. Increasing the number of particular enzymes in the food or water ensures a better oral flora and possible plaque is avoided. By increasing the enzymes, you counteract the formation of new tartar and old tartar while feeding.

 

Summary

Dogs need regular dental care to keep their teeth in good condition. Life will be much easier for your paw buddy without inflammation and tartar. Additionally, if you get your dog used to the toothbrush at a young age, they will quickly accept it. Moreover, high-quality dog ​​food, special additives for water and food,  adapted toys, and regular checkups help with your dog’s dental care.

Marius

9 Common Dog Diseases and Conditions (Treat and Prevent)

Dog Mange – Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment