Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth at Home… a modern concept
Like most people, we dog owners brush our teeth and rinse our mouths at least twice, sometimes three times, a day. Not only does our breath stay fresh and clean, but our teeth and gums remain bright and healthy. Our dogs don’t always have the same option.
Other than a veterinary cleaning once a year, many animals have mouths that never see a toothbrush, and remain filled with food particles and bacteria that can lead to gingivitis, tooth decay, and periodontal disease. Those same bacteria in your dog’s mouth can cause infections that travel to other organs in his body. Bacteria from the teeth and gums that thickens the heart valves can cause heart murmurs in senior animals. Liver and kidney disease can often be traced back to periodontal disease. Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth in your own home can save your pet’s life and make your time together healthier and happier.
How To Do It
While the optimum time to start cleaning your pet’s teeth at home is when you first get that new puppy in your house, or after your adult dog has had a recent veterinary cleaning, daily brushing can have a positive effect on your dog’s teeth and gums even if they are not sparkling bright.
Start acclimating your puppy or older dog to having his mouth and gums touched by gently lifting an upper lip and running your finger or a soft doggy toothbrush over the outer surface of the upper teeth and gums. You can also introduce a taste of doggy toothpaste at this point by putting a bit of it on the tip of your finger and letting your pet lick it off his teeth.
Once your dog is comfortable with that, introduce the toothbrush and toothpaste together and make circular motions with the brush along the gumline from back to front while holding the brush at a 45-degree angle. You will need to brush both upper and lower outside teeth to be most effective. Because the inside surfaces of your dog’s teeth come into constant contact with his tongue and saliva, they stay cleaner than the outside surfaces and do not need to be scrubbed at home, unless your pet is willing to allow you to open his mouth and brush.
Alternative Care
Alternatives to a canine toothbrush include soft, rubber finger brushes that you can buy at a pet store or your vet’s office, or a simple piece of gauze wrapped around your finger with a drop of canine toothpaste.
If you choose not to purchase doggy toothpaste, you can make your own at home by mixing equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and water, or a little beef or chicken broth, with baking soda to make a paste. After using the homemade paste, fill a large syringe with water to rinse it out of your pet’s mouth. This will keep the hydrogen peroxide from making your dog nauseous. Animals with kidney or heart disease who cannot handle the sodium content of the baking soda can brush with apotassium chloride paste instead.
Some holistic veterinarians are recommending supplements with homeopathic and herbal ingredients to increase canine dental health and prevent gingivitis. Herbs to ask for include Arthrospira platenis (Spirulina), an excellent source of Vitamin A and chlorophyll, Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion), full of vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy bones, teeth, and gums, and Equisetum arvense (Horsetail), an herb high in silica that promotes healing and healthy teeth, fur, claws, and bones. Check with your veterinarian to make sure these supplements will not interfere with any prescribed medications your dog may be taking.
Hard rubber chew toys, dental chews, and specially-formulated dental treats help prevent the accumulation of plaque that can lead to the formation of tartar on your dog’s teeth within 36 hours. The hard, rough texture of the toys and treats removes the food residue that builds into tartar and calculus. The toys also freshen your dog’s breath by eliminating bacteria, and help with any chewing and/or puppy teething issues.
Make cleaning your dog’s mouth a part of your everyday interaction with your pet. Keeping his teeth and gums healthy may allow you extra years of fun and love with your furry companion.
Or, you possibly may be able to avoid teeth cleaning for your pets life by changing the diet and giving your pet raw meaty bones to chew on. Other articles on this exist in the site along with some books on the subject.
