How Often Should You Clean Your Dog's Teeth? Dog Dental Guide

How often should you clean your dog’s teeth? At the start, you must know that brushing and teeth cleaning your dog by a professional dental vet are two different things.

Adult dogs should see a pet dentist at least once a year. Brachycephalic breeds and smaller dog breeds have more congestion in dental veins and more tooth decay due to which more dental root cleaning is required. Usually, smaller species require more frequent dental cleaning, i.e., once every six months.

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How Often Do You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?

Most experts agree that you should brush your dog’s teeth every day, or at least three times a week. You make it a habit to brush regularly with your dog, and it will be just easy for them to deal with. You may use a high-quality dog brush for that purpose.

How To Clean Dog Teeth Without Brushing?

Don’t worry if you are worried about your dog’s teeth’ health but struggle to brush them! Here are five ways to clean your dog’s teeth without brushing:

Use Any Hygienic Cloth

If your dog is comfortable opening your mouth but is not necessarily satisfied with brushing, try rubbing the dog toothpaste with a clean cloth.

A permanent (unused) dishcloth, gauze, or even hygienic stockings will work. This is not a perfect or long-term solution, but it will help reduce plaque buildup and refresh canine breath.

Dog Chew Toys

Not only are dog chew toys chewable, but they also reduce anger and stress, and they can also clean soft plaque, tartar, and even massage the gums. It won’t do much to keep their breath fresh, and it’s not a long-term solution, but it works for some time.

Think of the toy as an additional aid to supplement and regular brushing, but never use dog chew toys as a permanent solution. Rawhide or rubber toys are great.

Dry Food Or Kibble

Try switching to Kibble instead of wet food. This change will help stop the construction of plaque and tartar. As well as dog food, there are many dog food brands designed to help clean teeth. But, again, this is not a long-term solution, nor will it protect their mouths.

Gel Or Spray

The last and less convenient, alternative to brushing is dental spray or dog gel. They contain ingredients that will slow down and discourage the growth of bacteria which causes the formation of tartar.

Of course, brushing or scrubbing is not included here because all options mentioned above are alternatives to brushing. If you regularly brush your dog’s teeth and your canine companion allows it, then you are one of the luckiest people!

Professional Clean

If your dog does not allow you to brush its teeth, as we have discussed, any of the above long-term solutions is the best. Dry food and chew toys can be a great addition to a dog’s oral dental health in the short term. They can help fight plaque, massage gums, and fight tartar.

However, if your dog does not want you to brush his teeth, you need a better long-term solution. Then it’s time to seek a professional dog dental surgeon’s help. Take your dog to the pet dentist and consult about the best solution. The best way is dog cleaning while giving anesthesia.

When Should Dogs Get Their First Teeth Cleaning?

Usually, pet vets suggest that 24 Months are the ideal age for the dog’s first dental cleaning. But there is no definite answer to this question. If your canine companion is fully grown before 24 months and is entirely healthy to withstand anesthesia, then professional teeth cleaning under a dentist’s supervision is the best option.

According to the American Veterinary Dental College, If a dog’s teeth are left untreated for three years, most dogs and cats have dental disease symptoms.

Common dental problems, such as persistent bad odor, can lead to severe plaque or tartar formation and other dental diseases.

When Does A Dog Need A Toothbrush?

Generally, most dogs will need oral examinations, hygiene, and dental X-rays once a year, starting at about six months of age. After that, try brushing your dog’s teeth every six months. If you brush their teeth regularly, then dental cleaning frequency can be reduced in just one year.

Why Do I Want To Brush My Dog’s Teeth?

Dental hygiene is essential for dog breeds with a genetic predisposition to dental disease. Also, many small dog breeds or wet food may increase the susceptibility to dental issues. So, to sort out all these problems, you must brush your dog’s teeth regularly. Chewing dog toys or chewing treats can help keep your dog’s teeth clean.

Good oral health is just as vital to dogs and cats as it is to the rest of your family. Your pet relies on teeth for food and self-defense. So teeth cleaning must be your priority. Dental and gum problems not only cause pain and discomfort to your pet but also put them at risk of life-threatening health conditions.

How Do I Know If My Dog Needs His Teeth Cleaned?

You need to check for some signs that tell you that it is time to brush your dog’s teeth. Otherwise, his health deteriorates and leads to fatal conditions. These signs are:

Bad Odor/Breath Coming Out From Dog’s Mouth

Okay, so we know that dogs don’t always have the best reputation for fresh breath. But if the smell is not directly related to what they ate, it can sometimes indicate that bacteria and plaque have settled in their mouths. This puts them at risk for teeth decay.

If their breath smells particularly bad (like rotten eggs), it could be a sign that they have gum/tooth disease, which needs proper diagnosis and treatment from their doctor. Research conducted by the American Veterinary Dental Society found that 70% of dogs and 60% of cats have some form of tooth/gum disease at the age of three. This risk is even way higher for younger breeds of dogs.

Treating gum disease can damage your pet’s teeth and jaws over time and is a significant cause of tooth loss. Also, infections caused by gum/teeth disease are linked to heart, liver, and kidney disorders, so you should talk to your veterinarian if you notice any unusual odors in your dog’s breath.

Changes In Eating Habits

A sudden change in your dog’s appetite is a cause for concern, especially when they do not want to eat their regular food. With widespread health concerns, gum/teeth disease symptoms (such as infection or swollen gums or infection in teeth root) can cause a dog to stop eating or chewing.

If your furry friend’s appetite has changed, you should immediately talk to your veterinarian, especially if there are no significant changes in their diet.

Yellow Or Brown Teeth

If you see yellow or brown spots on your dog’s teeth, especially around the gums, there is a good chance it is a plaque. Cleaning your pet’s teeth with a particular toothpaste, or try giving them Dental Care Water Additives to help prevent plaque formation.

Swollen or Bleeding Gums

Swollen and bleeding gums can be a sign that your dog has dental disease or some other gum infection, which can cause severe toothache or pain. Your veterinarian can diagnose the cause of the problem and recommend a treatment, including brushing and scaling their teeth to remove harmful bacteria and plaque.

Hypersalivation Or Excessive Drooling

Drooling is just a (messy) part of the dog’s life! Most dogs drool, and some large breeds drool a little extra. If your canine produces more drooling/saliva than usual, then it is due to eating some poisonous item or due to any abnormal growth like mouth cancer. Rush to the vet care center and consult a veterinarian.

If you clean and check your pet’s teeth daily, your pet may have less likely to develop any abnormal growth

If you do not see a clear culprit behind the main cause of deteriorating your canine teeth’ health, you may lead to severe complications and ailments that your dog may suffer.

When Should I Take My Dog To The Dentist?

When you notice any of these symptoms mentioned above or your dog stops eating, you should take your dog to the dentist for a teeth cleaning/checkup.

Conclusion

Taking care of the teeth of dogs, cats, and other animals is no different than taking care of your oral hygiene. You can take care of their oral health by making sure they eat a healthy diet, brush their teeth every day, and make regular appointments with your local veterinarian. But, like us, many dogs have a higher risk of dental problems as they age.

Use many different types of dry foods that are designed to help your dog’s teeth. Talk to a veterinarian about which option is best for your pet. Try to brush your pet’s teeth once a day, especially with toothpaste and toothbrushes designed specifically for their size and breed.

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