Many dogs hate having their teeth brushed - and it can be a real challenge. But good dental care is important to your dog's good health. So how can you teach your dog to like it, or even tolerate it?



The first thing you can do is to be patient. When brushing your dog's teeth, give tons of positive reinforcement when your dog is tolerant and well behaved.  With that being said - some dogs are NOT tolerant and will bite. Please be careful so you don't get hurt.



Here are some doggy tooth brushing tips:

1. Get your dog used to touching around his mouth (assuming your dog has an even temperament). Pet your dog around the face. Look at his teeth.  Gradually progress from first just touching the area to massaging the gum area.


2. Introduce a toothpaste that he likes. Some are flavored vanilla and even meat or poultry. You can allow your dog to lick it off your finger to start. Remember - give TONS of praise when he does well.


3. Introduce the toothbrush. You can gradually introduce the toothpaste by first allowing him to sniff it. Then you can even massage his face with it. Make sure he is not afraid of it before placing it in his mouth.


4. Eventually - combine the toothbrush and toothpaste together and brush your dog's teeth.

It can take days to weeks to get a dog to accept brushing. And some dogs will never allow you to do it.



Dental care is a real problem. More than 80% of dogs have dental disease or gum disease. In fact, this is one of the most common diseases in dogs. 

 

But some dogs just never tolerate brushing. If your dog won't let you brush, what can you do? Another option is to give a good dental treat that is proven to minimize tartar. Pedigree has a very good one called Dentastix®. It's an X-shaped bone type treat with a special texture that helps clean between your dog's teeth as he chews, all the way down to the gum line. And you can choose the size that best fits your dog's mouth. These tartar-control treats are very effective when used as part of a daily oral care routine - and they taste good, so your dog will look forward to eating them every day.



I hope these tips help you care for your dog's teeth.