How to Care for a Dog's Teeth

Good dental care is as important for your dogs as it is for you. Poor dental hygiene can lead to pain for your pet as well as foul smelling breath. Caring for your dog's teeth does not take much time or effort and will allow her to have healthy teeth well into the senior years. Read on to learn how to care for a dog's teeth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Start dental care in puppyhood. This will allow the dog to be accustomed to having his teeth brushed at a young age.

2. Feed the dog a healthy diet. Exclusively feeding your dog dry dog food will prevent the build up of tartar and plaque.

3. Brush your dog's teeth on a regular basis. Use a very soft bristle brush and use a toothpaste designed specifically for dogs.

4. Treat your dog to a marrow bone. The more that the dog chews on this type of bone, the more build-up that will be removed from the teeth.

5. Take your dog to his regular veterinary check-ups. The vet can look at the dog's teeth and let you know if he is experiencing any problems.

6. Allow the vet to professionally clean your dog's teeth if things have gotten bad. The dog will be put under anesthesia so she does not experience any discomfort during the cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use regular toothpaste on your dog. The ingredients in it can irritate the dog's stomach.
• If you see any type of mouth bleeding, swollen gums or excessive drooling, it can be a sign of an infection. You should call your vet right away.

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