How to Care for Your Chihuahua's Teeth

Chihuahua teeth may be tiny, but they need the same level of care as the teeth of any other dog breed. For the first few months of a chihuahua's life, their teeth don't need brushing. They will keep their baby teeth for only a few months before they fall out and are replaced with adult teeth. At this phase, you simply want to avoid the retention of any baby teeth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog biscuits
• Hard food
• Rubber toys
• Dog toothpaste
• Toothbrush

1. Give your puppy a mixture of both hard and soft foods. This will make it easier for your puppy to eat with a tooth or two missing and will allow the loose teeth to become looser. Provide a young chihuahua with several small rubber toys to further help their baby teeth to become loose. Look for the smallest rubber toys on the market to ensure that the puppy can fit the toys into his mouth.

2. Provide plenty of hard dog biscuits as treats when your chihuahua's adult teeth come in. Choose the small-breed variety and allow the biscuits to clean away some of the plaque on the dog's teeth. Look for dog biscuits that advertise cleaner teeth for dogs. Those are the crunchiest varieties, and they generally provide the best plaque removal.

3. Brush your chihuahua's teeth regularly with a small, soft toothbrush. Brush close to the gums to remove the tartar. There are dog toothbrushes made specifically for dogs as well as dog toothpaste. If you have trouble finding a dog toothbrush small enough for your chihuahua, try a soft-bristle human toothbrush made for infants. These are generally small enough for an adult chihuahua. Brush your dog's teeth about once a month to prevent tartar buildup from causing dental problems.

4. Take your chihuahua for regular dental checkups with your veterinarian. Most vets recommend a professional dental cleaning about every 6 months. This consists of a more intensive removal of tartar buildup, and it may include a fluoride treatment.