How to Make Your Own Dog Toothpaste

In general, dogs that frequently chew hard rubber toys and/or soup bones from the grocery store have reasonably healthy, plaque-free teeth.

Even if your dog does chew a lot, it's good to brush her teeth on occasion--the cleaner the teeth, the healthier your dog. You can make your own doggy toothpaste in as little or as large an amount as you need to keep your best friend's teeth as white as they can be.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Water
• Coconut oil (optional)
• Meat-flavored baby food (optional)
• Beef broth (optional)
• Small mixing bowl
• Small plastic storage container
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Make the base. In the mixing bowl, combine a teaspoonful of baking soda with just enough water to make a dry paste.

2. Add the coconut oil. A few drops of coconut oil will make the mixture feel more like toothpaste. Mix well.

3. Add flavoring. A teaspoon of beef broth or meat-flavored baby food can be added to make the toothpaste more palatable to your dog. If the paste gets too mushy with this addition, add more baking soda and coconut oil until it is once again the desired consistency of commercial toothpaste.

4. Store the excess toothpaste. If there is no perishable flavoring (beef broth, baby food) in the toothpaste, you can store the unused portion in an airtight container for two or three weeks. Toothpaste with beef broth or baby food in it should be refrigerated.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog has particularly stinky breath from raiding the cat's litter box (one example), add a few drops of peppermint oil to the toothpaste instead of the beef broth or baby food. A child's toothbrush works well in a dog's mouth. Brush your dog's teeth as thoroughly as you would your own--if he lets you.

• Rawhide chews may be tasty, but don't offer enough "resistance" to help remove plaque from your dog's teeth. No matter how you flavor the toothpaste, your dog is probably not going to like having his teeth brushed. Do not use onion powder to flavor the toothpaste. Onion is poisonous to dogs.

References

• More about making dog -- and human -- toothpaste
• Another recipe for dog toothpaste