How to Clean Tartar From Dogs Teeth Without Anesthesia
Oral health is vitally important to your dog's overall health. Just like we brush daily to keep our teeth and gums healthy between dental visits, we need to do the same for our dogs to maintain their overall wellness. While an annual professional cleaning is recommended, a daily routine to clean the tartar from your dog's teeth can prevent your dog from getting sick and from having to undergo serious dental procedures under anesthesia.
Instructions
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Squeeze a small amount of the dog toothpaste onto your finger to allow your dog to sniff and lick the paste, which will get him used to -- and hopefully look forward to -- the taste.
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With a small dab of toothpaste on the tip of your finger, lightly rub your dog's teeth and gums to get him accustomed to having his mouth touched. Repeat this step every day until your dog seems comfortable.
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Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush and gently rub your dog's front teeth and gums, showering him with calm praise. Repeat this introduction to the toothbrush until your dog is comfortable with having it in his mouth.
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Once your dog is used to both the toothpaste and the toothbrush, start brushing a few teeth at a time. Repeat this exercise building up the number of teeth brushed per session.
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Brush your dog's teeth daily.
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Tips & Warnings
Make brushing a routine; consider brushing your dog's teeth in the morning after you finished brushing your own. Most dog toothpastes are flavored to entice your dog. Try a couple flavors to figure out which one he likes the best.
Do not use human toothpaste on your dogs. It's inedible -- it's designed to be spit out -- but dogs will swallow the toothpaste, which can upset their stomach.
