the best products for dog oral health
You may not think about your dog’s teeth and gums much but did you know that dog oral health has many similarities to human oral health, including the fact that it IS important. Luckily, dogs are less prone to teeth cavities compared to people, however they can develop gum disease and poor oral health can lead to other larger health problems.
Fortunately, there are a variety of options available to you as a pet owner wanting to clean your dog’s teeth and gums.
We describe these options and products, and flag some warnings to keep on your mind, in the information below.
What's best way to clean my dogs teeth ?
- Brush your dog's teeth - Veterinarians and experts agree that brushing your dog's teeth is the most effective way to maximize dog oral health. This makes sense. Like humans, toothbrushes provide the most effective way of getting physical pressure and scraping particles off dog's teeth.
Use SOFT toothbrushes and do NOT use human toothpaste (see our warning below) - Best dog tooth brush - Pet Republique offers packs of 6 dog toothbrushes for $8. They come with a normal size SOFT brush on one end and a smaller brush on the other end...giving you options for getting around your dog's teeth.
- Finger tooth brush for dogs - Some dogs may be fearful of long plastic toothbrushes. Finger brushes are soft and fit on the end of your finger so your dog may be more comfortable adjusting to your finger rather than a long plastic traditional tootbrush. They can be an effective "first stage" in cleaning your dog's teeth, allowing you to then move to regular brushes when your dog has more experience and comfort with the process.
- Best food for dog teeth - a majority of vets recommend dry dog food to help clean dog teeth. This is because the hard consistency helps scrape particles off teeth as your dog chews. Wet food on the other hand will not scrape your dog's teeth and may tend to stick to the teeth or settle in around the gums
- Chew TOYS help clean dog teeth - the same scraping action that dry dog food can provide across your dog's teeth and gums is provided by dog chew toys. There are MANY chew toy options. The best have a shape and consistency that allows parts of the toy to brush across multiple areas of your dog's teeth.
- Chew TREATS help clean dog teeth - Dog treats such as Greenies and Minties have been approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Care) and combine the mechanical chewing and scraping action with ingredients formulated to help remove plaque and other buildup
dog oral health
caution ! - do not use human toothpaste for dogs
Brushing your dog’s teeth is one of the most effective ways to remove tarter and particle buildup. However, do NOT use human toothpaste ! It has ingredients that are toxic to dogs. They could become very sick and possibly even die.
tips for cleaning dog teeth
Look for products approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Care). There are many products ranging from special dog toothbrushes to finger brushes, dog dental treats and even dog food formulated to promote dog oral health. Looking at all the options available, brushing with a toothbrush is the technique most often recommended by experts.