Dogs are renowned for their bad breath and most of the pet owners are concerned about it. Every pet owner wants to enjoy those wet kisses from their pets but will they enjoy if pet’s breath is stinky. The stinky smell is not the only reason to take care of your pet’s teeth. It’s important to brush your dog’s teeth daily for hygiene and health reasons. Dogs are not prone to cavities as humans. However if your dog’s oral care gets neglected for large periods of time, tartar and plaque will build up which can eventually lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even heart disease.

Risk of bad oral care

Dental health of your dog is so important. It’s not just the bad breath and the yellowish teeth you needs to be worried. The dog’s oral problems can actually lead to life-threatening infections and issues including heart, liver and kidney disease. Also, dog being a natural meat eater, the condition of teeth is so important for them to eat meat and sustain life. The dog needs to cut and pull flesh from bones, crack open small bones to consume the marrow inside and consume every bit of meat and connective tissue. So if teeth are left without cleaning the bacteria persisting in your dog’s mouth can cause your dog a lot of agony and discomfort. The bacterial infections can spread directly to blood stream which can be life threatening to your dogs. So the oral health of your dogs should be really important and should be taken care of whatever the case be.

How to get proper oral care

Above is a common question asked by most pet owners. There are a lot of ways available for dental care from brushing his teeth to using natural dental sticks. Brushing your dog’s teeth daily helps ensure healthy teeth and gum, but, more importantly, it helps improve his overall health. Never use human-made paste for brushing your dog. Dog’s toothpaste are available and also, homemade toothpaste can be used. Chewing is another excellent alternative for maintaining good oral health as long as he is chewing his own toys. Give your pet natural dental sticks like carrot or apple. Various dental tools like dog dental wipes are available in the market for cleaning your dog’s teeth. Also, a proper diet is another way for achieving the dental health.

Brushing your dog’s teeth

Brushing your dog’s teeth daily is the one of the best ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums. In the beginning, it will not be easy as your dog will not let you anywhere near him with the toothbrush. Start out slow and be patient is the motto. Don’t try to brush all your dog’s teeth on the first day. Start slowly and quit if your dog gets irritated, even if you don’t brush the whole mouth. You can slowly increase the time as every day goes by and he will get used to it. Whenever you brush your dog’s teeth use a circular motion, gently scrubbing plaque away from the gum line. Never forgot to reward your dog with treats and praise frequently. It’s always better if you could start brushing your dog’s teeth from his childhood and it will be easy to make him familiarize with the procedure.

Steps to be taken for Brushing

Brushing should be-be considered as a slow and patient process. You need to make your dog slowly accept it. First just get your dog used to having things in their mouth. You can try it by dabbing your finger in something flavorsome before putting your finger into the mouth cavity.

Next step is providing the doggy toothpaste as treats for your dogs, so he will be familiarized with the toothpaste. Don’t worry about your dog eating doggy toothpaste, it’s not dangerous but never use human toothpaste.

Brushing with a toothbrush is difficult and your dog might not allow it in the mouth. So you can first use your fingers to brush the teeth. Certain brushes are available in the market for dogs designed to fit the cavity of your dog’s mouth. Other than that you could also use a small soft bristled child toothbrush. If your dog is hesitant with the toothbrush you could use a damp cloth wrapped over your finger.

The way you brush your dog’s teeth are so important and it should be the pleasant experience for your dog, not a painful one. Be careful when you brush, be very gentle and soft and should be through. Don’t scrub as hard as you will hurt the gums and will be really painful for your dog. Reward him with treats and lots of praise.You don’t need to worry about scrubbing inside the mouth since dogs use their tongue to keep the inside of the mouth clean.

At last, let them know how good they are for remaining still and letting you take care of them. If you feel appropriate you can give him a chew treat.

Toothpaste to be used

Never ever use human toothpaste for your dog. Most human toothpaste consists of fluoride which is really poisonous for your dogs. Since dogs don’t spit out foam as humans the fluoride will enter into their body and damages their internal organs. Selecting the type of flavor has an important role in deciding which toothpaste to be used. The dog should have a liking towards the toothpaste. If your dog doesn’t like the flavor then you have zero chance of getting anywhere near his mouth. There are a number of doggy toothpaste available and also there are a lot of natural toothpaste which can be homemade. Here we are going to discuss some of the best natural homemade dog toothpaste.

Organic toothpaste with Beef/Chicken bouillon, Baking soda, Cinnamon, Coconut oil

Ingredients needed

1 tbsp water
1 beef / chicken bouillon cube
2 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut oil

Instructions
Beef or Chicken bouillon gives the flavor to the toothpaste and should be decided based on your pet’s liking. Take a mixing bowl and dissolve the bouillon cube in water.

Add the cinnamon and baking soda into the mixture. Both ingredients will help clean the surface of your dog’s teeth. Also, cinnamon will help freshen breath.

We need to get all the above ingredients held together like a paste. For this purpose, we are using coconut oil and is used because it’s not dangerous to your dogs. Stir the coconut oil into the mixture. Coconut oil is excellent for your dog’s skin, coat and digestive system.

The natural dog toothpaste is ready and you can keep in a resealable container. It should be kept in room temperature and is ready for anytime use. All the ingredients used for making this toothpaste is natural and is safe.

Natural Toothpaste with Vegetable / Pork bouillon, Salt, Parsley leaves, Baking Soda, Salt

Ingredients

6 tbsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 cube Vegetable /Pork bouillon
1 tsp fresh or dried parsley leaves
1 tsp water

Instructions

Take a mixing bowl and dissolve vegetable or pork bouillon cube in it. Flavor preference based on your dog.

Add salt, parsley, baking soda to the above mixture and stir well. Stir briskly to make a smooth paste. If required, you can add more water.

Parsley helps to improve the smell of your dog’s breath and can promote general dental health. Baking soda used to clean the surface of teeth. Salt kills bacteria and gets rid of plaque on teeth.

Store the paste in a tight container and kept it in room temperature and can be used anytime.

Easy DIY Dog/Puppy Toothpaste

Ingredients

1 tbsp Baking soda
1 tsp water or meat broth

Instructions

You can mix the baking soda either with water or meat broth. Make a paste and safely brush the teeth of your dog.

Meat broth will add an irresistible flavor to the dog toothpaste. Baking soda helps to clean the surface of the teeth.

Organic Toothpaste with kelp

Ingredients

1/2 tsp kelp
1/8 tbsp Dried parsley leaves
1 cup Virgin coconut oil
1/2 tsp Turmeric

Instructions

Place the hot water in the mixing bowl. Add the parsley flakes in the bowl along with turmeric and kelp. Stir the coconut oil into the mixture.

Kelp promotes plaque removal and supply chlorophyll and minerals.
Parsley is rich in deodorizer and is also antibacterial and will promote general dental health.
Turmeric helps to whiten teeth and also prevents plaque build up.
Coconut oil is antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and is a powerful deodorizer and can eliminate bad breath immediately.

The above mentioned natural toothpaste for dogs are so safe. Even if the dog swallows the toothpaste there will be no problem. It’s so easy and affordable to make your own toothpaste.

Toothpaste with Vitamin C

1 Cup water
1/2 tsp powdered vitamin C or ester – C

Dissolve vitamin C or ester – C in water. This solution can be used instead of a toothpaste and you just need to dip the toothbrush and brush the teeth gently. Vitamin C boosts dog’s immune system, strengthening the body to fight the bacteria in the mouth.

Chew bones and chew toys

Dogs can clean their teeth themselves and we just need to give our dog a bone or toy to chew. This will keep his teeth strong and clean. These are designed to strengthen your dog’s gums and teeth. You should be careful about selecting the chewing toys, it shouldn’t be hard as it can break your dog’s teeth. Another advantage of giving them chew toys is that it provides relief from boredom. Chewing releases hormones that are known to relax and de-stress dogs. It’s a natural way for dogs to brush their teeth.

Dental Diet

Dental Diet has an important role in improving the oral heath of your dog.Avoiding sugar and starch filled dog foods can improve the dental health considerably as these can create cavities in teeth. You can use natural dental sticks like carrots and broccoli. You can use any hard raw vegetables to help them clean their teeth. There are various additives which when added to your water your pet drink can reduce tartar formation. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has reviewed many of the foods and treats which can reduce plaque on the tooth’s surface. Look for products with VOHC seal on the package. Dental diet foods are available online, from your veterinarian’s office and at local pet stores.

Vet Treatment

If you have tried all the above recommendations and nothing has worked, then your vet will be able to provide a professional cleaning service.
You should make routine checkup on your dog’s mouth at least once every week whether you brush his teeth daily or not. If you notice any one of the below signs then you should consult a vet.

• Always look out for the bad breath and it is the most common sign for a dental problem.
• Your dogs will be in a state of depression
• The teeth will be weak and some will be broken
• Color of the teeth will tend to change
• Look out for the gum area as they will be swollen and the dogs will be in a real agony
• Look out for tartar(yellowish or brown color) along the gum line.
• Look out for various growth areas in mouth
• Dogs will show less interest towards the food and eating habits will change considerably.

Conclusion

Dogs should have a dental checkup every 6 months or a year. Proper maintenance of teeth can be a money saver in the long run and even a life saver. Always remember to brush your dog’s teeth every day. To give your dog a healthy life and avoid the trauma of these fatal diseases or annoyance of sore teeth and weeping gums brush your dog’s teeth regularly with toothpaste.