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How can I properly brush my dog's teeth for good dental health?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Male | unneutered | 2 years and 9 months old | 44.09 lbs

I am getting my Siberian Husky, Shumba ready for a. dog show and I need to know how to brush his teeth?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Maria DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 11th, 2018

Home dental care is one of the best ways to help keep your dog's teeth and gums healthy.

I would wet the toothbrush (you can get it at a pet store). You can also use a children's toothbrush. I would then use Pet approved toothpaste. There are wide varieties of flavors. Never use human toothpaste, baking soda or salt. While safe for you, these cleaning agents can be harmful to your dog if swallowed.

Lift your dog's lip and brush with a gentle motion to clean his teeth. Just like you would your own teeth. Most pets will not allow you to brush the inside surface of their teeth, so typically you can just brush the outside portion of their teeth.

Make sure you reward your dog after! Ideally, this process should be done daily.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 22nd, 2017
Great question! You will need to use a dog formulated toothpaste and brush. Never use human toothpaste because it contains fluoride which is toxic to dogs. You can get the toothbrush and paste from a pet store. I will include a link on how to brush Cane's teeth:

http://www.wikihow.com/Brush-a-Dog%27s-Teeth
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ana M, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 2nd, 2018
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Tooth brushing will be best and is easy to implement if you start at a young age. Use a toothpaste for dogs as the human formulas have top much fluoride. Start by offering the toothpaste as a treat. Once he likes it, then use it on your finger to get him used to you touching his teeth. When he is accustomed to this, then start using the toothbrush. A slow approach will best. There is a also a dental gel known as Maxi-gard. This is effective at preventing dental disease as well. I hope this information helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Katie S
Certified Dog Trainer
Published on February 10th, 2017
You can clean Buck's teeth using a Pet-safe (dog formula) toothpaste, available through most pet stores or your vet. Dog toothbrushes are available in different styles including a small toothbrush like we would use for a small child or a finger brush (slips over the end of your finger and one side/end has bristles) and brush his teeth like you would you own.

Alternatively, Dental chews or bones or antlers are a great way to give him something to chew and help to keep his teeth as well.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

How do I brush my dog's teeth at home for good dental health?

I would try to find a dog finger brush or a small tooth brush and you will want to use dog tooth paste as it doesn't have fluoride, no foaming and not mint flavored so it makes it more favorable to the dog. You can slow start by just do a small section and work your way around the whole mouth over a matter of a few days. It is best to try and brush their teeth at least every other day to may a difference. Also remember that their large chewing teeth are further in the back past where their lips end. I would not try to open the mouth to get the inside of the teeth as most dogs don't appreciate that. If he doesn't like it or resists you, then it may be best just to give him dental chews like C.E.T chews and start using a water additive for dental health. Also, if the teeth already have a lot of tartar build up, he will likely need a dental cleaning from your vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What home remedies are safe and effective for brushing my dog's teeth?

The most important part of a home dental care program is actually just brushing the teeth at all and does not seem to make a difference which toothpaste is used unless you use a proven toothpaste. There are actually only 2 toothpastes on the market that have been proven to help improve dental health in dogs. I am attaching a list of approved dental products below. http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf So, I would recommend purchasing PetSmile or Essential Healthy Mouth if you are going to use a toothpaste. I have found that homemade toothpastes are not very good tasting (so it makes it harder for you to brush the teeth) and would recommend using a good brush without any toothpaste instead of making a homemade toothpaste. I am attaching a link to a handout below which includes a detailed discussion on home dental care including products for cleaning the teeth. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=640 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My older dog's teeth look bad after cleaning. What at-home care works?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The gold standard for at home dental care is brushing teeth. However, we all know this is not easy for you or your pet!! If Lilly will let you do so, then yes, I recommend getting a silicone tooth brush (finger or long handle- whichever is easier) and brushing her teeth all the way from her back molars to her front incisors. I also recommend the dental chews called OraVet. They tend to work a little bit better reducing plaque and maintaining better smelling breath. You can likely find these dental chews at your local veterinary's office. With age and time, dog's teeth tend to build tartar more quickly. Therefore, I recommend brushing, dental chews and even particular dental food. Thanks for being so on top of Lilly's care! You are doing a great job!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

How can I train my dog to accept teeth brushing for dental health?

I wouldn't recommend restraining her head in any way to brush her teeth - this is more likely to make her try to get away. The best thing to do is to slowly get her used to having her lips lifted/pulled back to expose the teeth. Pull her lips back for just a second, then give her a treat to make it a positive experience. Once she's used to this you can rub her teeth with your finger, then the toothbrush. It could take weeks or longer before you build up to the toothbrush. If you think she already has dental disease you should talk to your veterinarian- brushing is very helpful for preventing periodontal disease but will not reverse calculus (mineralized plaque) or address disease below the gum.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

When to start brushing my dog's teeth, how often, and with what?

You can start brushing your dogs teeth at any time. I recommend purchasing dog toothpaste from a pet store and you can also get a regular toothbrush for your dog or one that fits over your finger. There is no need to rinse their mouth when using dog toothpaste and it is safe if they swallow it. The best thing to do is to brush Bruno's teeth every day or as often as you are able to. Dental hygiene is just as important in animals as it is in humans.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

How often should my dog's teeth be cleaned and are rawhides safe?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend daily teeth brushing with dog toothpaste daily. Groomers only brush a dogs teeth when they are groomed- likely every 6-8 weeks. That would be like us brushing our teeth once every 6-8 weeks. It’s not a bad idea but it’s not going to do a whole lot in the long run. I also recommend a professional teeth cleaning by a veterinarian every year- to remove plaque, polish after (very important after plaque removal), and to check for problems/bad teeth before they cause other problems. Rawhides are not bad but they will not take the place of daily dental care. Also, they can cause intestinal upset so I do not recommend them frequently. They also have a lot of calories so you have to make sure Scooby doesn’t gain weight when feeding them. Kisses to Scooby!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

What's the best way to clean my dog's teeth? Do dental chew sticks work?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sasha. Good on you for caring about her dental health! The best thing I can recommend is daily brushing with a canine toothbrush and canine toothpaste. I love the CET brand of dental products for dogs, they are excellent. Chew sticks are ok, and you can use something like Dentasticks as a daily treat, but they won't have as good effects as brushing. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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