How often do I need to brush my dog's teeth for good oral hygiene?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Winston. The teeth should be brushed daily if possible. However, this can be difficult to achieve. If 2-3 times per week is more feasible for you, it is still helpful. You will need a tooth paste for animals as the human forms have too much fluoride. Pick a flavor that he would like (chicken, beef, etc). You can look for products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Concil (VOHC). I hope this information helps!

For puppies I just get them used to you lightly brushing the teeth and applying the toothpaste. He will lose his baby teeth at four to six months. Once the permanent teeth come in then I like to brush the teeth on a regular schedule. Daily is best but three times weekly is ok too. That way you’ll keep the teeth clean and be able to see if there is tartar build up or red gums that may indicate the need for a veterinary dental cleaning. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jasper. .

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.

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.

As long as you are using a dog-only toothpaste, you should be good (NO fluoride). Daily brushing is the best medicine. With a 15 year old beagle, she probably has underlying tartar and calculus (unless her teeth were recently cleaned by a vet), so you won't be removing anything that is already there, you would be preventing anything new from forming. Good job for taking good care of Daisy's oral health!

No problem! Maltese do have a tendency to get a lot of tartar, so it's best to brush her teeth every day if she will let you - you can get special dog toothpaste (don't use the human kind!) and a soft baby toothbrush that will be gentle on her gums. Providing things to chew on like cow or pig ears, rawhide chews, or dental sticks can also be helpful.

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!