How often should I brush my dog's teeth? What VOHC products are best?

Daily brushing with a pet approved tooth paste and toothbrush and dental chews are more effective than a water additive. When looking at dental products, search for the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval. Use the chart at the link below to find acceptable dental chews. http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html

Great question! I really like the CET brand of dental pet products. I would get Voodoo a pet toothbrush and toothpaste, and brush her teeth daily. You can also get her Dentasticks as a daily treat.

Hello, and thank you for using PetCoach. It's great that you're thinking about Teddy's oral health! It is best to brush Teddy's teeth daily using a toothpaste formulated for dogs. There are lots of good options, so try a few out and see what flavors Teddy likes, but I recommend an enzymatic toothpaste. Here's an example: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/sentry-petrodex-enzymatic-toothpaste-for-dogs-5000644--1 It's also beneficial for Teddy to chew on things that are meant to massage his gums and help work tarter off his teeth. I prefer rawhides that are coated in enzymes to help combat tarter, such as these: VIP-_-92700027187667220&kwid=p27187667220&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PLt-eSv1wIViLrACh0JkwyJEAQYASABEgLS3PD_BwE My own opinion is that providing good products for dogs to chew on does the most to help their teeth - but the combination of chewing and regular tooth brushing will benefit Teddy's oral health the most. Also, some dogs are less enthusiastic about chewing, which makes brushing the teeth even more important. Of course, all of these are measures to help slow tarter production - but nothing completely replaces regular dental care from your veterinarian. Just as we humans brush daily and still need regular dental care, our pets need the same. Hope this helps!

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.

Brushing teeth has been shown to be much more beneficial than any water additive, supplement, or chew. I would focus on training Korbyn to like having his teeth brushed and get in a habit of daily brushing now! If he starts to develop significant periodontal disease and you want to start a supplement or water additive I would recommend using a product with the Veterinary Oral Health Council stamp of approval (http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf).

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!

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!