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

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.

Virbac also makes a great range of CET Enzymatic toothpastes that help to "dissolve" plaque and prevent plaque build up. https://us.virbac.com/product/dental/cet-enzymatic-toothpaste-for-dogs-and-cats These are widely available on the internet and though veterinarians and pet stores.

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

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!

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. You are likely to get better compliance from Joshie if you use commercial toothpaste made for dogs as it is flavored and dogs actually like it. If you don't make it taste good she will probably not be too happy with the brushing procedure. What is bad for dogs in human toothpaste is the flouride. So, esentially you can use human children's toothpaste as it does not contain flouride. She probably won't like those flavors either though. You can make your own toothpaste if you want to. Baking soda is not toxic to dogs and should be fine to use. Do not use hydrogen peroxide as that will cause vomiting if she swallows too much of it. Here is a link to a recipe you can use: ( https://www.cuteness.com/blog/content/diy-dog-toothpaste ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!

I wouldn’t recommend using this combination to brush your dog’s teeth. While the coconut oil probably tastes good, it will just add unwanted calories to your dog’s diet, even if you are using a small amount. And the baking soda will be too harsh and abrasive for your dog. Instead I would recommend a toothpaste specifically made for dog’s. Or, you don’t even have to use toothpaste at all! The most important part of brushing a dog’s teeth is the mechanical action of brushing away the plaque that builds up on the teeth! If you do this daily it will go a long way to helping your dog’s teeth stay nice and healthy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

You could try a homemade toothpaste and see if that works better. There are numerous recipes found online. Here is a link to one website.... https://www.care.com/c/stories/6301/5-homemade-dog-toothpaste-recipes-to-freshen/