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When should I start brushing my puppy's teeth and what products work?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 9 days old

Should I be brushing my dogs teeth while he's a puppy or after he has all his adult teeth? I was giving him denta sticks but they seem to upset his tummy so I'm thinking about brushing them but am unsure about when and what to use. Any recommended products and tips?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 31st, 2017

Hello, actually, putting your finger in their mouth or brushing is better when started as a puppy to get them conditioned to the kind of sensation. It will make your life and his a lot easier for when he has a full set of adult teeth that need to be brushed daily to keep clean and prevent infections. Therefore, the more you can brush his teeth now the better. Obviously, start slowly with very quick procedures, an increase the procedure time as the weeks go on until you're able to brush all if his teeth, including the very back ones. Best of luck

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on June 9th, 2017
Good for you for being so proactive with Hazal's dental care! You can start getting her accustomed to tooth brushing at any point. Young puppies have fairly sensitive gums while they are teething, so at this point, I recommend using either a finger toothbrush or a slightly coarse wash clot with water, as these are more gentle than an actual toothbrush. Try to brush or rub the outer surfaces of her teeth daily to get her used to this action. Once her adult teeth have all erupted (usually around 8-9 months of age), you can switch to a soft, small toothbrush (kid-sized are best for small dogs), but continue just using water to brush her teeth. After brushing with water, you can smear a small amount of pet toothpaste on the outer surfaces of her teeth with your finger.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on February 19th, 2017
You can start teaching Jax to have his teeth brushed now - the earlier, the better! :) Make sure to use a soft baby toothbrush, and a toothpaste designed for dogs since human toothpaste is toxic for them. Dentastix are also fine to give him now, as long as he's able to chew them. If they're too hard, you may need to wait until he has all of his adult at 6 months old before he can eat them easily.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

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

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

How often should I brush my puppy's teeth, especially at 7 weeks old?

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. .

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What are the best dog toothpaste and toothbrush brands for puppies?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I am a fan of the Virbac C.E.T. line of dental products. They have toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental treats for dogs. If you need a place to start, you can check out Youtube for many videos that give step by step instructions on how to introduce Korbyn to teeth brushing in a positive manner! I hope this helps! Good luck!

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First time buying dog dental? Best brush, paste & cleaning advice?

Hello, I like the Virbac enzymatic tooth paste and tooth brushes the most. I also like the OraVet chews for dogs that do not tolerate toothbrushing. At 8 months, he may not need to have his teeth cleaned yet. However, at his 1 year old checkup you should make sure to ask your veterinarian to assess his teeth and give you a recommendation on when you'll need to have his teeth cleaned. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

How to brush a 7-week-old puppy's teeth when they eat the brush?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Since Jasper is still a puppy this is very normal. As he grows up he will likely stop trying to eat the tooth brush. No dog likes having their teeth brushed so it won't get much easier. I recommend keep practicing, as his adult teeth are likely not even in yet. Keep sessions short and brush at least 3 times per week. Also review this website for other dental health products: http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html I hope this helps and I wish you and Jasper the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Puppy dental care: Should I buy products or just brush daily?

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).

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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