Caring for teeth isn’t just a human thing. Dental hygiene for pets hasn’t been a priority until the last few years. Veterinarians and other pet care experts are now understanding how important pet dental care is to overall health.

Regular dental care is important for a cat or a dog, like me, just like it is for humans. As a pet parent, you will need to make regular visits to the vet to ensure your pet’s teeth stay in good shape. However, you can provide dental care for your pets, it’s not that difficult.

Importance of Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, it is very common for young pets to have dental disease. Brushing your pet’s teeth isn’t about keeping them white. More importantly, it helps keep their teeth and gums healthy. This includes the tissues, roots, and bones surrounding their teeth.

Periodontal disease is more prevalent in adult pets. If the disease is left untreated, your pet could develop painful infections, their teeth may become loose, and they may need to be pulled. Proper pet dental care, including brushing their teeth can prevent all of this. Brushing your pet’s teeth also offers other benefits such as preventing heart, liver, or kidney disease. Creating a dental care routine for your pet that includes tooth brushing, regular checkups, and teeth cleaning by the vet are the ways to protect your pet’s health.

Getting Started with Pet Dental Care

One thing you’ll need is a lot of patience when you start. You’ll have to give your pet some time to get used to the idea. We are like humans sometimes; in that we balk at something new. But with some patience and lots of guidance, we will get used to having our teeth cared for.

Choosing The Right Pet Dental Care Tools

You cannot use human toothpaste for brushing your pet’s teeth. There is way too much fluoride in toothpaste to be safe for a pet. Also, some of the ingredients like xylitol are toxic to us if we were to swallow it. Xylitol is often used as a sugar substitute, but it’s harmful to dogs. Human toothpaste also tastes horrible. Yuk! You can purchase pet toothpaste that comes in much better flavors like poultry, seafood, or beef.

Similarly, you’ll want to choose a toothbrush that is designed for use with dogs or cats. For those of you who own smaller pets, you may find smaller human toothbrushes handy. Toothbrushes designed for toddlers or infants have soft bristles and can be just the right size for the mouth of a smaller animal.

Step-by-Step Guide for Tooth Brushing for Your Pet

Remember to be patient and work on each step gradually. Realistically, it can take weeks to be able to effectively and comfortably brush your pet’s teeth. It may help to start by choosing a time of day when your pet is usually calm. Maybe the best time is after they are tired from taking a walk or playing. You can reduce stress for them by creating an environment that is quiet and comfortable.

Step 1: Familiarize Your Pet with Tooth Brushing Tools

Take some time to let your pet check out the toothbrush and toothpaste. They may want to lick or sniff them. Give them treats as rewards to let them know you trust them, and they are behaving well. If your pet likes the taste of the toothpaste, giving them small amounts can be a reward for positive behaviors. If your pet believes the toothpaste is a treat, they may be more excited about their dental care routine.

Step 2: Proper Pet Positioning

After your pet has become comfortable with their toothpaste and toothbrush, you can work on the proper position for their dental care. You’ll want them to sit or lie comfortably nearby, particularly in front of you. The main thing to remember here is that you need to be able to gently control their head.

Step 3: Begin Brushing Their Teeth

Carefully and gently lift their lips and use the toothbrush to rub the toothpaste along the area where the gums meet the teeth. Start with gentle, slow strokes and let them get used to this new feeling. Use circular motions while holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle from the teeth.

Move from tooth to tooth concentrating on each tooth. Cover as much of each tooth as you can. Remember to cover both the front and back of each tooth. It’s important to try to brush the backs of their teeth since that is typically where most pets’ dental disease begins.

Step 4: Offer Treats and Be Patient with Us

You can offer treats at different steps. However, if at any point, your pet becomes resistant or uncomfortable, just take a step back. You may even have to stop for a few days before you start over again. It can take a few days, or even a few weeks until you can brush your pet’s teeth for the recommended two minute minimum.

Step 5: Brushing Recommendations

It is recommended to brush your pet’s teeth daily. However, especially until they are accustomed to the practice, even a few times a week can mean a huge difference for maintaining their oral health.

Other Pet Dental Care Options

Most cats and dogs will get used to having their teeth brushed, eventually. But while you patiently wait for them to adjust, or if you have a pet that simply does not like it, there are a few useful options that might help.

·Dental Chews and Treats. Some chews and treats help to massage the gums and scrape plaque away.

·Dental Toys. When choosing toys, look for some that are made to help remove plaque. There are some toys that have soft rubber bristles on them. Some of them have a hole designed to put pet toothpaste into. Dental toys should be made of nylon or rubber and have edges that help remove plaque. You should be able to bend them, and you should be able to dent the toy’s surface with a fingernail. Toys that are too hard can actually break a tooth.

·Dental Wipes. Special pet wipes are formulated safely and use natural ingredients. They can be used to wipe your pet’s teeth clean.

Maintaining a dental Care Routine

Being consistent is the key to successfully keeping your pet’s teeth clean and in good condition. Here are a few tips.

·Brush daily if possible. Try to brush your pet’s teeth at least three times a week.

·If you cannot brush their teeth, use an alternative like dental chew, dental treats, or pet wipes.

·Talk to your vet about scheduling professional teeth cleaning as needed.

About the Author: Fiona

Fiona is the current President and CEO of Pawer Lab. She takes care of the day-to-day operations and makes sure everything runs purrfectly. Her hobbies include chasing lasers, taking naps in the sun, and snacking on treats.