Brushing your dog's teeth: How to do it right
Tartar is not uncommon in dogs. To protect your furry friend from painful inflammation in the mouth or even more serious organ diseases in the long term, two things are particularly necessary: regular dental care and an annual check-up by a veterinarian.
You can find out how to get your dog used to brushing his teeth and how to brush them properly in our tips and tricks on dental care.
How to brush your dog's teeth properly
Step 1: Get your dog used to the new touch on the gums with your finger
- Day 1: Touch the right and left cheek pouch once each with your finger.
- Day 2: Touch the right and left cheek pouch twice with your finger.
- Day 3 to Day x: Increase the repetitions until you can reach all of your teeth with your finger, especially the back molars.
- Lastly, the front incisors come into play.
Stage 2: Once your dog has become accustomed to the touch, he will be introduced to the toothbrush (initially without toothpaste). Wet the toothbrush beforehand.
- Day 1: brush both cheek pouches once each
- Day 2: brush both cheek pouches twice each
- Day 3 to Day x: Increase the repetitions until you can reach all teeth with the toothbrush, especially the back molars.
- Lastly, the front incisors come into play.
Stage 3: Regular dental care
- Apply the toothpaste and brush your dog’s teeth once a day.
- First brush the teeth from the outside. If that works well, you can also try brushing the teeth from the inside. This is a little more difficult, but very important, especially for smaller breeds.
Tip: Brushing your teeth is a matter of habit
Get your dog used to the procedure while he is still a puppy, for example by gently massaging his gums.
Do the taste test and let your puppy sniff the toothpaste first. The next day, put a little toothpaste on your finger, gently pull up your puppy's lips with your other hand and run your finger over the teeth and gums.
Perseverance is the motto!
Even children don't like brushing their teeth at first. Don't give up - over time your furry friend will get used to the toothbrush. Your patience will pay off, because healthy dog teeth mean less pain for your darling, less bad breath and lower veterinary costs.
