If you can’t get your dog to accept a toothbrush for whatever reason, dental wipes might be a good alternative for you. Smelly dog breath isn’t normal so it’s important to keep their teeth and gums clean and healthy. Here are our top tips for cleaning your dog’s teeth at home to protect their pearly whites. Adult dogs may need a professional teeth cleaning between 2 and 3 years of age or at the very least, an oral exam. This will give a good overview of their dental health. Smaller dogs and brachycephalic breeds prone to dental disease may need more frequent cleanings or anesthesia-free cleanings at least twice a year. You can review the full list of products here: http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf

Depending on the state of your dogs teeth, your vet might also advise to book your dog in to have its teeth cleaned professionally. How often and how do I brush my dog’s teeth? However, the best way to keep your dogs teeth healthy is still to brush them at home with a suitable pet toothpaste every day! Where to get a dog toothbrush? The mouth-cleaning paste is made with Calprox, which is Petsmile's proprietary combination of calcium peroxide and minerals. Upon application to a canine's chompers (or a cat's kisser), the formula dissolves the film where unwanted gunk, such as plaque and bacteria, tends to linger in a dog's mouth. The toothpaste contains no animal proteins and is completely free of sulfites, parabens, gluten, BPA, and silica. As much as 60% of dental disease is involved below the gum line. This includes periodontal disease, which is considered the #1 disease in dogs. It affects 80% of dogs by 3 years of age. Dog teeth cleaning can detect periodontal disease that is linked to heart and kidney disease, arthritis, cancer and early mortality … a result of chronic inflammation caused by bacteria. Professional teeth cleaning will remove plaque, minimize bacteria and provide regular monitoring of your dog’s dental health.

Maintaining healthy teeth

Be clear on the reason you need a dental spray so that you get the right product for the job. Are you just wanting to eliminate your pup’s stinky breath or are you concerned about their overall dental hygiene? Is tartar build-up also an issue and could gum disease be another concern you want to nip in the bud? Sprays for bad breath will most likely only mask the issue whereas other formulas can also kill bacteria and help to reduce plaque. It includes dental diets, chews, and oral gel, spray, toothpaste and powders that can be added to food. Yes, your dog’s teeth really need to be cleaned. Dogs develop plaque on their teeth just like we do, and this can lead to gum disease, bad breath, painful teeth and even tooth loss.

They contain similar ingredients as toothpaste and you wipe your dog’s teeth with them to help reduce plaque and tartar. What other products can help with keeping dog teeth clean? You can find a detailed description of the brushing technique they recommend here: h ttp://www.vohc.org/VOHC-Dog-Brushing-Technique2016.pdf But if your dog is aggressive, too nervous or has severe periodontal disease, anesthesia-free cleaning may not be a good idea.If your dog has dental issues, you should be referred to a veterinary dental specialist for the care and services they can provide. With its high-quality and non-allergenic ingredients, human-grade strength, appealing meaty flavor and professional co-sign, there’s no other toothpaste whose effectiveness has been proven like Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste. While not as effective as brushing, Petsmile even works without a toothbrush: apply the paste directly to your dog's teeth and let their flavor-chasing tongue do a little mild scrubbing. There is concern within the veterinary community that this type of cleaning isn’t effective. Here are some concerns:

Signs your dog has dental or gum disease

Brushing your dog’s teeth is part of good oral hygiene and dental health … but it can’t provide the deep cleaning below the gum line that’s sometimes needed. A professional dental cleaning, under general anesthesia, enables a veterinary dental specialist to do a deep, 360 degree clean of every tooth and clean below the gum line. That removes plaque and tartar and the bacteria that produce toxins, proteins and free radicals. They can damage gums and lead to gingivitis, which leads to deeper dental disease and ultimately disease throughout the body.