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How to brush your dogs teeth

Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly is the best way to help prevent gum disease and keep their teeth and gums healthy.

By introducing tooth brushing slowly, you can help your dog learn to enjoy it – or at least to tolerate it!

Tips to help get you started

  • Keep sessions short – three minutes is plenty.
  • Every dog is different – so go at your dog’s pace and give lots of praise.
  • Use three pea-sized blobs of dog toothpaste – one each for the left, right and front of the mouth.
  • Take care putting your fingers into your dog’s mouth.
  • Don't try this if your dog is aggressive or prone to biting.
  • Repeat each stage for five days before moving to the next step.

You’ll need

  • A pet toothbrush with medium bristles
  • A quiet area with few or no distractions
  • Plenty of patience
  • Dog toothpaste – human toothpaste isn’t good for dogs because it contains fluoride which is toxic to dogs
  • Clean hands and short nails – for your dog’s safety and
  • Some water.
  • 1. Getting your dog used to the taste of toothpaste
    1. Wash your hands and smear a little bit of toothpaste on your index finger.
    2. Let your dog lick the toothpaste from your finger.
    3. Repeat two or three times.
  • 2. Getting your dog used to having something in its mouth
    1. Smear your index finger with toothpaste.
    2. Gently rub your finger over your dog’s teeth and gums.
    3. Don’t put your finger in further than your dog is comfortable with.
  • 3. Introducing the toothbrush
    1. Wet the toothbrush with water and then smear it with toothpaste.
    2. Let your dog lick some of the toothpaste off the bristles to get used to the feeling.
    3. Gently hold their mouth around the muzzle to stop them chewing the brush.
    4. Put your hand across your dogs nose and lifting the lips, gently brush the canines (the big, pointy teeth) up and down. Start by angling the brush towards the gum line and brush away from the gum towards the tip of the tooth.
  • 4. Brushing the back teeth
    1. As before, brush your dog's canine teeth up and down.
    2. Slowly move along to the teeth behind the canines, using a circular motion.
    3. Only go as far as your dog is happy with.
    4. Brush both sides of the mouth.
  • 5. Brushing all of the teeth
    1. As before, brush the canines, then the back teeth and finish with the incisor teeth.
    2. To brush the front incisor teeth, hold your dog’s mouth closed around the muzzle and gently lift the upper lip with your thumb and forefinger, bridging the muzzle to reveal the incisor teeth. (Many dogs are sensitive and may sneeze when having their incisor teeth brushed.)
    3. Gently brush the front teeth up and down.
    4. Gradually build up the amount of time you spend brushing until you reach two to three minutes.
    5. For maximum protection, brush your dog’s teeth every day.

Happy brushing!

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