• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogsBestLife.com logo

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

How often should I brush my dog’s teeth?

Posted August 12, 2021

Owner brushes dog's teeth. Brush your dog's teeth daily to his good health. Canine periodontal disease can lead to serious health conditions.
Brush your dog’s teeth daily to promote good health. Canine periodontal disease can lead to severe health conditions.

I’m Peter Wong from Hidden Valley Smiles, and today I wanted to answer a question people ask quite often: how often should you brush your dog’s teeth?

So, first of all, there are a couple of ways to brush your dog’s teeth using a toothbrush made specifically for dogs, and you also want to use a toothpaste made for dogs too. Adding a breath freshener for dogs also can be a big help.

Several companies make finger brush or toothpaste kits for dogs, so you need to talk to your veterinarian to get the right one.

Why do you need to brush your dog’s teeth?

Brushing your dog’s teeth is essential. According to American Veterinary Dental College statistics, most dogs show some evidence of periodontal disease by age 3.

After your dog eats a meal, a film of white-yellowish plaque starts to deposit on the surface of his teeth. The plaque is easy to remove at this stage, and you can even scrape it off with your nail.

If you don’t remove plaque within 24 to 36 hours, minerals in the dog’s saliva cause plaque to harden into a substance known as tartar.

Preventing tartar buildup

At this point, you can’t remove tartar easily with your nails or with a toothbrush. It sticks to the dog’s teeth as coral reef larvae adhere to submerged rocks.

A veterinarian then needs to use specialized equipment like a hand scaler or an ultrasonic scaler to remove tartar. If you fail to remove hardened tartar from your dog’s teeth, it will keep accumulating in layers, and a cascading chain of events starts as tartar accumulates under the gum line.

First, tissue is damaged and the gums become inflamed, known as gingivitis, causing the gums to bleed and swell. 

Then the bone and soft tissue surrounding your dog’s teeth are destroyed, leading to loose teeth and tooth root abscess development.

Periodontal disease can lead to severe health conditions, including heart disease, so caring for your pet’s teeth is essential.

Is daily brushing necessary? 

A few years ago, the consensus says to brush teeth two or three times per week. Now, however, most veterinarians recommend daily brushing. Brushing your dog’s teeth daily makes sense because plaque accumulates quickly, and it’s essential to prevent it from hardening into tartar as soon as possible.

Many dog owners may think brushing their teeth may be unnecessary or boring. But starting and maintaining daily teeth cleaning routines for your dog can help ensure he comes out of the vet’s office with a clean bill of health. 

So, go ahead and start brushing your dog’s teeth today! 

But even with regular brushing, understand you may need to periodically have your vet clean your dog’s teeth using veterinary dental equipment.

Dr. Peter Wong, DDS, Hidden Valley Smiles.

Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

 

Related Posts

  • dog teeth cleaning guide
    Teeth brushing is essential to a pet’s health - Here’s why

    Proper dental care for our pets includes brushing their teeth…

  • bad dog breath
    Use home remedies to cure dog bad breath

    A blast of dog bad breath can be repulsive, but…

  • Beagle crunches on a carrot. Adding high fiber foods like carrots to your dog's diet improves digestion, maintains weight, and helps prevent colon cancer.
    Top 5 foods to keep your dog's teeth healthy

    Practicing good dog oral hygiene by adding the right foods…

  • Desensitize your dog to having their mouths examined and teeth brushed by starting when they are young.
    Healthy dogs shouldn't have bad breath

    By Karen A. Soukiasian A healthy dog should not have…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Health

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

  • Thinking of getting a furry friend? Use the DogsBestLife.com perfect dog breed quiz to find the perfect canine companion.

    Take our dog breed quiz to discover the perfect breed for you!

Tags

Outdoor activitiesPuppy-proofPotty trainingTwo dogsPuppy kindergartenWorking dogsPet sitterRottweilerPit bullThanksgivingVeterinarianPetfinder.comTicksPoodleSocializationOld dogsYorkshire terriertraining tipsWaterPandemicPet parentsSeparation anxietyValentine's DaySheddingVacation dog careService dogsRescue dogPawSmall dogsPomeranian

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Use 5 factors to choose the best veterinarian for your dog
    Research thoroughly and consider location, services, experience, cost, and staff before choosing the right vet for your dog. […]
  • Fight insomnia: 12 tips to help your dog get good sleep
    The most common cause of canine insomnia is pent-up energy. Help your dog sleep all night by ensuring it gets enough exercise. […]
  • Dog fears: 10 ways to fight separation anxiety
    Separation anxiety is one of the most common dog fears. Use our 10 steps to help your dog become more confident and overcome her fear of being left alone. […]
  • Is amoxicillin safe? What antibiotic is most effective for dogs?
    Consult your vet before giving your dog antibiotics. Know when your dog needs medication and watch for allergic reactions. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2023 DogsBestLife.com online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.