For humans, brushing your teeth is an important aspect of our daily routine, for maintaining our dental health. Your dental health impacts your overall health and the same is true for our furry companions. Proper dental care for dogs includes brushing their teeth at home and taking them in for professional cleanings every now and again. As unfortunate as it is, many pet owners are negligent of their dog’s dental health and this can potentially worsen if allowed to fester. Here at Gentle Earth Pets, our team of professionals is committed to providing you with items like pet toothpaste, so that you can maintain their oral health for years to come. Let’s take a closer look at how often you should brush your dog’s teeth as well as some tips and tricks to ensure its efficacy.
Making Your Pets Comfortable
While you might be ready to jumpstart your pet’s dental routine, the same can’t be said for how they will feel and react in these situations. You need to gently introduce tooth brushing to your pets. Below are some tips you can follow to make your pet feel comfortable, especially when it comes to using pet toothpaste:
- Purchasing Supplies: Pet toothpaste and pet toothbrushes are uniquely designed to accommodate your animal’s dental needs. Pet toothbrushes have softer bristles, but if this overwhelms your pet at first, you can certainly start off smaller with square gauzes or cotton swabs.
- Massaging Your Dog’s Gums, Teeth, and Lips: Put your pet in a comfortable position and start to massage their lips in slow, circular motions at least once or twice a day. This can help your pet get used to the feeling and will make for an easier time when introducing a toothbrush and toothpaste into the equation
- Introducing The Toothpaste & Toothbrush: When your pet has grown accustomed to the gum massage, it makes it easier to introduce the toothbrush and toothpaste. Use small amounts of toothpaste and let your pet lick the toothbrush in order to breed contentment and familiarity. Get into the habit of doing this several times a day and reward your pet for following your lead.
Once the small introductions have been made, the next step is to build out a routine that is appropriate for your pet.
When Should I Brush My Dog’s Teeth?
In terms of the frequency, tooth brushing for dogs should ideally mimic how often humans brush their teeth, which is twice a day. This might not be realistic for certain owners and their pets, so brushing their teeth once or twice a week can suffice. Conversely, there are other ways to supplement and simplify the upkeep of their dental hygiene if regular toothbrushing presents challenges. This can include dental treats, water additives, or dental wipes. Regardless of the delivery system, some kind of routine needs to be in place.
Purchasing Pet Toothpaste & Other Dental Accessories
If you’re interested in learning more about our process, contact us today to set up a time to speak. You can also view our online storefront to learn more about the inventory we carry for your furry companions!
