To prevent food residues in your dog’s mouth from causing any damage, the teeth and gums should be cleaned regularly.

In particular, cereals and sugar in ready-made foods can cause dental problems in dogs, so a good dental care in the dog is essential. This concerns both dry and wet food.

However, even when giving sugar-free and grain-free food, dental care should not be dispensed with.

With toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, you can clean the teeth and keep them clean and healthy. But there are also some alternative and supplementary care options.

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Which dental diseases can dogs get?

The type of diet and inadequate dental care are also shown in the dog to different dental diseases.

Likewise, periodontal disease and tooth decay may occur. However, a healthy and strong dog bite can not only prevent such complications of teeth and gums, but it also contributes to overall health.

On the one hand, a dog with a healthy dentition will be able to chew the food well. This allows all the important nutrients to be absorbed well and the gastrointestinal tract is not overburdened.

On the other hand, dental problems, such as inflammation, can lead to serious health problems elsewhere in the body.

tartar teeth of old dog

Without regular dental care can be in the dog caries, periodontal disease and tooth failure the result

Tartar and paradontosis

Tartar can form when food remains on the tooth. These residues are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to multiply.

As a result, plaque forms, which on the one hand lead to halitosis, on the other hand, These inflammatory processes can damage not only the gums but also the tooth.

Thus, paradontosis may occur as a result of tartar. Characteristic of this disease is that pockets form, the gums recede and in the course of the process, the tooth necks and tooth roots can be exposed.

The inflammation can develop up to the jawbone and thus lead to far-reaching damage. As a result, the dog can lose his tooth on the one hand.

On the other hand, inflammatory processes in the body should not be underestimated. The bacteria that are responsible for the inflammation, namely cause other diseases, such as skin and joint diseases, heart valve changes or kidney problems.

Caries

Your dog may also be affected by tooth decay. Although quadrupeds suffer significantly fewer carries than, for example, humans due to the special structure of the teeth, dog teeth can nevertheless be damaged as a result.

In dogs, the teeth are sharpened and at the same time, the spaces between the teeth are larger. However, if tooth decay is present, it can cause tooth decay and toothache, as well as jawbone and tooth channel inflammation or abscesses.

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Should you always brush your teeth with dogs?

The daily diet can cause food residues to get stuck between the teeth. If these are not removed, then diseases of the tooth and gums are possible.

How often the teeth of the dog are cleaned, depends also on the diet and the individual care needs.

Regular cleaning removes all remains as well as existing dental plaque, even before complications can occur.

Basically, brushing your teeth is therefore recommended, in addition to a species-appropriate diet of the animal.

So is the brushing the dog best

Brushing your teeth is not as difficult as some might think. It is important to give you and your dog enough time.

If you have never brushed your dog’s teeth before, get used to it step by step.

Girl cleaning teeth of her dog at home

Very few dogs will be patient with the cleaning process directly the first time. It is particularly easy to get used to cleaning a puppy. But even older dogs, you can bring with rest and patience to tolerate the toothbrush in the mouth.

Get the dog used to toothbrush and toothpaste

Before you can thoroughly clean the dentition, your dog should get used to the toothbrush and the special taste and smell of toothpaste.

Spread some toothpaste on a finger and let it lick from your dog.

If your dog allows it, you can also smear the toothpaste on your teeth and gums.

It is possible to get used to the toothbrush by letting your dog lick it. However, you should make sure that your dog does not confuse the toothbrush with a chew toy.

The brushing of teeth in the dog

Once your dog gets used to toothpaste and brush, you can slowly start brushing your first teeth.

As a rule, dogs get used to the new process within a few weeks.

The dog bite can best be brushed by working your way back from the big fangs and finally brushing the incisors because the incisors are particularly sensitive to the dog.

  1. To brush your teeth, just apply some toothpaste to the brush and gently place your hand on the muzzle so you can lift the lips slightly. This is possible with the thumb and forefinger.
  2. Then you can attach the toothbrush angled to the gum
  3. It is cleaned from the gums towards the tip of the tooth
  4. If a tooth is cleaned, then move the toothbrush in a circular motion to the next tooth
  5. Then do not forget the other side as well as the tooth surfaces
  6. At the very end you can attach the toothbrush to the incisors

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toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs

The use of toothbrushes and toothpaste for humans should be avoided.

For the dental care of your dog special toothbrushes as well as toothpaste are offered.

Because normal toothbrushes are often too hard, which can damage the sensitive gums.

Toothpaste for humans is also not suitable because the agents contained for the dog not only can be unpleasant, but even harmful.

• Dog Toothbrush: It should be soft so that the sensitive gums are not injured. At the same time, however, the material should be so robust that it does not break directly when accidentally chewing and the dog swallows parts of it. So that you can clean the entire denture without effort, the stem of the brush should be correspondingly long. The handle is well and safe in the hand, for example, by a rubberized surface. Some models dog toothbrushes offered as double toothbrushes. They are usually equipped with a small and a slightly larger brush head, which allows the front and the molars to be cleaned equally. An alternative to this are toothed toothbrushes. They are put on the finger, which can be also sensitive areas with an improved pressure distribution clean.
• Dog Toothpaste: Toothpaste for dogs often uses active ingredients such as zinc gluconate, chlorhexidine or hexametaphosphate. In dogs, which are already known gum disease, is also on additives such as fluorides set. There is the toothpaste for the dog Not only with different active ingredients but often in many flavors because ultimately decides the taste of your dog on whether he accepts the toothpaste or not.

Homemade dog toothpaste

Dog toothpaste you can make yourself with little effort.

For this purpose, different substances can be used. Here is an example of a recipe for a homemade dog toothpaste:

For the preparation, a cup of coconut oil is first heated. This is particularly gentle in a hot water bath possible. Once the consistency of the oil is supple, it can be processed further.

Add ½ teaspoon turmeric, 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes and ½ teaspoon seaweed and mix until smooth and easy to process.

  • Coconut oil: counteracts bad breath, has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties
  • Turmeric: counteracts tooth decay formation and is anti-inflammatory
  • Dried parsley flakes: antibacterial and valuable minerals and vitamins
  • Sea kelp:  Removes plaque and contains minerals and chlorophyll

After production, the dog toothpaste must be stored in the refrigerator.

To use, you can remove the required amount of toothpaste and gentle warm gently in a water bath.

On the other hand, cooking or heating in the microwave should be avoided, as this can destroy valuable nutrients and enzymes.

Alternative and complementary dental care

Regular brushing of the teeth is the most effective way to maintain the dog’s dental health.

In addition, a whole range of other dentifrices are offered in the trade, which should be used in most cases, however, only as a supplementary dental care:

• Dental care gel: They are intended as an alternative to brushing teeth when dogs can not brush their teeth. Dental care gels should be able to counteract tartar and plaque simply by applying them to your teeth.

• Mouthwashes: As complementary dental care, they are given with the drinking water. They should be disinfecting.

• Kausticks: Kausticks are commercially available in many variants and should contribute to dental care. However, the effect is controversial. In order to contribute to the abrasion of the plaque, they should be sufficiently large and hard enough. A too small or soft consistency misses the effect and residues can even get stuck in the interdental spaces.

• Buffalo Skin Bones: Buffalo skin chewing bones are hard to help remove plaque during chewing.

• Kauball: Even with chew toys such as Kaubällen is set to the abrasion of the plaque by chewing hard materials in combination with a special structure of the surface. However, care should be taken with all chew toys that they can not be swallowed by the dog.

• Kong:These are special dog toys made of durable natural rubber. These are also offered for the dental sector. Dental sticks and other variants should be used specifically for cleaning teeth and gum massage. At the same time can be applied in the interstices a dentifrice such as toothpaste, so that the dog can take these when buying.

• Toothbrush Fingering: Toothbrush fingers can be easily pulled over a finger. By the cleaning body on the finger, the teeth can be easily achieved and the acceptance of the dog can be increased. They are made from a variety of materials that can be used to remove plaque.

• Feed additives:For oral and dental hygiene of dogs also feed additives are offered. They are simply added to the regular food and, depending on the product, counteract the formation of dental plaque in different ways. For example, they change the ph value in the mouth or special enzymes are used.

• Bone: chewing lamb, beef or veal bone can also help clean teeth. Due to the hardness of the abrasion can be promoted. However, they are only suitable for occasional use. In addition, not all types of bones should be given to dogs. Because hard marrow bones or poultry bones can harm dogs.

At what signs should one go to the dental checkup at the vet?

Basically, it is advisable to have the dog’s teeth checked regularly.

This is possible, for example, in the course of the examination before vaccination. Because not always the layman can recognize initial dental problems.

Anyway, the puppy is advised to do more checks on the teeth. In addition, the following signs of your dog’s dental problems may speak:

  • Gums: bleeding or bright red color
  • Teeth: yellowish to brownish deposits, teeth are loose
  • Saliva: increased saliva production
  • Behavior: The dog is scratching or rubbing its muzzle; he eats hesitantly or one-sidedly; Difficulty swallowing, touch sensitivity on the snout or teeth
  • Breath: Bad breath has changed, foul smell (sweetish or foul)

In addition, there may be other signs of dental problems. In these and other cases, you should go with your dog to the dental checkup to a veterinarian.

Signs of healthy teeth

A healthy dog bite is especially important for our four-legged friends to survive.

Because they have to be able to chew their food until old age.

However, dogs are initially born without teeth. Only at the age of about three to six weeks break the first teeth. A puppy initially has 28 milk teeth.

With about four to seven months, the permanent teeth are formed and the milk dentition disappears. As a rule, a dog has 42 teeth. These teeth should be light and with no injuries, discoloration or deposits.

For a healthy gum speaks, if it is pale pink and looks strong. When pressed with a finger, it should be lighter at the point.

Conclusion

As with us humans, a healthy diet in conjunction with regular dental hygiene are important to the dog’s dental health.

For dental hygiene, you have different means to choose from. As the most effective remedy is still considered the regular brushing your teeth.

If dogs become accustomed to it already in the puppy age, the brushing of the teeth usually does not pose a problem and the dog bite can be kept healthy and strong until old age.

Oral hygiene can have a significant impact on the health of the dog, so the topic of dental care in dogs actually affects every dog owner.

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