Why not celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month by training your pet to allow you to brush his teeth?
Brushing your pet's teeth will be most beneficial if they do not already have a lot of plaque built up. If your pet will let you, look in his mouth. If the gums look red or inflamed, or if the teeth are discolored, make an appointment with your veterinarian to determine if dental disease is present. Brushing alone will not remove plaque that has already built up, but it will slow additional build up.
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| Plaque can be removed with an ultrasonic scaler while your pet is under anesthesia. |
How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth
Start by getting your pet comfortable with having his mouth touched. If you have never done this before, GO SLOW! You want this to be a positive experience for everyone involved, and if your pet bites you it defeats the purpose. Massage around your pet's muzzle and gently lift his lips while you talk to him in a soothing voice. Give him some treats when you are done. You may have to do this every day for a few days.
Once your pet has learned that having his mouth touched is a good thing, you can start rubbing his teeth and gums with a piece of gauze or a small cloth.
Use the same reassuring voice, and reward with some treats at the end of each session. The next step is to add some toothpaste. Be sure it is a toothpaste formulated for pets- unlike human toothpaste, pet toothpaste is safe to swallow. It is perfectly fine to continue using the gauze or cloth to clean your pet's teeth, but once they are used to it, you can change to a toothbrush.
Ideally, you should brush your pet's teeth once a day, but once or twice a week is better than not at all.
