If you’ve read and tried the techniques discussed in How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth, I hope it worked for you. Unfortunately, not all dogs are the same, and some just won’t respond to your attempts to brush their teeth.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s dental health but can’t brush properly, don’t panic! Here are 5 ways to clean your dog’s teeth without brushing:
1. Cloth
If your dog is fine with you opening his mouth, but doesn’t necessarily like brushing, try wiping the toothpaste with a cloth.
A regular (unused) tea towel, gauze, or even stockings will do.
It’s not an ideal long-term solution, but it does help slow plaque formation and freshen breath.
2. Chew toys
Chew toys are not only a great way to relieve boredom and stress, but they can also remove softened tartar and plaque, and even massage your gums.
It doesn’t freshen her breath, and, well, it’s not a great long-term solution.
Think of chew toys as an addition and supplement to regular brushing, not a replacement. Raw hides, bones, and nylon or rubber chews are best.
3. Dry food
Try switching to dry food instead of wet food. Crunching helps fight plaque and tartar buildup.
There are also many dog food brands that are specially formulated to help clean your teeth while eating; but again, this isn’t an ideal long-term solution and doesn’t protect your mouth like brushing your teeth.
4. Gel or spray
Another less expensive alternative to brushing is gutta-percha or gutta-percha. They contain ingredients that slow and inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause tartar buildup.
Of course, there’s no brushing or scrubbing here, and we’ve yet to find a dental spray or gel that we think can replace brushing.
5. Brush teeth
Granted, using a toothbrush on your dog’s teeth can be tricky, especially if you’ve never tried it before – our dog Smudge wasn’t too keen at first. Fortunately, there are a variety of different brushes to choose from to suit the size of your dog’s muzzle. Maybe start by rubbing your fingers against the gums when they feel relaxed, such as midday. B. After a walk or game.
Once they get used to it, you can take out the brush. Start at the back and brush lightly across the teeth and gum line in circular motions, then continue forward. 30 seconds on each side for the top and the same for the bottom is a good guide for regular cleaning.
Daily brushing is the best way to prevent dental problems, so we recommend brushing as often as possible. Warning: Never use human toothpaste – it often contains fluoride which is toxic to dogs.
