Puppy Smiles: How to Make Sure Your Dog is Getting Proper Dental Care

Those of us fortunate enough to regularly visit dentists know their recommendations all too well—brush twice daily, floss at least once, use mouthwash regularly, and chew sugar-free gum throughout the day. Most dog owners don’t take their pups to the dentist, however, nor do they brush their teeth. However, proper dental care is just as important for canines as it is for humans.

Puppy parents—thank goodness—don’t have to go as far as brushing their pets’ teeth on a regular basis; rather, promoting dental health is relatively easy—check out these methods of doing so.

Feed Your Dog

Wait—maintaining proper dental care for canines isn’t that easy.

On a serious note, feeding your dog dry, hard dog kibbles is an effective means of keeping their teeth clean.

Soft food—all soft dog food fits this profile—leaves dogs susceptible to excess chow getting stuck to their teeth.

Dogs can’t floss, rinse, or wiggle food out of the gaps between teeth with their tongues like humans can; try to avoid feeding wet food if at all possible.

Seek out Specialized Toys

Manufacturers of dog toys already know that pushing the dental benefits of their products can and will boost sales.

Next time you go toy shopping, seek out tough rubber toys with plenty of ridges and varieties of textures.

If you live in a rural area or area with a lack of new toys your pet hasn’t yet experienced, why not use the World Wide Web?

You’re on it right now, why not skip the stores altogether?

Ask a Veterinarian for Help

It goes without saying, that veterinarians know leaps and bounds more about doggy dental care than laypeople.

While this article is intended to inform readers of the various techniques doggy dentists and vet specialists use to keep their mouths clean, you should visit a vet—or at least consult one via phone or video—if you’ve tried every reasonable dental care option available to you and your fur baby.

Physically Check Your Dog’s Teeth

Even if you don’t know exactly what to look for, pull your pet’s gums back and inspect their teeth every week or so.

Search for pictures online of healthy dog mouths and compare them if you aren’t sure.

Doggy dental care is just as important as its human counterpart.

Remember to never take canine dental care into your own hands if your dog seems as if he or she is in pain or if you simply aren’t well-informed about dental care for pets.