How Cleaning Your Dog's Teeth Could SAVE Its LIFE! š¶š¦·, by The Bentist on YouTube. 1 min.
- Video length
- 1 min
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Buy a soft dog toothbrush or a finger brush and a dog-specific enzymatic toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste, since some contain xylitol and fluoride that are toxic to dogs.
Let your dog lick a pea-sized blob of the toothpaste off your finger. Do this for a few days so the taste and the handling feel normal and safe.
Sit beside or behind your dog, lift the lip gently with one hand and rub the paste along the outer gum line with your finger for a few seconds. Praise and stop while your dog is still relaxed.
Repeat daily and slowly lengthen each session until you can rub the whole outer gum line for about 30 seconds without a struggle.
Switch to the brush. Hold it at a 45 degree angle to the gum line and use small circles, working along the outside of the teeth on one side, then the other.
Spend extra time on the back molars, where plaque and tartar build up fastest. The inside surfaces of the teeth get cleaned by the tongue, so the outer sides matter most.
Let your dog swallow the enzymatic paste. Do not rinse the mouth. Give a treat, a chew or a game straight after so brushing ends on a good note.
Brush at least two to three times a week, daily if you can. Add dental chews, rubber chew toys or hard kibble to help scrub the teeth between brushing.
Check the gums each week for redness, bleeding, loose teeth or strong bad breath. These are signs to book a vet dental check rather than brush harder.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep sessions short and stop before your dog pulls away, so brushing never becomes a wrestling match.
Never give cooked bones, as they splinter and can cause serious internal damage.
Bad breath is not normal in dogs and is often the first sign of dental disease.
Start with a finger and gauze if your dog is nervous, and only move to a brush once they stay calm.
Questions
How often should I brush my dog's teeth?
Aim for daily brushing, and at least two to three times a week. Consistency matters more than long sessions, since plaque starts hardening into tartar within a couple of days.
Can I use my own toothpaste on my dog?
No. Human toothpaste often contains xylitol, fluoride and foaming agents that dogs should not swallow. Use a dog enzymatic toothpaste, which is made to be swallowed.
Do chew toys and bones replace brushing?
No. Chews and toys help scrape the tooth surfaces but do not clean along the gum line. Use them between brushings, not instead of them, and choose dog-safe chews only.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
