Prevention is better than cure
If you start to brush your pet’s teeth regularly from an early age it could help to prevent many health-related problems later in life. Food and saliva build-up in the mouth can lead to an increase in bacteria and form a sticky film known as plaque. Plaque is seen by the body as a foreign material and this causes white blood cells to attack the teeth and gums resulting in pain, irritation and inflammation and ultimately, in tooth loss. Unfortunately, by the time most gum disease is noticed in pets it is quite advanced and can put your pet at a higher risk of heart, kidney and liver disease.
Introducing tooth brushing
The ideal time to introduce tooth brushing to your dog or cat (yes, you can brush your cat’s teeth too!) is from a young age– this way it can become part of their normal routine. It may be difficult to start brushing in an older animal if they have never experienced something like it before, but it is never too late!
How to start brushing
Positive reinforcement is a great way to start – a healthy treat as well as lots of praise can be offered as a reward to your pet for allowing any of the following steps:
- It is good to start from basics – find a suitable toothpaste with a flavor that your pet likes (human toothpastes contain fluoride and should not be used on your pet).
- Every day offer some of the toothpaste on your finger or a finger brush and allow your pet to lick the it off.
- After a few days, or once your pet is comfortable, try to slightly lift your pet’s lip at the side and wipe your finger and the toothpaste on their teeth and gums, allowing them to lick it off.
- You do not need to pull your pets mouth open – just a gentle lifting of the lips to show the teeth.
- To introduce a toothbrush, allow your pet to lick the toothpaste from the brush to start.
- As above, once your pet is comfortable with the brush, see if your pet allows you to gently lift the lips and use the brush on their teeth. Try just a few teeth at a time followed by a treat.
How often should I brush my pet’s teeth?
This is a common question and the answer is, as often as you can! The ideal would be every day but this isn’t possible for all pet owners. Aim for 2-3 times per week and see if this works for you.
A helpful dental video:
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Postdate: 22nd June 2020