Puppy breath, who doesn’t love it? Maintaining your puppy’s oral healthcare will protect your puppy from tooth decay and other oral diseases. As part of National Pet Dental Health Month, we want to help you start caring for your pup’s teeth today so they can keep their pearly whites and health intact tomorrow!
As puppies grow and develop their adult teeth, they will begin to need regular cleaning to maintain healthy oral hygiene! Part of our curriculum at The Puppy Academy and in our Online Puppy School includes introducing your puppy to grooming and handling which includes teeth cleaning.
February is National Pet Dental Health month and in this blog, we’ll cover the fundamentals we teach puppy parents including the best way to introduce teeth cleaning into your puppy’s regular routine, how to make it a positive experience, and what to use to maintain their oral health!
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Why is Dental Care Important for Puppies?
Not many puppy parents are aware of the importance of cleaning their puppy’s teeth until issues come up or teeth need to be extracted. In fact, bad oral hygiene left unchecked over time can actually lead to other diseases down the line in your puppy’s life such as Periodontitis (gum disease) liver disease, kidney, and heart disease. The most common issues that occur are diet-related, digestion issues, and jaw pain. And some of these diseases can be life-threatening if left untreated.
However, the most challenging part of not teaching your puppy to be comfortable with regular teeth cleaning is, as they age, it becomes much harder to perform at-home teeth cleaning when they are not accustomed to it. Routine dental care at a veterinarian is often recommended for professional cleanings, but that also often requires placing your pup under anesthesia and can be expensive depending on what your pup needs to be done.
Starting teeth brushing from a young age can help prevent many of these issues, make professional cleanings less frequent and much easier, and offers a simple solution that also benefits your bond with your puppy through these intimate handling exercises
Get Your Puppy On a Regular Teeth Cleaning Routine!
Because tartar can build and calcify in a matter of forty-eight hours, we recommend that you start your puppy on a teeth cleaning schedule of once a day or every other day.
Start getting your puppy accustomed to getting their mouth handled by touching their muzzle and lifting their jowls. Cup their muzzle and gently lift their jowls to expose their teeth. Do this for a few seconds at a time in the beginning and then release. Remember to make this a pleasant experience for them and have food rewards ready to give them after each attempt!
TIPS: Practice at a time when they are more relaxed and have less energy, like before bedtime, and don't force your puppy if they aren't wanting to be touched or are very uncomfortable.
Next, introduce your puppy to the brush by letting them sniff, chew on it, and just having it present when you are handling your puppy’s mouth. When your puppy interacts with the toothbrush, give them a reward to help establish a positive association with the toothbrush. You can also use specially formulated puppy toothpaste to entice them to lick the brush and get them comfortable with it being in their mouth.
Do this for a few days then start to work on the brushstroke motion a little bit at a time and reward your puppy. The best way to handle your puppy when you begin to actually brush their teeth is to have them sitting on your lap and hold the muzzle in your hand, gently lifting up their jowls with your fingertips. You can even enlist the help of another family member or friend to help hold your pup, as you brush.
Initially, there may be some squirming, extra chewing on the brush, and the need for food rewards but as your puppy learns to accept having the muzzle and mouth touched, the motion of the brush, and the taste of the toothpaste, these sessions will become easier and faster!
Puppy Teeth Cleaning and Care Supplies You Need!
Essentially you’ll need a soft-bristle brush or a rubber finger-tip brush, and flavored enzymatic toothpaste (enzymes help to break down bacteria and the added flavor makes it delicious and fun for pups!) to properly care for your puppy’s teeth! Soft-bristle brushes are easier on puppies' gentle gums and some brushes offer dual-headed sides with a larger brush for larger pups, and a smaller brush for small breed pups, or to use on those tiny front teeth! A finger brush is a good option to start introducing if your puppy is uncomfortable with a normal brush at first. Once your pup is tolerant of that, then move to the soft-bristle option. A bristle brush is what you'll need to help remove any food particles that are left behind and avoid tartar from forming.
Using toothpaste for pups can be a huge help in the early stages to entice them to lick the brush, accept it in their mouth, and even enjoy getting their teeth brushed! However, unlike humans, toothpaste is not required to keep their teeth clean, so you can ditch it after you've created the positive association if you like.
If you’re not sure what to buy your puppy, we’ve put together a full grooming list that you can shop!
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A Few Other Things to Remember
We can’t stress enough don’t use human toothpaste on your puppy! Human toothpaste contains different ingredients such as detergents, fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, and artificial sweeteners like xylitol that can be harmful if ingested by your puppy.
Dental chews don’t replace regular teeth brushing, and be mindful of the ingredients in them before giving them to your pup.
Smaller breeds are more susceptible to tartar forming more quickly than larger breeds, so daily brushings can make a major difference with them and their dental health!
Take it slow! When we introduce the toothbrush to our students in school, we do it in stages over several weeks. First, it's just a couple of days of us touching them around their muzzles, moving their jowls, then touching their teeth and gums with just our hands and fingers! Then we'll introduce the toothbrush, by letting them sniff and lick it. We may only brush one tooth and call it a day! The point is to keep it positive and not to put pressure on them. So take your time with it -- it may take a few weeks of daily practice before you are able to fully brush all of their teeth in one sitting!
Don’t forget to make teeth brushing fun! Use it as a time you get to bond with your pup, giving them pets and food rewards throughout the session. The more your pup enjoys it, the easier it will become, and the cleaner their teeth will be!
Do you still have questions or are struggling with getting your puppy comfortable with teeth cleaning? Join us at our next Ask a Puppy Trainer live on @thepuppyacademy Instagram at 1 pm PT!
Also, don’t forget to sign up for our very important puppy newsletter to get puppy training and care tips each week! www.thepuppyacademy.com/viplist
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