Dog Dental Care at Home
Health & WellbeingCopy: Serena Faber Nelson Photography: Serena Faber Nelson
A toothbrush and a wriggling dog can feel like an unlikely pair, yet a minute or two a day is what keeps a dog's mouth comfortable for life. Good dog dental care is made of small, ordinary habits: brushing, sensible chews, a quick look under the lips each week, and a vet who checks what you cannot see.
It matters for much more than sweet-smelling kisses. More than 80 percent of dogs over the age of three already have active dental disease, and very few of them show it. Breath is often the first clue, and while these homemade dog breath mints can freshen things up, a smell that lingers usually points to plaque.
Why Your Dog's Teeth Need Daily Care
Plaque is a soft film of bacteria that starts forming on teeth within a day of cleaning. Left for more than about two days, it hardens into tartar, the rough yellow or brown crust that traps more plaque and creeps under the gumline. Brushing removes plaque. Only a professional clean removes tartar.
Gum inflammation, called gingivitis, is the only stage of dental disease that can be fully reversed. Beyond it, periodontal disease slowly destroys the bone and tissue holding the teeth in place, causing pain, infection, and tooth loss. Some studies also associate bacteria from a badly diseased mouth with changes in the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Signs of Dental Disease in Dogs
Dogs are very good at hiding mouth pain, so watch for these quieter signs:
- Bad breath that does not go away
- Yellow or brown tartar along the gumline
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Dropping food, chewing on one side, or eating more slowly
- Pawing at the mouth, head shaking, or drooling, sometimes with blood
- Loose, broken, or discolored teeth
- Swelling on the face, especially below the eye
Gentle nibbling on blankets with the front teeth is something different, a habit known as dog cobbing, and it is rarely a dental concern.
7 Ways to Look After Your Dog's Teeth
To care for your dog's teeth, brush them daily with a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste, or at least every other day. Add dental chews or water additives that carry the VOHC seal, offer chew toys that bend rather than bones or antlers, check the mouth once a week, and have your vet examine the teeth at every yearly visit, with a professional clean when tartar builds up.
Brush With a Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Nothing else comes close to brushing. Chews and additives help, but only a brush reaches the gumline where plaque does its damage. A dog toothpaste and toothbrush set in a flavor your dog enjoys makes it feel more like a treat than a chore.
Choose VOHC-Accepted Dental Chews and Treats
Dental chews scrape the teeth as your dog chews, and some add ingredients that slow tartar. The most useful thing to look for on the pack is the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal. The VOHC does not test products itself. Makers run trials to its rules, and the seal is awarded only when a product meaningfully reduces plaque, tartar, or both.
Choose the right size for your dog's weight, stay nearby while they chew, count chews toward the daily treat allowance, and introduce new brands slowly for sensitive tummies.
Rotate Dental Dog Toys That Give When Pressed
Textured rubber toys massage the gums and rub plaque away during play, so dental care happens without your dog noticing. This roundup of the best dog toys for chewers is grouped by chewing strength.
Pick toys sized so they cannot be swallowed, and retire them once they start to break apart. These tips on how to choose a dog toy cover materials and sizing.
For something a little different, the independent makers in this directory of dog toy brands are well worth a browse.
Try Water Additives, Gels, and Dental Wipes
Water additives and gels slow plaque between brushings, and wiping the outer surfaces of the teeth with gauze or a dental wipe at least every two to three days does real good. Many brands in this dog grooming directory carry oral care alongside coat care.
Feed a Diet That Supports Healthy Teeth
Dogs fed hard kibble tend to have fewer dental problems than dogs on soft food, and vets can prescribe dental diets with a special kibble texture. Crunchy snacks such as carrots for dogs are a low-calorie extra, though no snack replaces a toothbrush.
Whatever the texture, the foundation is complete and balanced nutrition, explained in this guide to healthy food for dogs.
If kibble suits your dog, this guide to the best dry dog food compares options for different life stages.
Check Your Dog's Mouth Every Week
Once a week, gently lift your dog's lips and look at the teeth and gums in good light. Pink gums, clean teeth, and a mild smell are what you hope to see. The habit catches problems early and gets your dog used to having their face handled, the same calm handling that makes trimming nails with a dog nail grinder easier too.
Book a Yearly Vet Dental Check
Your vet should look at your dog's teeth at every annual visit, and twice a year for older dogs or breeds prone to dental disease.
How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth
Short, happy sessions build a dog who sits calmly for brushing.
Picking a Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Choose a soft brush sized to your dog's mouth: a finger brush for small dogs and beginners, or a long-handled, double-ended brush for larger dogs. Always use a toothpaste made for dogs, which is safe to swallow. Human toothpaste can contain fluoride and xylitol, and xylitol is toxic to dogs. Baking soda is not suitable either.
A Gentle Two-Week Brushing Plan
Choose a calm moment, such as after a walk, and keep each session to a minute or two. Reward generously and stop before your dog has had enough.
- Days 1 to 3: let your dog lick a little dog toothpaste from your finger.
- Days 4 to 6: lift the lip and rub a pasted fingertip along the outer surfaces of the front and side teeth.
- Days 7 to 9: introduce the brush, let your dog taste the paste on it, then brush a few front teeth.
- Days 10 to 14: work back to the large cheek teeth, angling the bristles toward the gumline in small circles. The outer surfaces are all you need to brush.
Some dogs need longer at each stage. Lip licking, turning away, or a stiff body are signs to slow down, and learning how to speak dog language makes those signals easier to read.
How Often to Brush a Dog's Teeth
Daily brushing is the gold standard, because plaque starts to harden within a couple of days. Every other day is the minimum that keeps it in check.
When Your Dog Won't Let You Brush
Go back a stage and slow down, use a finger brush or a dental wipe for a while, and lean more on VOHC-accepted chews and additives. A long chew on a suitable toy also counts as mental exercise, one of many boredom busters for dogs. If your dog flinches, growls, or seems sore, a vet check comes before any more brushing.
Chews That Can Break a Dog's Tooth
Alongside gum disease, broken teeth are one of the two most common dental problems in dogs, and most are caused by chewing something too hard.
Hard Chews That Crack Dog Teeth
Antlers, hooves, real bones, hard nylon chews, and ice cubes are the usual culprits. Bones carry other risks too, from splinters to blockages, worth weighing for anyone feeding a raw food diet for dogs. A fractured tooth with the nerve exposed needs treatment or removal by your vet.
The Bend Test for Safe Dog Chews
A safe chew should give a little when you press it with a thumbnail or bend it in your hands.
Professional Teeth Cleaning for Dogs
Why Vets Clean Teeth Under Anesthesia
Most dental disease hides below the gumline, out of sight on an awake dog. Under general anesthesia, the vet can probe around each tooth, take dental X-rays, scale away tartar above and below the gums, and polish the surface smooth. Blood tests beforehand check that your dog is fit for the anesthetic.
Is Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning Worth It?
Scraping visible tartar off an awake dog makes teeth look cleaner, but it is cosmetic only. It cannot reach or treat disease under the gums, and it can give a false sense that all is well.
Dental Care for Puppies, Seniors, and Small Breeds
How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have?
Puppies have 28 baby teeth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, and 12 premolars, with no molars yet. Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars, with 20 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower.
Baby teeth start to fall out at around 14 weeks and are replaced over about three months, so most adult teeth are in by six months. A baby tooth still sitting beside its adult replacement should be checked by your vet, as it usually needs removing. Puppyhood is the ideal time to start brushing, alongside the other routines in this guide to the first year with your puppy.
Caring for a Senior Dog's Teeth
Older mouths often carry years of tartar, so seniors benefit from vet dental checks every six months. Age alone is not a reason to avoid a professional clean, because pre-anesthetic testing helps your vet keep an older dog safe. Working out how old your dog is in human years can help you see when that senior stage begins.
Softer chew toys, such as a Senior Kong, are kinder to aging teeth and gums.
Dental Care Steps for French Bulldogs and Chihuahuas
French Bulldogs and Chihuahuas fit a full set of 42 teeth into a very small jaw, so crowded teeth trap food and gum disease starts earlier. The practical steps are the same as for any dog, done more often and more gently: brush daily with a finger brush or a small-headed brush, lift the lips weekly to check the crowded back teeth, choose small dental chews sized to their weight, and book dental checks twice a year rather than once.
Each breed has one extra watch point. A Frenchie's short, flat face often turns teeth sideways, and flat-faced breeds need careful anesthetic planning, so ask your vet how they manage breathing before a clean. In a Chihuahua, baby teeth that refuse to fall out and teeth that never fully erupt are common, so ask for a mouth check at around six months. This fluffy French Bulldog breed guide covers the breed's wider care needs.
How to Keep Your Dog's Teeth White
Dog toothpastes do not bleach teeth. Yellow or brown teeth are usually plaque and tartar, so daily brushing keeps teeth naturally bright, and a professional clean restores the color once tartar has set. Crunchy treats such as apple slices for dogs are a nice extra but will not scrub away stains. A single tooth that turns gray, pink, or purple is different, as it may be damaged inside and needs a vet's attention.
Clean teeth, pink gums, and fresh breath are well within reach with a few minutes a day and a vet on your side.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Dental Disease in Dogs.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Dental Disorders of Dogs.
- Veterinary Oral Health Council. VOHC Accepted Products.
Related Reading
Share a thought, ask a question, or tell us about your own dog. We read every comment.
I use a water additive called Biotene- a couple squirts go into each water change, and the enzymes break down plaque/keep new plaque from forming.
A funny and informative post 🙂 dental disease is such a common problem for pets and being proactive is best. Ps Soda is gorgeous!
A good bone is still the way to go for most dogs. I brush Bonnie’s teeth as well. I’d give some warning with dental chews, I just bought a packet of the big name dental chews (always in ads on the TV – first big mistake) and I’ve been dealing with a very sick dog all day, it has really upset her stomach so just beware if your dog has a sensitive tum they maybe not be a good idea 🙁
“If you can actually get your dog to start brushing their own teeth – well, you can have my Hunger Games medal.”
This comment made me laugh out loud. It would be so awesome if they could brush their own teeth. My dog hates brushing time, but he goes gaga for his dental chews.
Agreed, hilarious!! And Soda, guurl you have the prettiest pearly whites 😉