An adult dog has a set of forty-two teeth. These are arrayed with twenty teeth on the upper jaw and twenty-two on the lower jaw. Dogs’ teeth develop plaque and decay just like humans. Keeping their teeth clean and healthy is not an onerous task.

Plaque is the soft gummy deposit that grows on teeth. Plaque is made from saliva bacteria mixed in with minerals and food residue. Although plaque is initially soft, it can become hard and discolored if left on the teeth. When it hardens it is known as tartar. If this deposit is not removed it will eventually affect the gums, causing infection, which can lead to teeth loosening and falling out. It is a very painful condition in both dogs and humans.

The key to controlling plaque is to get rid of it before it turns to tartar. In dogs, this is a very simple procedure. Three methods are recommended for keeping your dog’s teeth clean.

1. Give your dog raw bones to chew on. Chewing on a bone will ensure tartar does not build up on your dog’s teeth. Make sure the bone is raw as cooked bones can splinter and get stuck in the dog’s mouth and bowel. Hard biscuits or kibble are also good for your dog to chew on and aid in the removal of plaque.
2. Brushing you dog’s teeth is the second method. There are various tooth brushes available and toothpaste flavored to a dog’s tastes. Some people use a finger brush (a rubber sleeve with soft bristles, slipped over your finger), others use regular human toothbrushes or you can buy a special dog toothbrush. You should brush your dog’s teeth regularly – about once a week. So now you are going to brush his teeth. Make sure your dog is in a relaxed mood before you start. Get him used to the procedure before you introduce the toothbrush. Stroke the outside of his cheeks and then let him taste a bit of toothpaste off the end of your finger. Do this a few times before you try it with the brush. Now try it with the paste on the brush. Brushing only one or two teeth at first, move the brush in a circular motion – take your time. Build up the amount of teeth you brush over the next few sessions until you are brushing all the teeth, especially the ones at the back. Thirty seconds is long enough to be brushing your dog’s teeth.
3. Once a year you should consider getting your dog’s teeth scaled at the veterinarian’s. If you take care of your dog’s teeth, an annual scale and polish is all your dog will require.

Looking after your dog’s teeth will help in his overall well-being and will result in your dog having fresher breath, being healthier and living longer.

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