Dog toothpaste

Question
Last week I started brushing my 2 year old collie mix's teeth since I started seeing plaque. I didn't have any dog toothpaste so I just used less than a pea-sized amount of regular toothpaste. Since then I have noticed her pawing at the skin on the outside of her mouth and scratching at it with her foot. I looked at it and it was a little red underneath her nose but that was it. It didn't look very bad, either. Everything else was normal. She is still doing it and I don't know what to do. Do I need to get special toothpaste for her and if so where do I get it? Also, what other ways can I keep my dog's teeth clean?

Answer
Hi Jamie!  It sounds as though she's having a small reaction to the toothpaste.  Human tooth paste isn't good for dogs. At any petstore, they sell dog tooth paste in poultry and beef flavor.  Dogs usually love the taste!  They also sell special dog tooth brushes and dental treats and bones that assist in breaking down plaque and tartar on the dog's teeth. Your veterinarian will also sell these kinds of products.
As for her pawing at her face and the redness that is occuring...this probably is definately due to the tooth paste that was used.  If she continues to do it by tomorrow, you may need your veterinarian to prescribe a low dose steroid to end the reaction.  
I hope this helps!
Hilary