teeth cleaning and skin tags

Question
Hi :  First I wanted to ask if it is too late to start cleaning teeth.  Charlie is a 9year old J.R. and I tried to clean his teeth when he was a pup, but would not allow me to do it.  Now, he is much older and his teeth have serious tart buildup.  He eats dry food with occasional vegetables in his diet.  What is the best way to start cleaning his teeth ?
Also, he has developed what looks like skin tags or warts.  One is getting large, the size of a dime and when I brushed him, it started to bleed.  Other than that it doesn't seem to bother him.
I would appreciate your help answering these questions.
Thank you
Joanne

Answer
Hello Dogs dont get skin tags or moles he should see a vet right away this may be developing fatty lumps or buttom tumars which can be quite serius. Teeth cleaning if he wont let you brush them there isnt much hope...you can always give more rawhides/based/smoked kuckle bones, my dogs really enjoy the peggigree dental X's and the harded marrow bone type edable chews they also make, Also a big hit with my dogs are the new Purina twsisted marrow bone type chews they are also edible. I dont recomend greenies or anything ofthat nature as I've heard a few horror stories of dogs paticularly small dogs swollwoing bits of these and dieing of impactions as they dont diegest well at all. Also playing with tug ropes is good for cleaning between the teeth. If you can get someone to hold onto him and you get the tooth brush(dog tooth brush/finger dog tooth brush on unused human tooth brush) and brush his teeth side to side all the way around even once a week would be of great advantage to the dog. Best of lcuk with your ageing pup.