As a dog owner most of us don't think of taking care of our dog's teeth and gums. We all must be aware of how important it is. Just like humans, if not taken care of the long term affects can cause gingervitis, infections, bone loss and eventually loss of teeth.
In order to prevent dental problems it is of vital importance that you do a home examination. Check for plaque, tooth fractures and check their breath. Usually if they have bad breath it is caused by bacteria in their mouth. At the first sign of plaque, it must be taken care of immediately. If not caught in time it will form into tarter. Tarter is very common in dogs or best known as periodontal disease. It is caused by plaque, food debri, cell mucus and bacteria. This results in a milky white film on the dog's teeth as well as their gums. When the film gets combined with saliva it becomes tarter. At this point it is very hard to remove.
The best way to start brushing his teeth is by mixing some garlic salt with water, dip an old toothbrush into the mixture and have your dog smell, taste and chew on it. As soon as he is comfortable with this try brushing his teeth. This will take time so remember to be patient and consistant. Eventually it will become apart of your daily routine. Do not raise your voice in anyway or he will assocciate the toothbrush as a bad thing. Do Not use human toothpaste, as these are made to be spit out. Since dogs can not spit it out there are various toothpastes you can buy made specially for dogs. You can buy them from your local pet store. The fingure brush is also a great way to keep your dogs teeth clean. Apply it on your fingure tip and rub your dogs teeth and gums. Although it is recommended to use a toothbrush this is an alternative. To kill the bacteria in your dogs mouth and help heal damaged gum tissues is mouthwash. This is used by simply putting a few drops in your dogs water. Follow the directions on the label carefully. Again, Do Not use human mouthwash, there is mouthwash specially made for dogs. To keep plaque at bay there are various bones and treats you can give your dog.
If your dog doesn't cooperate with you while trying to brush his teeth you can have them professionaly cleaned by your veterinarian. They will put your dog under anesthetia, scrape the buildup of plaque from the gum lines and polish them. This procedure is highly recommended. Check with your veterinarian on how often it should be done.
It is up to us as the dog owners in keeping our dogs happy and healthy.
