Believe me, dental disease is something you’re going to want to avoid if at all possible, and a dog toothbrush is a great start.
See your vet
Nothing wrong with buying a toothbrush right now (and don’t forget the toothpaste!), but I recommend you make an appointment to have your dog’s teeth checked by your vet. This way you’ll know where you stand in terms of what, if any medical intervention is required, and then you can make a plan.
Okay, here are some toothbrushes
Long handled toothbrushes resemble those we use for ourselves. Straight or curved handles, one head or two, large brushes, small brushes or both.
Three sided toothbrushes are great for covering all parts of the tooth and gum.
A finger toothbrush that fits, well yes, over your finger, for greater control.
Even electric toothbrushes are available.
Click on the image and it will take you straight to where you can learn more information about the toothbrush, and purchase it if you wish. No pressure, it’s just that I’ve had too much experience with dogs that had dental issues, if I can help you avoid going down that road, I’ll be happy.
My experience
Red makes it virtually impossible to brush her teeth. You can see in the above video how hard it is for my vet to even have a look in her mouth. She may only weight 10lbs but when she clamps those jaws, nothing is opening them. I imagine the fact she’s blind has something to do with it. I do have a long handled toothbrush with a big brush on one head, a small one on the other which is the perfect size for her mouth. It’s a serious struggle, and not a fun experience because of how stressed she gets. The one thing that is more manageable is wrapping a piece of gauze around my finger and rubbing her teeth with that.
Which dog toothbrush should I buy – conclusion
There really are a lot of styles to choose from, you may get lucky with the first one you buy, or it can be a case of trial and error. What’s important is that you start doing something in the way of caring for your dog’s teeth. So, which dog toothbrush will you buy?
Saffy’s Story – The Story of a Rescue Dog That Will Melt Your Heart
Hey Hindy,
Oral hygiene is an important part of a dog’s life. I have often seen dogs with bad oral hygiene (my friends’) & they are quite unsightly tbh. I would’nt recommend an electric toothbrush as I dont feel comfortable using 1 myself, much less for my dog.
I would say the best choice is the finger brush. Dogs love personal touches & the best thing about them is that you can control the movement & avoid hurting your dog.
Any idea how to keep a dog still when you’re brushing their teeth? I failed at this all the time!
Regards,
Zhi Wei
Hi Zhi Wei, thanks for your comment, and insight!! You might want to recommend that your friends take their dogs to the vet. It’s much more than ugly teeth. Poor oral hygiene can cause serious illness, not to mention how much pain they are probably in. That’s a great question. Ideally you want to start them off early, but I think it’s a case of getting them used to it slowly. For example, if they run as soon as they see the toothbrush, show it from a distance then give them a tiny treat. Each time try and get a little closer. Then let him sniff it, put some toothpaste on it and see if he’ll lick it off. You see where I’m heading with this. De-sensitise him to it. After everything I’m writing, I can’t get my dog Red to sit still for a second. The fact that she’s blind doesn’t help. The one thing I have been able to do, although not as well as I would like, is to wrap a piece of gauze around my finger and try and get in her mouth that way. I have met with limited success, but at least I’ve been able to brush her teeth somewhat.
Hey Hindy
Great post and WOW… I had no idea there where so many options available for dogs toothbrushes.
I personally grew up with the old school understanding that dogs cleaned their teeth when chewing/ crunching on bones and hooves.
I guess it gets to a point when we have to accept that this is not the best option for our furry loved ones.
Definitely going to look into a Triple Pet EZDOG Pet Toothbrush for my pups!
Many thanks
Hi Marc, I know right!! Believe me, that was only a small sampling. We all think/thought that, but apparently it’s not enough. I can’t get a single toothbrush in Red’s mouth, and I’m pretty sure being blind doesn’t help the cause. The only thing that I have been able to do is wrap gauze around my finger and put it in her mouth. For a 10lb dog she’s frightfully strong, and fights me every step of the way, but I have managed with some success. Good luck and let me know how you get on.
When my terrier was getting old he started to have bad breath. After a quick visit to the vet it turned out that this happened due to the fact that we never once brushed his teeth. It was only then that I realized it’s important to take care of the teeth as well.
We bought a regular brush and started brushing every other day. He never once liked the process…
I can’t say it solved the issue, but it definitely made the bad breath more tolerable.
I never knew that there were specialized brushes for dogs, all though now it makes perfect sense. If I had one of these back then, I’m sure it would have made the entire process easier.
Hi Ido, I love hearing about peoples’ experiences, so appreciate you sharing. Did he recommend you have his teeth professionally cleaned? I’d be very surprised if he didn’t. There are so many types of toothbrushes and toothpastes it’s unbelievable, which is a good thing because poor oral hygiene can cause serious illness, not to mention the pain dogs would be in. Yearly, or twice yearly checkups should always include a dental checkup. If we do it for ourselves, we should do it for our pets.
Hi,
really cool stuff here. I didn’t even know all these details about this things. I have a beautiful German shepherd and I will consider this info here. Waiting for a post about toothpaste…
Hello Sasa, glad you enjoyed the site. Lots of helpful information, two posts added per week so check back often. Your wait will soon be over – toothpaste article publishing on Wednesday morning.
Great suite of products to choose from Hindy. I had no idea the marketplace gave you that many choices for dog toothbrushes. I guess the earlier you start brushing a dog’s teeth the easier it will be when they are a senior. Again, they are a lot like us in that regard.
My preference would be to start with that finger one while they were still pups, but that’s just me. That way they get another chance to smell and feel me, increasing our bonding time.
Great post on this subject, thanks,
Peter
Thanks Peter, happy you liked the post. There were lots more, but I finally had to say “enough.” It’s definitely easier the earlier you start, but for some reason dental hygiene in pets is overlooked, and most people aren’t aware of the health problems that can occur. The only thing that is sort of working for me at the moment with Red – gauze wrapped around my finger, and that’s still a struggle.
Hi Hindy
What a fabulous post. I knew dental hygiene was as important for pets as it is for us humans but I seriously didn’t realise the products available in the market.
I was aware of canine dental sticks, like a hard chew that supposedly cleans the teeth while providing an edible treat and I note you mention them at the top of your post.
Do they work? Or are they less effective than toothbrushes?
It is incredible that there are toothbrushes for dogs…I have never seen them but I think I’m going to need to order one and try it out.
Gleaming white teeth await the pooch!
Thanks Jason. Incredible how many toothbrushes are out there, just wait until you see the toothpaste and dental chews posts!! Dental chews can definitely help remove plaque before it hardens into tartar, and in combination with brushing can do a great job of keeping your dog’s mouth clean and healthy. I should mention to buy a good quality chew – the fewer ingredients the better. Having said that, the most effective route is a professional cleaning by your vet. Just like with humans, brushing and flossing are all great, and necessary, but it doesn’t prevent us from benefiting from a twice yearly cleaning. Look forward to hearing what you chose and how your dog enjoyed it.