National Pet Dental Health Month: Easy Ways to Stay on Top of your Pet’s Dental Health

This month, National Pet Dental Health Month, we’re encouraging you to continue putting your pets first by focusing on their overall health and well-being. We’re here to remind you of how important it is to provide proper dental care to your pets to support their long-term health and prevent dental disease.

Build a Dental Care Routine Tailored to your Pet’s Unique Needs

Building a proper dental routine for your pet requires consistent, daily care. Ideally brushing your pet’s teeth with pet-safe toothpaste 2-3 times a week, complemented by specialized chews, diets, and annual professional veterinary cleanings is the goal. We know what you’re thinking – it’s just not that simple. And, we understand. Dog dental care is easy to fall behind on. That is why we are here to help introduce tools slowly so you can build focus and a commitment to this routine.

Ways to Keep Your Pet’s Mouth Clean

Keeping your dog’s mouth clean doesn’t have to mean brushing their teeth every single day, or multiple times a week. While regular brushing is certainly helpful and brushing 2-3 times a week is the ultimate goal, there are other ways you can support your pet’s dental health as well. 

• Brush your dog’s teeth with canine toothpaste: Some dogs truly enjoy having their teeth brushed because canine toothpaste is typically flavored with popular flavors like chicken, beef, and peanut butter. If your dog has a food allergy use caution when choosing a flavor of toothpaste to select. 
• Add a water additive to your dog’s bowl: By adding a water additive to your dog’s water bowl daily you can help freshen your pet’s breath and kill plaque-building bacteria in their mouth. 
• Ask your vet about prescription dental food: Some pets may thrive on veterinary dental diets that may contain ingredients to help to kill bacteria that lead to plaque and tartar formation. 
• Pick out tasty dental treats: Dental treats may be your pet’s new “best friend.” There are a variety of tasty dental treats with different flavors that can help control tartar buildup.
• Give your dog rubber chew toys to play with: Rubber chew toys are durable and flexible, perfect for cleaning teeth and holding treats 

Steps to Build a Healthy Routine

• Acclimation: Don’t use human toothpaste. Have your dog taste different flavors of canine toothpaste and find a flavor that they’ll enjoy. Gently rub their teeth and gums with your finger or a cloth so that your pet becomes comfortable with brushing. 
• Introduce tools: Introduce a soft-bristled toothbrush or finger brush.
• Brushing technique: Gently brush your pet’s teeth along the gum line where plaque accumulates most.
• Keep it brief: Aim to brush your pet’s teeth for 30-60 seconds, focusing on the outer surfaces of their teeth.
• Consistency: Try to brush your pet’s teeth at the same time daily to make it a habit, at least 2-3 times per week. You can even start out brushing once a week for a few weeks and then bump the cadence up to twice a week, and so on.

Incorporating a simple dental health routine for your pet can be life-changing for your pets well-being. Whether it’s introducing dental chews, adding tooth brushing a few times a week, or using dental-friendly toys, small steps can make a big difference. Both you and your pet will thank yourselves in the long-run!