Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Have you tried brushing your dog's teeth?

Many dogs hate having their teeth brushed - and it can be a real challenge. But good dental care is important to your dog's good health.

How do you to teach your dog to like it, or even tolerate it?

The first thing you can do is to be patient. When brushing your dog's teeth, give tons of positive reinforcement when your dog is tolerant and well behaved. BUT, some dogs are NOT tolerant and will bite. Please be careful so you do not get hurt.

Tooth brushing tips for dogs:

Get your dog used to touching around his mouth (assuming your dog has an even temperament). Pet your dog around the face. Look at his teeth. Gradually progress from first just touching the area to massaging the gum area.

Introduce a toothpaste that he likes. Some are meat, chicken, or fish flavored. You can allow your dog to lick it off your finger to start. Remember - give TONS of praise when he does well.

Introduce the toothbrush. You can gradually introduce the toothpaste by first allowing him to sniff it. Then you can even massage his face with it. Make sure he is not afraid of it before placing it in his mouth.

Eventually - combine the toothbrush and toothpaste together and brush your dog's teeth.

It can take days to weeks to get a dog to accept brushing. And some dogs will never allow you to do it.

But some dogs just never tolerate brushing.

If your dog will not let you brush, what can you do?
Try Dentastix® by Pedigree.


It is an X-shaped bone type treat with a special texture that helps clean between your dog's teeth as he chews, all the way down to the gum line. You can choose the size that best fits your dog's mouth. These tartar-control treats are very effective when used as part of a daily oral care routine - and they taste good, so your dog will look forward to eating them every day.