What is Dental Disease? | Warning Signs | Home Dental Care | 9 Steps to a Healthy Pet Dental
Brushing your pet’s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste, and rinsing your pet’s mouth with a veterinarian recommended oral rinse, can help prevent dental disease and keep your pet healthy. It’s best to brush your pet’s teeth daily, or at least every second day.
Please use veterinary recommended toothpaste and brushes, as human toothpaste can be toxic to pets and human toothbrushes can be too large, or abrasive.
Step 1: Place a small amount of veterinarian recommended toothpaste on your finger, or a finger brush. Offer this to your pet daily so they associate brushing as tasty and rewarding. Once your pet is comfortable with the toothpaste, start massaging their gums in a circular motion to simulate brushing their teeth.
Step 2: Now that your pet is familiar with the great taste of pet toothpaste, you can introduce a soft bristled pet toothbrush. Place a small amount of the pet’s toothpaste on the brush and begin brushing in a circular motion, on a 45 degree angle. Brushing for 10-15 seconds in each area is sufficient.
Step 3: Using a veterinarian recommended oral rinse is a great addition to home dental care for your pet. If you are unable to brush your pet’s teeth for any reason, we are happy to show you how to effectively use the oral rinse. You can use the rinse in the following ways:
- After the teeth have been brushed, apply a small amount of the rinse to the gums to help remove bacteria and debris left over from brushing.
- You may also saturate the toothbrush with the oral rinse, and use it as a substitute for toothpaste. Oral rinses are used as an aid in the prevention of tartar, plaque and periodontal disease.
- As the only source of home dental care, if teeth brushing is not an option. Use the rinse daily, or 2-3 times weekly at the very least, following meals.
