We all want our teeth to look great. Most of us take the time to brush and floss — and heck, we even buy those teeth whitening strips (which make us look ridiculous while we wear them).
Our pets’ teeth are really important too. In order for dogs to effectively chew their food for proper digestion, they need to have healthy teeth.
The doggie dentures commercial is way cool and the corgi looks awesome with his dentures — but we need to be realistic. Doggie dentures are as useful as pogo sticks for kangaroos. Here’s the reality: If you take good care of your pup, his teeth will last throughout his lifetime.
What Are Those Black Spots on My Dog’s Teeth?
Yes, Virginia, there is a dog dentist. Pups can get cavities just like we do. Fortunately, humans brush their teeth and floss as well as see their dentist regularly (you do, don’t you?!) Dogs are dependent on their owners to handle the teeth brushing, flossing and getting them to the veterinarian for all their oral health needs. Your dog’s teeth are your responsibility.
So, what are the black spots on your dog’s teeth? Simple. Black marks or lines on the teeth are possible signs of decay. Just as you would freak out if your teeth had black spots or lines, you should probably do the same if this happens to your pup. The spots could be simple stains on the enamel (for example, from a black rubber toy or a metal object chewed by the dog), but they could also be cavities or other signs of tooth deterioration.
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, cavities are much rarer in canines than in humans, but do occur, particularly on the upper first molars. Interestingly, the dog breed most likely to get cavities is the German shepherd.
How to Brush a Dog’s Teeth
Dirty teeth can cause a number of serious health problems, including periodontal disease and congestive heart failure. To keep your dog in top physical health, it’s important for you to make sure his teeth remain clean and tartar-free.
Pet owners should start handling proper dental hygiene from the time they get their pet. There are toothbrushes and pastes designed specifically for dogs. Most are pretty good, but a lot of dogs aren’t too happy about having a toothbrush in their mouths. If you think it’s tough to get your 5-year-old to brush his teeth, you have a whole world of misery ahead of you when you first establish a doggie dental routine. Dogs don’t have opposable thumbs, so you’ll have to do the brushing yourself — while holding your squirming, unhappy pooch still. It’ll be a struggle, but isn’t your pup’s health worth it?
Here’s how to brush and floss your dog’s teeth:
- First off, invest in a few dental supplies, including a doggie toothbrush, toothpaste formulated for pets, flossing picks made for humans and pet dental rinse. If your dog’s mouth is too small to comfortably accommodate a toothbrush, opt for fingertip toothbrush sleeves or disposable gloves designed for teeth cleaning. Flossing picks are great if your dog has something stuck between his teeth, and dental rinse gets out all the bits of tartar, plaque and detritus you’ve just scrubbed out of his teeth.
- The easiest way to brush your dog’s teeth is to have someone hold him while you do it. You can also “burrito” small dogs by wrapping them tightly in a towel or blanket, leaving only their heads free.
- Approaching your dog from behind his head, gently hook one finger into the side of his mouth, creating space between his cheek and gums. Squeeze a little toothpaste onto the brush and insert the brush at the gumline, brushing gently. Apply more toothpaste and brush the other side of his mouth.
- Use a floss pick to remove the gunk from between his front teeth, top and bottom.
- Rinse his mouth with the dental rinse.
- Set him next to his water bowl so he can rinse further if he needs to.
- Give him a cookie, and tell him what a good dog he is!
Depending on how much he struggles, you may not be able to accomplish a full cleaning at once. That’s okay. Do as much as you can, and continue the session in segments until you’ve cleaned his whole mouth. Weekly cleanings are ideal, but once a month will do if that’s all you can manage.
If you have a puppy, start brushing his teeth right away so he’ll get used to it. For older dogs, try to make the experience as fast as possible, giving him a tasty treat when you’re done. It might take some time — and effort! — but in most cases adult dogs can get used to the routine.
Do I Have to Use a Toothpaste Designed Only For Pets?
We don’t want to knock the people out there selling toothbrushes and toothpastes for pooches, but you really don’t need them for your dog to have a beautiful “smile.” Save your money and stop at your local drugstore. You’ll need gauze pads, baking soda and peroxide to keep your dog’s teeth sparkling. Now, this won’t repair damaged teeth, but it will keep healthy teeth looking great.
Dampen the gauze pad with lukewarm water. Place 1/4 teaspoon baking soda on it, and add three drops of hydrogen peroxide. Rub the ingredients into the gauze and then begin to rub it onto the teeth. Work your way through every tooth while telling Rover that he is awesome. Your comforting and reassuring words will make your pet feel more secure while you are cleaning his teeth. Again, try to do this at least once a week (especially you German shepherd owners out there).
Veterinary Dental Cleaning
Keep in mind that regular brushing will help, but just like humans, your dog will need a full cleaning every six to 12 months.
No matter how well or how often you brush your pup’s teeth, there will come a point when you will need to pay a professional to give your dog a thorough cleaning. Dog’s won’t usually need this procedure until they’re over five years old, but since their needs can vary widely from dog to dog, consult your veterinarian about when to begin professional dental work. Small dogs will generally need more frequent cleanings than large dogs.
Consider having a blood test performed on your dog to make sure he doesn’t have any health conditions that might make it dangerous for him to undergo anesthesia. You’ll need to fast your dog and make sure he doesn’t drink for at least eight hours prior to the cleaning, and then drop him off at the vet first thing in the morning.
When the vet is ready to begin the procedure, he will administer general anesthesia, which will knock out your pup for about 15 minutes. While your dog is unconscious, the vet will scrape the tartar from your dog’s teeth, clean the surfaces and check to see if any teeth are damaged enough to require extraction. If so, then your dog might require additional anesthesia while the vet pulls the bad teeth.
When the procedure is complete, the vet will bring your dog out of anesthesia and observe him for several hours before releasing him to your care. You’ll be sent home with antibiotics and a small amount of pain medication, which you can administer as necessary for the first day or two after the cleaning.
The cost of a professional cleaning is anywhere from $150 to $600, depending on your vet, the condition of your dog’s teeth and whether or not the vet needs to extract any teeth.
Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning
Although most veterinary dentals are fast, trouble-free experiences, there are risks associated with any procedure that involves anesthesia. A pre-dental blood test will help determine if your dog is a good candidate for this kind of dental procedure, but nothing is foolproof. The sad truth is that some dogs die while under anesthesia.
If you’re concerned about the risk of anesthesia, or if your dog is old or needs his teeth cleaned more often then every six months, opt for anesthesia-free teeth cleaning, which will remove most of the tartar and plaque from your dog’s teeth, keeping them clean and healthy. The only thing a non-veterinary dental hygienist can’t do is perform extractions, but hopefully your pet won’t need any once you’ve established healthy habits.
Repairing Cavities and Other Dental Problems
Black spots on your dog’s teeth (signs of decay) should be addressed as soon as you notice them. A dental cleaning like that described above may remove the tartar/plaque deposits, but in extreme cases tooth extraction may be required. Of course, your veterinarian will be able to provide the best treatment options for your pet.
Toothless dogs don’t fair very well, and only you can make your pooch’s life better. Your vet can take care of any decay and enhance your pup’s ability to chew, eat and live his life to the fullest (sans those fictional doggie dentures!).
Prevent Canine Dental Problems
In addition to regular brushing and dental cleanings, the best way to keep your dog’s teeth tartar-free is giving him great food and appropriate treats. Excellent nutrition promotes overall good health, especially for your dog’s eyes, coat and teeth. The verdict is still out on whether dry food is better for your dog’s teeth than wet; most vets don’t think there’s a difference. (But please, just say no to “semi-moist” dog foods, which are loaded with sugar.) What matters is making sure there isn’t food caught in the teeth.
Although the friction caused by your dog chewing dry food isn’t really enough to remove tartar, several chewie treats can do the job nicely. Greenies and other specially formulated treats are great, but expensive. A more cost-effective idea is giving your dog cow hooves or bully sticks, both of which work well and are safe for your dog to ingest. You might also try a plastic chew toy, such as a Nylabone.
Additional Resources
- American Veterinary Dental Society: Cavities and dog tooth health
- WebMD: Teeth and gum basics in dogs
- American Animal Hospital Association: Periodontal disease
Photo: Flickr/destinyuk*
