Should we brush our dog’s teeth? Learn why dental care is important for your furry friend. <\/p>
Ever taken a good look at your dog\u2019s smile? Those pearly whites aren’t just for show\u2014they play a huge role in your dog\u2019s daily life. From gnawing on toys<\/a> to chomping down on dinner, a dog\u2019s teeth are pretty important. <\/strong><\/p> Whether your furry friend is a tiny Chihuahua or a massive Great Dane, knowing about their dental health and needs can help keep them healthy and happy. So, let\u2019s take a closer look into the world of canine teeth and how to look after them.<\/p> Adult dogs have 42 teeth; 20 in their top jaw and 22 in the bottom jaw.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Puppies have fewer teeth than adult dogs \u2013 they start off with 28 teeth in total with equal numbers on the top and bottom jaw, gradually these teeth become wobbly and fall out, and 42 adult teeth will grow through. Once a puppy<\/a> reaches around six months of age, they usually will have their full set of adult teeth.\u00a0<\/p> There are four types of teeth that dogs have:\u00a0<\/p> The 4th upper premolars and the 1st lower molars are referred to as the Carnassial teeth.\u00a0<\/p> While all dog breeds have 42 teeth, it can be a challenge for smaller sized dogs and flat-faced breeds to fit them all in their mouth. This means that sometimes, their teeth can grow close together and at odd angles, which leaves them at greater risk of dental disease and tooth loss.\u00a0<\/p> Just as it\u2019s important for humans to take care of their teeth, it\u2019s actually just as important to look after your dog’s teeth. Dental disease is a very common health problem for dogs and can usually be prevented through keeping your dog’s teeth clean.\u00a0<\/p> Dental disease can happen in any dog, and while a lack of brushing is the main cause for most dogs,\u00a0problems are more common in older dogs, certain breeds including Toy Poodles and Greyhounds, and dogs with overcrowding of their teeth. \u00a0<\/p> The best way to maintain your dog\u2019s teeth is by manually brushing them, just as you would brush your own teeth! It\u2019s important to remember though you will need a dog toothbrush as well as dog-safe toothpaste \u2013 don’t try to use the human equivalent on your dog.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> We\u2019d recommend including brushing your dog\u2019s teeth in your daily routine, that way it becomes a habit and your dog\u2019s mouth gets daily maintenance, keeping their teeth clean and healthy. Brushing away soft plaque before it turns into solid tartar is by far the best way to prevent dental disease.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> It\u2019s best to start teeth cleaning when your dog is a puppy, but whatever age your dog is, if you\u2019re introducing teeth brushing for the first time, it\u2019s essential to start off slowly \u2013 it may take them a short while to get used to it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Start out by giving them a small taste of the dog-safe toothpaste and go from there. You may need to get your dog happy and used to you touching their mouth and teeth, before you try and use the toothbrush. You can do this by gently rubbing a soft cloth along their gums and giving them a reward or praise each time they allow you to do it. Gradually move on to using a brush that fits over your finger. This will get your dog used to the feeling of their teeth being brushed. \u00a0<\/p> When your dog\u2019s comfortable and ready, use a proper dog toothbrush. The longer handle will help you reach all of their teeth. If your dog seems stressed or anxious at any stage of the process, stop and try again another day.\u00a0<\/p> Some dogs may not tolerate their teeth being brushed despite going through the steps slowly. If your dog finds having their teeth brushed particularly stressful, there are a few other ways that may help to keep your dog\u2019s teeth clean and healthy:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Whilst these can be great alternatives to help maintain healthy teeth, nothing works as well as regular tooth brushing unfortunately. Additionally, dogs do tend to chew using their back teeth, which means their front teeth perhaps aren\u2019t getting the same benefits.\u00a0<\/p> Ask your vet to check your pet\u2019s teeth regularly so any dental disease is spotted early, their annual vaccination<\/a> and health check appointment is a good time for this. But if you are concerned about your dog\u2019s teeth, it\u2019s best to get your vet to check them sooner for any issues. <\/p> There are a few signs to look for that could indicate that your dog may have some dental problems, but remember, sometimes dogs can have tooth disease without showing any signs at all.\u00a0<\/p> Signs include:\u00a0<\/p> More pet advice<\/strong><\/p> Should we brush our dog’s teeth? Learn why dental care is important for your furry friend. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":39394,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care.jpg",2121,1414,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/08\/how-many-teeth-do-dogs-have-and-should-you-brush-their-teeth-vet-explains-canine-dental-health-care-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Should we brush our dog's teeth? Learn why dental care is important for your furry friend.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/39393"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How many teeth do dogs have?<\/h2>
Should I clean my dog’s teeth?<\/h2>
How to brush your dog’s teeth<\/h2>
How to spot dental disease in dogs<\/h2>
Dental disease symptoms<\/h3>
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