Use an enzymatic toothpaste specially formulated for dogs. Some enzymatic toothpastes, like Virbac, contain flavors like vanilla, which many dogs love. These toothpastes will also fresh your dog’s breath![3] X Research source
Once the dental chew breaks apart, throw it away so it won’t splinter and harm your dog’s gums or teeth. When your dog gnaws on either a dental treat or toy, it scrapes off the plaque and tartar on its teeth. All-natural dental treats have enzymes that promote dental health, and many dental treats contain ingredients that freshen your dog’s breath. Limit your dog to one dental treat a day so your pet can maintain a healthy weight. Give your dog a dental chew toy in place of a treat if your pet is on a vet-recommended diet. Your dog will still have a great time!
After you place a dental wipe against your dog’s teeth to let it adjust to the new object, give your pet lots of praise. Since dental wipes break down calcium, they also soften tartar, which is actually made up of calcium deposits that cling onto your dog’s teeth and lead to health problems like gingivitis. Dental wipes like Petkin Fresh Mint wipes contain baking soda, so they’ll remove stains on your dog’s teeth and freshen your pet’s breath. [6] X Research source
Apply oral care gel daily and you should see results in 30 days or less. You won’t need to brush your dog’s teeth if you use oral care gels like TropiClean Fresh Breath. Your dog’s saliva mixes with the oral care gel and activates ingredients that break down plaque and tartar. Oral care gel will also fight bacteria and freshen your dog’s breath. [8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Read the label on your dental spray and check the dose for your dog’s size. Use dental spray 30 minutes before or after your dog eats. You may need to use dental spray more often if your dog has advanced tartar buildup on its teeth. A dental spray like HealthyMouth doesn’t have alcohol or toxins and uses natural ingredients to significantly reduce tartar and prevent gum disease. [10] X Research source For maximum results, combine dental spray with daily brushing. If your dog moves around a lot and you can’t spritz its mouth with dental spray, apply the dental spray to its dog toys. When they chew on the dog toys, the dental spray will get into its mouth.
Raw bones are great options for fighting tartar because they don’t splinter, so they won’t damage your dog’s teeth. Use the “knee cap” test to check if bones are soft enough for your dog—if you hit your knee cap with a bone and it hurts, then it’s too hard for your dog to chew on. If your dog chews on a bone aggressively, take it away so you can prevent your pet from fracturing its teeth.
Use an upbeat, energetic tone of voice to motivate your dog. Your pet will feel more excited about teeth cleaning. Give your dog the same compliments you provide as a reward for any good behavior. For example, you can say, “Good boy!” The recommended maximum amount of treats you should give your dog is about 10% of its daily calories.
For best results, brush your dog’s teeth with coconut oil once a day. To save yourself a lot of effort, avoid giving your dog a treat because you might have a harder time cleaning its teeth. Play a game, like fetch, so your dog gets excited for getting its teeth brushed. First, check with your vet to make sure coconut oil can be introduced to your dog’s diet—if your dog needs to lose weight, coconut oil may not be the best method for your pet. Add coconut oil to your dog’s food for added tartar prevention.
Most chlorhexidine oral rinses are flavored, your dog will probably like it when you use them. Since it fights bacteria, an oral rinse will also freshen your dog’s breath. Oral rinses are specially formulated to be antimicrobial, anti-plaque, and anti-calculus, so they’ll protect your dog from tooth and gum disease. Play with your dog and give it lots of affection after you apply the oral rinse!
When your dog drinks water, the dental additive acts as a mouthwash and cleans its gums and teeth. Many dental additives are odorless, so your dog won’t even notice anything different about its water. Clean your dog’s water bowl after each use to make sure it’s sterilized. Since a dental additive kills bacteria, it will prevent both tartar and mouth infections. Your vet will let you know if your dog has pre-existing conditions or is on medications that water additives can interfere with.
Dogs need regular dental visits to maintain their oral health, just like humans! If your dog develops lots of tartar really quickly, you might need to bring it to the vet every 6 months. If your dog has routine teeth cleanings at the vet, it’ll be easier for you to use home methods that reduce your dog’s tartar.
