Brushing your dog’s teeth doesn’t have to be a battle: Dr. Hunter Finn’s step-by-step guide

Just like humans, dogs need to maintain good dental hygiene to prevent the buildup of plaque, an accumulation of bacteria on the teeth. Left untreated, this can lead to gingivitis (gum inflammation), bony tooth sockets, and periodontal disease.

It is believed that more than 80% of dogs age three or older have periodontal disease, which can lead to painful tooth loss or expensive dental bills to have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned. That is why it is recommended that you brush your dog’s teeth on a regular basis.

If you can remove the film of plaque before it mineralizes on the teeth, which happens within 24 to 48 hours, you can not only improve your dog’s health but that of your wallet too. However, before you rush to grab a toothbrush check out this step-by-step guide so that it isn’t a battle, and your dog may actually end up liking the activity.

Vet’s step-by-step guide to brushing your dog’s teeth

Dr. Hunter Finn, a Texas-based veterinarian, posted a video on TikTok where he explains the process of acclimating your dog to getting its teeth brushed. “It takes time, sometime weeks. You don’t need to rush it,” he says.

He recommends starting when they are puppies, but the idea is to “just get them used to you touching their teeth.” First step is to start putting your finger in their mouth an rubbing their front teeth without any toothpaste. “Let them be okay with that, don’t freak them out,” Dr. Finn says.

Once they’ve become accustomed to having you mess with their mouth, you can move onto using toothpaste. At first, just work their front teeth but then slowly progress backwards to the molars, “ideally,” as that is where they do most of their chewing. “Go slow. It takes a little bit of time,” he notes, “and some like it a little bit more than others ones.”

How often should you brush your dog’s teeth and what should you use?

Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth twice a day, but at a minimum, at least three times a week according to VCA Animal Hospitals. You can use your finger or specially designed toothbrushes for dogs. There are also specially designed chewing toys that can help as well with natural abrasion.

And it is important to point out that you should only ever used toothpaste designed for dogs, which come in several flavors, and never use human toothpaste.

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