Protect your puppy’s pearly whites
Dental health is a fundamental part of your furry best friend’s future. Your puppy has 28 teeth in his mouth and each of these teeth is vitally important to his daily activities and overall health. As with your own teeth, neglected puppy teeth can collect plaque and tartar that can lead to periodontal disease and even tooth loss. A fact that becomes even more important when those 28 puppy teeth are replaced with 42 permanent adult teeth.
However, if you start training your puppy now, you can teach him or her to tolerate (and even like) tooth brushing as a puppy and as an adult.
Brush up on your toothbrush options
You have lots of options when it comes to choosing a toothbrush for your puppy. There are brushes that look like your own toothbrush (make sure you can tell the difference!) to a soft, rubbery brush that fits over your finger. Choose a brush that works best for your dog that can safely and comfortably fit in your puppy’s mouth. Often a toddler brush will work for a small dog, while a junior human toothbrush works well for a medium sized dog. Always make sure that you choose a brush with extra soft bristles.
Don’t use the force
Teach your puppy that his toothbrush is super cool and that when it comes out, great things happen (like treats!).
Slowly introduce the brush into your puppy’s mouth. As long as your puppy is still comfortable, move forward. But if your puppy withdraws from your touch, go back to the last step where he was happy. Never use force—it will teach your puppy to hate the toothbrush.
It’s very unlikely that you’ll brush all 28 teeth on the first try, and that’s okay. Patiently move up to longer brushing periods over time, and keep it positive with encouragement and rewards as he improves. The goal is to brush daily because the plaque can harden into tartar in as fast as 36 hours. Brush it off every 24 hours to make the most impact.
Pick a toothpaste
You need to also choose a pet toothpaste. (Don’t use ones meant for people!) These products can help make the experience fun for your puppy because they come in different flavors, like chicken and peanut butter. My favorite is the CET Vanilla Mint toothpaste. My pup loves it and it leaves her breath minty fresh!
One last tip …
If you keep the toothbrush in a drawer or container, store other goodies there too so your puppy can learn that opening that drawer always means good things. Then, the toothbrush becomes just another one of the fun things you do together!
~ This site is supported by its audience. When you purchase on Amazon through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission. ~
