Toothbrushing, to be effective, has to be carried out regularly - ideally at least daily. In order to do this it cannot be a battle - it has to be enjoyable - both for your dog and for you!
One of the best ways to get started with toothbrushing is to use a fingercloth to accustom your dog to having his mouth inspected and manipulated.
Place a little Oral Gel on your finger and allow your dog to lick it as a treat, then smear a little on their gums and allow them to lick it off. Gradually encourage your dog to enjoy having their mouths handled with verbal encouragement and a good tasting toothpaste. It is important that your dog feels that tooth cleaning is fun. Use lots of verbal encouragement and give lots of praise whenever performing any oral hygiene measures. It should NEVER be a battle, it must be fun for all concerned.
Once your dog is used to the idea of the finger cloth, it is time to introduce the toothbrush. One of the recent advances is the development of a double sided toothbrush to help effectively clean both sides of the teeth at once. This toothbrush is now available in an electric version.
Try to set aside a regular time each day for toothbrushing - dogs are creatures of routine. Many owners find that last thing at night is the best time & quickly their dogs come to expect that final interaction before settling down for the night. Once daily (or more) is best.
Don't try to brush the teeth perfectly on Day 1. Take your time, gradually increasing the effectiveness of your toothbrushing. Most dogs come to love toothbrushing - it is a positive interaction between you, the owner, and them. A great tasting toothpaste also helps!
Remember that dental disease is the most common infectious disease of pets. Helping to prevent it will not only help prevent tooth abscesses, bad breath and loss of teeth - but will also help prevent heart, kidney and other internal diseases in later life.
A GUIDE TO BRUSHING CATS' TEETH -
There is no point pretending that cats are as easy to toothbrush as dogs. They are not! So it is even more important to try and get them used to having their mouths examined and their teeth brushed from an early age - ideally start as young kittens.
Accustom your cat to having their head held by regularly doing this and rewarding quiet acceptance with praise and a tasty reward.
Place your hand flat on top of their head, but pull your little finger back so that it lies on top of their neck. The front part of your hand should be just behind their eyes, with your thumb down towards the corner of the mouth. The neck will then lie between your 4th and 5th fingers. You can then gently rotate their head back on the neck (using your little finger as a lever or hinge). As the head comes back the mouth will naturally open a little.
Using your thumb you can lift the lip and examine the teeth. Your fingers can then lift the lip on the other side and examine that side. Finally you can gently press down on the front teeth of the lower jaw with your other hand and examine the inside of the mouth.
The teeth should be free of calculus and the gums should be nice and pink - not red or bleeding.
Again, remember, the toothpaste MUST be a special pet toothpaste. Human toothpaste is NOT designed to be swallowed and will often cause problems for our pets - remember how much smaller a cat is than a fully grown person!
There is a smaller version of the dog toothbrush available for use with cats, and again you should be able to get this from your vet or online.
The toothbrush has small rounded bristles which can help clean plaque and early stage calculus from the tooth and most importantly the sub-gingival area.
You can accustom your cat to the toothpaste by putting a little on your finger and gently putting it onto their lips or gums. Most cats quite like the taste and will readily accept this. Then place some toothpaste onto the brush.
Holding your cat's head, as shown above, gently place the toothbrush and paste onto the side of the teeth. Slowly move the brush in a circular movement. Remember not to try and do too much initially. Over a period of weeks you can gradually increase the length of time you spend and the effectiveness of the cleaning.
Do not try to rush things, or you will upset your pet. Toothbrushing will then become a nightmare for all concerned and it will not be achieved. Far better to try and do a little and gradually increase the effectiveness.
Brushing the teeth is the ideal. However for some cats it will prove impossible - even with lots of patience.
For these cats use of a proper diet designed to help keep the teeth clean is imperative. Ask your vet for advice on suitable diets.
Even with toothbrushing, a professional dental scale and polish will sometimes be required. Check your cat's oral health with your veterinary practice.
