How to Avoid Smelly Dog Breath
It is normal for
your dog’s mouth to contain bacteria. Some of these bacteria to stick to the
teeth forming a layer called plaque. The surface of a young dog’s teeth is so
smooth that plaque is easily cleaned away by biscuits or hard pieces of food. As
a dog matures the surface of his teeth become roughened allowing plaque to
accumulate around the gums and turn to hard unpleasant tartar. In order to
remove plaque and avoid the build up of tartar, it is recommended that you brush
your dogs teeth regularly (once each week minimum). The pet shop will supply a
complete dental care kit which includes malt flavoured toothpaste, a toothbrush.
How
to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Firstly, place your
dog in a sitting position and approach from the side. Then carefully raise his
upper lip and start with brushing the outer teeth. Initially brush one or two
teeth at a time using a circular movement to massage the gums and clean the
teeth. As your dog becomes used to the procedure, begin to tackle more teeth at
each session. Friction from the tongue helps to clean the inside of the teeth,
so particular attention should be made to the outside areas.
It is recommended that young puppies become acclimatised to the taste of doggie toothpaste and the idea of their owner touching their teeth. At around 6 months when adult teeth erupt, a serious dental cleaning routine should be established and maintained.
It is routine for your vet to check your dog’s mouth each year at vaccination time. If you are at all worried about your dog’s teeth at any time seek advice from your vet.