Brushin' Teeth

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

So I admit, I may be a bad DM, because I do not brush their teeth.  I promise I will try to do better, but I also have seen some of these rinses you can add to their water.  How often should I brush their teeth and are any of the "easier" products effective?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My vet told me not to even worry about the inside surfaces of their teeth; just to do the outside surfaces three times a week. I bought some dog toothpaste at the pet supply store, vet said they are all the same, and a brush, but the finger thingies are easier to use, for us. That said, Jack hates it and i do not brush his teeth three times a week. Three times a month, maybe. I am a bad doodle mom, too.
My last dog was a miniature poodle, which are notorious for having bad teeth. This dog, however, was bred for show, and she had some great genetics. The proof of that is she never once in her 16 years on this earth had her teeth cleaned OR brushed, and she died without a speck of tartar or decay on her mouthful of healthy shiny white teeth, which were firmly embedded in healthy pink gums. She was a heavy-duty bone and rawhide chewer. Moral of the story? IMO, genetics and chewing are worth just as much, if not more, than brushing.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I confess. I have never brushed their teeth although I have the stuff.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I have the toothpaste, so I will do it tomorrow. Rosey certainly didn't mind the chicken flavored toothpaste as much as the site of a cotton ball to clean her ears sends her into major hiding mode. I am going to commit, to doing it at least twice a month before their baths....

[Kyoko]

Charlie is developing some tar tar at this young age. Dr. Sweeny said that its all depends on the chemistory of the dog's sliva. I never brushed Butter's teeth, but looks like I need to start brushing Charlie's teeth... She is not a chewer at all.... She may chew on elk anthler every so often, but, she really does not chew things much.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin is a chewer and I think that helps him as far as having clean teeth. We do have toothpaste and a toothbrush. I have brushed his teeth a few times and he tolerates it, but he licks the toothpaste off before I even get to scrubbing. I haven't really figured it out.

[Kyoko]

So, I bought whole bunch of dental stuff today. Tooth brush, finger thingies, toothpaste, greenie dental chew, one other kind of dental chew, small rope ball ( Since Charlie is not a chewer but loves to fetch ), and filled bone. I thought those dental chews were going to last at least several minutes, but the were both gone in a matter of few seconds. So, how does that supposed to work? Or do they supposed to eat them once a day or something? Do they really do something to clean the teeth? I also saw it online some sort of dental spray made of grape seed oil, and other natural ingredients.
I am going to try brushing her teeth tonight....

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I admire the enthusiasm! I have tried lot's of things too,, Beware of the GREENIES they always give R&B diarrhea. I did a search once on DK but can't remeber what I found... I donated them...

[Kyoko]

Dr. Sweeny scared me when he was talking about gum diseases and possibility of that causing kidney, heart and other vital organ to get sick!! For meanwhile he could be just trying to sell me Hills dental prescription food T/D!! I told him that I am no a fan of Hills product....

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

good for you!! I can't wait until I tell our vet that next time! It's on my list AGAIN this week to BRUSH THE TEETH!

[Taylor & Huff]

They give Huff diarrhea and gas too!

[Mary Reams]

I started training Mia with a finger toothbrush when she was a puppy, then a regular toothbrush and finally to an electric toothbrush. Now I brush her teeth every morning before I brush her hair and clean her eyes. It's easy when you get into a routine and the electric toothbrush does much more than manual brushing. Of course, once a week I clean out her ears to avoid any infections. She has pretty white teeth at two years of age, but there are two upper molars that seem to have tartar. I agree that genetics plays a large part in keeping teeth healthy.

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff gets his teeth brushed at least once a week during his bath. He hates mint flavored toothpaste but his teeth are still really white. They do sometimes get something like plaque on the top of his teeth but we brush that off. He does love to chew bones, so that is a good thing.:)