How do you brush your doodle's teeth?

[Willow and J]

I've look through using Search but didn't come up with "how" do you brush your dog's teeth, so I wanted to ask what you do. 

1. Do you make your dog sit? Is there a better position for holding the dog?

2. Is there an order (back to front? side to side?)

3. What do you do with her/his tongue licking the toothpaste?

4. How long do you brush his/her teeth?

I saw one video of someone brushing her dog's teeth, and it was pretty much like what I do except I usually make Willow sit and I position myself at the back of her, and this was easier to keep her sitting the whole time. But, whatever I do, toothbrushing turns into a comic episode - I more or less think of it as Willow's chance to eat the toothpaste. I can hear her saying "Why bother, Mommy? Just squeeze the tube into my mouth!"

It's probably better than nothing, but I can't think this is going to make that much difference. Any tips to make toothbrushing more effective?

BTW, I did find discussions on PetzLife, and I was curious if that can replace brushing teeth?

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good job Luna!!!! Mine just lick the toothpaste off too.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I am so envious!! :)

[Richard Crowe]

We have always provided Holly with a daily vanilla ear or bully stick.  She is four years old and her teeth are spiffy clean and her breath is great!

[Willow and J]

We give bones, antlers, dried yams, dental chews (from Costco), etc., and Willow's teeth are fine (knock on wood, and she's only 2 anyway). But I started to worry a bit about dental chew stuff (it says it helps other things with omega fatty acids, etc., but they look like plastic to me... My next search word on DK will be Greenies and dental chews), and Willow eats them so quick that I wasn't sure if there's enough chewing involved to get teeth cleaned. And unlike Holly, Willow's breath can smell ... not very pleasing (mildly put) at times, and when she licks different parts of her body with that tongue... (sorry for the unpleasant details... :)) 

Holly looks very charming and graceful in the profile picture - she's the same way inside and out, apparently! 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara is 3 and has always chewed bully sticks but she is not a very aggressive chewer and is still getting some tartar build up on a few teeth.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

We have bully sticks and antlers. Monty is not a chewer as well. Many times I need to soak the bully stick to make him chew on it. He played with the antler for about a day and it's been sitting on the floor untouched ever since.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I gave Tara an antler once and it still looks like new. She looked at me like I had just handed her a rock to chew on! LOL

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I am just starting to get into brushing Tara's teeth after much nagging by her vet who is s dental specialist! :(  Tara is not a relaxed girl so I am starting out by just putting my finger into her mouth and using it as a "brush". Once she can remain calm with just my finger I plan to advance to a piece of terry cloth on my finger. This was recommended by the vet tech as a less scary type of "brush" for Tara.

I bought the Petzlife Salmon Flavor to try on her but OMD! That stuff is nasty tasting!!  Yes, I had to try it myself!! LOL! I am trying to find a pleasant or at least tolerable approach to brushing for her since it has to occur so often. There is no way she would tolerate that stuff in her mouth! I would probably have to hold her down!

[Willow and J]

I had to laugh - things we do for our babies... I tasted a bit of Willow's cookie, which wasn't so bad, but I don't know about Petzlife... Although, when I read all the positive comments on Petzlife, it did occur to me if it'd work for human teeth too. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I keep thinking I'll try it but I

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

We did the anesthesia free cleaning last May and it went well. It was about $150 and I'm planning on doing it again since his back teeth are getting the yellow plaque. I have a hard time brushing Monty's teeth, since he is all tongue. I really have no idea how much of the toothpaste gets on his teeth. I do use the PetzLife spray and gel occasionally, although I should be more consistent with it.  

I also give him C.E.T. chews every other day, but the back teeth are still white. No problem with bed breath, though. It's just the plaque on his teeth.

[Lee Seidman]

I guess we are lucky,  We started as a puppy brushing both Lexi and Billy's teeth at least twice weekly.  We let them either sit or lie down , hold their mouth open and scrub away.  They have learned that they have no choice and just accept it.  We use flavored tooth paste and a doggie tooth brush.   I sometimes use an electric tooth brush,  one of the battery powered brushes on them but they are often afraid of it so we go with the conventional method. I have had dogs with peridontal disease and it must be painful for the dogs,  and the vet bills were huge.  It pays to have good dental habits.