- Dog Teeth: Cleaning and Health
- November 13, 2021
Dog Teeth Cleaning and Health Guide
Table of Contents
The majority of this article is written by a certified veterinarian.
Most dog owners have heard that we should brush our dog’s teeth.
However, it’s easy to get confused about how to clean dog teeth, how often to do it, or whether our dog’s teeth really need to be cleaned at all.
These questions are totally valid, as dogs don’t exactly brush their teeth in the wild.
This article is a handy guide which will explain all the reasons why it is best practice to clean your dog’s teeth, and walk you through the best ways to do it.
Dog Teeth VS Human Teeth
A dog’s canine teeth are more numerous when compared to humans, but are otherwise remarkably similar.
Healthy dog teeth are white with pink gums, and the total number of dog teeth is 42. Much like us humans, a dog’s 42 teeth are divided into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
A dog’s canine teeth are more numerous when compared to humans, but are otherwise remarkably similar.
Healthy dog teeth are white with pink gums, and the total number of dog teeth is 42. Much like us humans, a dog’s 42 teeth are divided into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
A dog has 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars.
- Incisors: Dog incisors are different from human incisors in that they are used by dogs for grooming and ripping, instead of biting.
- Canines & Premolars: Dog canines puncture food, while their premolars shear it.
- Molars: Dog molars perform the same function as our human molars — grinding.
Do Dog Teeth Need Cleaning?
Yes! Dog teeth need regular cleaning to maintain oral health and prevent painful problems.
Why Clean Dog Teeth?
Some reasons why you should clean your dog’s teeth are:
• Tooth Loss
Tooth loss happens when the supporting structures surrounding your dog’s teeth (like the gums) become infected or damaged. As a result, the teeth loosen from their socket and fall out.
Losing teeth leads to malnutrition and other health problems in dogs by making it harder for your dog to chew. They may avoid food.
Tooth loss can be extremely painful due to infections, debris and bacteria entering the hole where the tooth was.
Regular dog teeth cleaning prevents tooth loss by keeping these supporting structures healthy and strong, holding the teeth in place.
• Bad breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, is a sign of bacterial buildup on your dog’s teeth due to inadequate dental care.
It is also associated with periodontal disease, plaque, and tartar.
Proper dog dental cleaning goes a long way in preventing bad breath. This includes brushing regularly and keeping your dog’s mouth overall healthy.
Bad breath, or halitosis, is a sign of bacterial buildup on your dog’s teeth due to inadequate dental care.
It is also associated with periodontal disease, plaque, and tartar.
Proper dog dental cleaning goes a long way in preventing bad breath. This includes brushing regularly and keeping your dog’s mouth overall healthy.
• Oral pain
Avoiding cleaning your dog’s teeth regularly always leads to painful dental disease.
This pain can be hard to notice until it’s too late due, to how good dogs are at hiding oral pain.
Clean your dog’s teeth regularly to keep their gums and teeth healthy and prevent unnecessary suffering from oral pain. Also, go for regular dental checkups.
• Organ damage
The bacteria in the plaque on dog teeth can enter your dog’s bloodstream and spread to the heart, liver, and kidneys. This process causes bacteremia, which damages your dog’s organs and makes them sick.
Good oral hygiene can prevent this outcome by preventing plaque buildup, which is why you should clean your dog’s teeth as frequently as possible.
• Dental disease
Unfortunately, preventable dog dental disease is common. Over 80 percent of dogs suffer from some form of dental disease by the age of 3.
The leading cause of dog dental disease is tartar on dog teeth, whose buildup can be easily avoided with a regular dental cleaning.
Proper dental care also prevents dental disease from getting worse once it’s already developed, so remember that it’s never too late. Serious dental disease can have terrible consequences for the dog’s whole body.
How Often To Clean Dogs Teeth
At-home teeth cleaning should be done daily or at least once a week, while professional dog dental cleanings should be done at least once a year.
Professional cleaning is even more important for dogs who are old or prone to dental issues and should be done two to three times a year to keep their gums and teeth healthy and prevent dental emergencies.
How to Clean Dog Teeth
- Brushing:
Brushing is the best way to clean dog teeth. Ideally, brushing should be done twice per day, although once per week can often be enough.
Most dogs don’t naturally like their teeth being brushed, but they can learn to enjoy it. Provide treats and praise during and after the act. Brushing your dog’s teeth starting when they are a puppy will help significantly, but it’s never too late to start.
Dog toothbrushes with soft bristles and angled handles should be used, and care should be taken to use dog toothpaste free of xylitol and fluoride, which are toxic to dogs.
You may also try different flavors of dog toothpaste to see which one your dog likes best.
5 Ways to Clean Dog Teeth Without Brushing
If brushing your dog’s teeth is too uncomfortable for you or your dog, don’t worry.
There are several ways you can keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy without regularly using a toothbrush.
1. Dental Chews
Another effective method of dog teeth cleaning is by letting them play with dental chews.
Dog dental chews come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors and are specifically designed to fight bad breath, plaque, and tartar buildup.
They feature ridges and nubs that increase gum blood flow by digging into the crevices between your dog’s teeth. These special treats or toys are designed to have an overall polishing effect on the teeth, and can help remove dirty buildup.
Always look up ingredients and reviews of edible dental chews before purchasing.
2. Dental Spray
Dog dental sprays are quick, easy to use, and effective. They kill plaque-causing bacteria, eliminate odor, remove tartar and plaque, and can even prevent their buildup in the first place.
Most sprays only require spritzing your dog’s teeth and gums 30 minutes after eating and can be used either as a stand-alone or between brushings.
If your dog doesn’t like their mouth touched, you can just apply the spray to a dog toy and let your dog lick it off.
3. Chew Toys
Chew toys are great for keeping your dog busy while simultaneously improving their oral health.
Chewing is every dogs’ natural way to keep their teeth clean. Chew toys satisfy a dog’s instinct to bite things, giving them much-needed mental stimulation and making them happy.
Chew toys come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials, but the best dog teeth cleaning toys are durable, ridged, and entertaining.
Always supervise your dog with new toys to prevent injury.
4. Dental Wipes
Dog teeth wipes are another viable option for dogs who don’t tolerate brushing.
These wipes remove the bacterial film that forms on teeth shortly after eating but are not as effective as brushing, as they can’t reach all the nooks and crannies in your dog’s mouth.
Vet recommended dental wipes with ingredients like sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), zinc gluconate, and chlorhexidine gluconate are especially useful in breaking down calculus and decreasing bacterial activity.
5. Professional Cleaning
Yearly dog dental cleaning by a professional is recommended in addition to regular at-home sessions.
If your dog is a breed that is prone to dental problems, take them for a professional cleaning every six months.
Professional cleaning involves removing the plaque below the gum line, cleaning tartar, scaling, polishing, taking x-rays, etc., and is generally done under anesthesia (dog is asleep).
Potential Complications Of Professional Dental Cleaning
Dental care is significantly more effective when done under anesthesia, but it does carry certain dog teeth cleaning risks depending on your dog’s age and fitness.
Vets take every measure they can to minimize these complications, but some possible complications are as follows:
• Anesthesia Reaction
Anesthesia is extremely safe with a very low risk of reaction. Mild reactions result in high heart rates and low blood pressure, while severe ones can cause lethal anaphylactic shock.
Luckily, these changes can be quickly picked up by the vet’s monitors, and timely administration of epinephrine can stabilize the patient.
• Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is a common anesthesia-associated complication that occurs even in otherwise healthy dogs.
However, it can be swiftly relieved by administering intravenous fluids and reducing the delivery of anesthetics.
Low blood pressure may be caused by hemorrhage, dehydration, drug reactions, excessive anesthetic depth, or underlying heart problems.
• Aspiration
Once your dog is under anesthesia, their airway stops being protected by itself, and any food they have eaten can back up and risk causing aspiration, pneumonia, or even death.
Treatment consists of broad-spectrum antibiotics, but the condition can be prevented by stopping all food the evening before the procedure or as recommended by your vet.
• Lowered Body Temperature
Dogs cannot warm up normally when under anesthesia, so dog dental cleaning also carries the risk of dangerously lowering their body temperature.
Old and small dogs are particularly prone to this, and measures like warming devices and warm fluids should be taken in addition to keeping the dog as dry as possible to maintain the normal body temperature.
• Compromised Organs
General anesthesia depresses the respiratory, cardiovascular, hepatic, and renal systems, causing severe complications if these organ systems are already compromised.
This makes it necessary to screen dogs for underlying disorders prior to anesthesia and take precautions like keeping the dog on fluids and using anesthesia drugs that are not metabolized in the liver.
• Esophageal Burns
The gastroesophageal sphincter relaxes when under anesthesia, and occasionally this can lead to stomach acid leaking and reaching the esophagus, causing burns.
These esophageal burns make dogs uncomfortable and result in vomiting, making the situation even worse.
In such a scenario, the best thing to do is to get your dog a medicated shot to stop the vomiting and consult your vet about acid reducers and sulcrafates.
• Irritation
Although not exactly a complication, dogs under anesthesia get an endotracheal tube, which can cause irritation in some dogs, resulting in coughing, gagging, and problems swallowing post-procedure.
The tube can also cause a mild tracheal infection, and coughing is more prolonged and pronounced in dogs suffering from tracheal prolapse.
Average Cost of Dog Teeth Cleaning
Professional dog teeth cleaning costs can vary depending on where you live and the type of procedure performed.
On average, they range from $175 to $660, with cleanings done under anesthesia costing between $500 to $1000.
Cleanings done without anesthesia are the cheapest. However, the cost goes up once additional procedures and preventative care measures like dental x-rays, blood tests, tooth extractions, and medications are added.
Wrapping Up
Regardless of age or breed, it’s important for all dogs to have their teeth cleaned regularly to keep their whole body healthy.
Once a day or once a week at home, in addition to regular vet visits should be fine.
