Daily brushing
Brushing your pet's teeth helps remove plaque and slow tartar formation. This treatment should ideally be practiced daily using a soft finger cot or a dog toothbrush. The latter generally has a small triangular brush that will allow you to more easily brush the teeth located deepest in your pet's mouth.
The sooner your dog gets used to this treatment, the more natural it will seem to him, especially if you make it a gentle and pleasant experience for your pet.Do not hesitate to congratulate your dog verbally and end it with a play session or a nice walk.
You can use dog toothpaste to make the time even more enjoyable for your dog. These products - which require no rinsing and that the dog can swallow - are generally flavored with flavors that the dog likes a lot.
Appropriate diet and chews
The way your pet is fed on a daily basis can affect the he alth of their teeth.
Among the most harmful foods for his oral he alth are all sugary foods, table scraps (which will also harm his general he alth) as well as dog food which tends to stick to his teeth .
The diets that are most beneficial for your dog's teeth are those that force him to chew more because chewing has a natural "toothbrush" effect.Thus, diets based on raw meaty bones are generally very effective in preserving the oral he alth of dogs.
But, if your dog is fed with kibble, it is also possible to offer him a chewing activity by offering him toys/objects to chew.
Also read: what can you give your dog to chew?Just make sure to offer him objects adapted to the size of his jaw and make sure that there is no risk of choking or digestive occlusion with them.
Regular visits to the vet
Your veterinarian generally takes advantage of your dog's annual vaccination visits to observe his oral cavity in order to assess whether scaling is necessary.
This treatment performed by your veterinarian is the only way to eliminate accumulated tartar and prevent the occurrence of other oral problems. It is performed under general anesthesia and generally requires one day of hospitalization.
On a daily basis, and between these visits, also be on the lookout for any behavior that could signal dental pain in your dog: small bleeding gums, excessive salivation, difficulty chewing and eating, complaints or moans etc
Similarly, bad breath can be one of the symptoms of damage to the teeth or the oral cavity. Be aware of this and talk to your veterinarian if necessary.