Dental hygiene is extremely important for dogs. Many diseases are caused by neglecting oral hygiene. I had a feeling that it was a winner, but I didn’t know for sure until I tried it on my dogs. My favorite toothbrush designed for dogs is called Zututh. Unfortunately, it appears that the manufacturer stopped making this device. It comes in a regular version and a battery operated version. I cannot find it anywhere. If you find it being sold, please let me know. I love it because of the its unique design which is based on the shape of a dog’s jaw and oral cavity.
There are several toothbrushes that are designed with an angle that makes brushing easier and cuts down on time as a result. The physical attributes of the canine mouth are different from a human mouth; they are shaped differently. There are curved toothbrushes (which I like most). I am most comfortable using them because it is easier to reach further to the back teeth. Another good option is the toothbrushes that have bristles on three sides. There are a couple types of finger toothbrushes. There is also the option of using a child size toothbrush for tiny dogs. All in all, you need to try to get some sort of toothbrush and get it between the dog’s cheeks and the teeth and go to town with it. There are now so many different designs. I will suggest toothbrushes further down in this article.
I am no longer as diligent about brushing their teeth as I had been in the past, but I get around to it when evenings when I haven’t given raw meaty bones. I do not use commercial digestible products that contain unhealthy chemicals. I have been giving the dogs raw turkey necks and duck necks (I cut them down because they are so big) around twice a week to chew on. The natural enzymes in the raw duck necks and the raw chicken necks along with the mechanical action of chewing the raw bones does the trick. If a dog is not on a raw diet and chewing raw meaty bones then brushing is critical.
So without further ado, here are a few options:
Petosan Microfiber Fingerbrush Oral Cleaner for Dogs
Microfiber toothbrushes are quite soft and provide little abrasion. It is like wiping your dog’s teeth with a rag, but using doggie toothpaste might just do the trick.
Now this one has three sides of bristles. That’s really cool because you can reach all surfaces. I tried this type and it works pretty well.
Small Pet Toothbrush Tufted Toothbrush
I have never tried this toothbrush, but it appears that it would be best to use for tiny problem areas. I can imagine it could be useful, especially when something is lodged between a couple of teeth.
Petsmile Professional Pet Toothbrush – Patented 45° Dual-Ended Brush Head- Dog Toothbrush
This toothbrush is wavy. It curves at a 45 degree angle. It is a great option which is comfortable to use. Its wavy shape makes it very comfortable to use.
BOSHEL Dog Finger Toothbrush (Set – 8 Pack Includes 6 Silicone Bristle + 2 Nylon Bristle)
I’m not too crazy about finger toothbrushes. They just don’t feel comfortable for me. My positioning and that of my tiny dogs tends to be very awkward, but some people swear by them. It is just a matter of personal preference. This set contains two styles – with nylon bristles and with silicone bristles. By far, I prefer the nylon bristles as they provide soft abrasion for the teeth.
The angle of this toothbrush’s bristles feels comfortable. Angles tend to help to reach the back teeth with more ease than the styles without angles.
DentaSure Oral Care Gel (and the spray version)
I’ve used the gel is best with use of a toothbrush. I have found that the gel is the greatest product on the market. The spray is great for dogs that absolutely will not allow you to put in a toothbrush.
My article 3 Natural Homemade Toothpaste Recipes provides easy recipes to make excellent homemade toothpaste. The flavors are not great so unless your dog really doesn’t care your dog might be resistant.
