What are you thinking about? I know you are not sure whether you should brush your dog’s teeth or not. Let me explain to you. Read the article till the end.
By the way, here is the quick answer.
If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth, tartar will collect in his teeth, and its teeth will discolor. If you keep it postponed for years, cavities will appear. Teeth cavities are painful & difficult to refill. Finally, your dog’ll lose its teeth, resulting in the dog’s inability to chew food properly.
Don’t worry. I am here to help you. If you’ve never brushed your dog’s teeth, you can start it now. Let’s make it a habit.
What will happen if you don’t brush your dog’s teeth?
Here are some common problems your dog faces due to unbrushed teeth.
1. Bad breath.
Let me ask you a question. What makes you ready for the day? You will say that it is your morning tea or the wash.
Most probably, you brush your teeth before going out for work. It makes you feel fresh and comfortable. Imagine you forget to brush your teeth. What will you think? You will feel uncomfortable.
Similarly, your dog feels the same. If you want to keep him comfortable, brush his teeth at least twice a week. If not, your dog will feel uncomfortable due to bad breath.
On the other hand, it can affect you too. You will avoid your dog due to bad breath.
So, it’s important to keep your dog friend fresh as it affects your mood. Use good toothpaste, which is designed for dogs, when brushing their teeth.
2. Collection of tartar.
What is tartar? Let me explain to you briefly. Dentists introduce this as calculus. Tartar forms due to the accumulation of food particles.
Normally, tartar accumulates over the gum line. What does it look like? Tartar has a yellowish-brown color. One can say that it is a stain.
Yes, it is a stain that forms due to the long-term accumulation of food particles. If you stop brushing your teeth, you also will have tartar.
Here we are talking about dogs; yes, dogs too can have tartar on their teeth. Don’t worry, you can deal with tartar very easily.
Here are some tips to remove tartar from your dog’s teeth.
Baking soda can remove tartar very easily.
- First, get some baking soda and mix it with a little water.
- Put it on the toothbrush.
- Scrub the teeth well while scrubbing the gum softly. Yes, you are almost done.
- Now let your dog be with the baking soda mixture for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, wash its mouth off.
- Baking soda is non-toxic, so it’s safe to use.
We use baking soda to make most of the bakery products. So, in case the dog swallows baking soda, don’t be afraid.
Orange peels can remove tartar.
Let’s see how it is possible.
- Get an orange.
- Peel it off.
- Rub the orange peel on your dog’s gum and teeth.
- If not, you can make a paste by adding water to the orange peel. You can get this paste onto a toothbrush and scrub.
Try this method. You will be able to notice a slight improvement in your dog’s teeth.
Keep this in mind, these home remedies are not miracles. You can’t see results within a day. You have to continue it for at least 2 or 3 months to get maximum results out of it.
3. Unhealthy gum.
This happens as a result of the above two deficiencies. Tartar is a breeding ground for bacteria.
When your dog’s teeth have tartar, it can develop into a gum-related problem. Tartar is fine, but gum-related problems are a bit complicated and take a long time to cure.
So, you can’t ignore this condition. As I told you, this is a bit complicated. Gum-related problems are mainly two types. One is Gingivitis, whereas the other one is Periodontitis.
What is the difference between these two? Let’s see the differences. Gingivitis occurs before Periodontitis. It is gum inflammation. You may also have gum-related problems.
You are sure you can’t die because of Gingivitis. But when it comes to dogs, the condition is completely different. If you don’t treat your dog’s gingivitis condition, your dog will live only two years.
So, you don’t have time to waste. How does a dog die due to this condition? Is it possible? Yes, it is possible. When you have a toothache or gum problem, you can’t eat properly. You will not eat much as it is painful.
You will probably reject hard foods which are difficult to chew. Dogs feel the same. You will try to eat something, but your dog will reject everything you offer. If he loves to chew meat, he will not be able to do that.
So, you should be careful of your dog’s behavior. Then you will be able to identify his concerns. When you start brushing your dog’s mouth affected by Gingivitis, the gum will bleed. But don’t stop brushing.
Let’s talk about Periodontitis. Periodontitis is the next stage of Gingivitis. When the gingivitis condition increases, the gum becomes weak.
Tissues of your gum and the teeth roots are damaged due to this condition. The worst thing is this makes small spaces between the tooth and the gum.
These small spaces between gum and teeth can weaken the bond of gum and teeth. Finally, teeth will fall off the sockets. That’s why you should not ignore these gum problems.
4. Damages enamel.
If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth, it will damage the outermost layer, the enamel of the teeth.
When you don’t brush your dog’s teeth for 72 hours, you will see how tartar accumulates around the gum and teeth. Due to this, tartar bacteria grow.
On the other hand, various enzymes produced to fight the bacteria start to damage your dog’s enamel. I know now you are wondering about the importance of enamel. Let me explain to you.
Enamel is the protective shield of teeth. Enamel protects teeth from infections, germs, and other external forces. If the enamel is damaged, the tooth would be subject to infections.
So, it is important to protect the enamel layer of the teeth. Dogs need this layer more than us. They eat various things, and the things they eat have a direct impact on their dental health.
So, brushing your dog’s teeth is important to protect its enamel layer.
By the way, here is what to do if you cannot afford dental work for your dog.
5. Loss of teeth.
This is the outcome of above all conditions. Unhealthy gum is the immediate reason for tooth loss. When the space between the gum and the teeth increases, the bond between teeth and gum decreases.
The root of the teeth becomes loose and comes out from the gum. Some introduce this as the dissolving of gum. Gum becomes thin due to this condition.
Decaying of teeth is also an immediate reason for tooth loss. When teeth decay, they will come out of the socket.
So, is it necessary to brush your dog’s teeth?
Of course, it is necessary. You can avoid all the above teeth-related problems by brushing your dog’s teeth.
Now you know what could happen if you ignore brushing the dog’s teeth. So don’t put your dog in trouble. Let me explain this a bit.
Once you stop brushing your dog’s teeth, he will be exposed to different kinds of dental infections. In some cases, they lose their teeth.
Do you know how much they need their teeth? They chew bone-hard flesh. So, they need their teeth for survival.
What are the advantages of brushing your dog’s teeth?
Let’s see what advantages you get. First of all, let me ask you a question. What advantages do you get from brushing your teeth? You will say you can start your day fresh.
Similarly, dogs also feel comfortable, and brushing teeth can increase their appetite. Most dental infections can be prevented by brushing teeth.
Dogs eat foods that can create lots of bacteria. Imagine he eats raw meat; the particles of meat will deposit in his tooth. If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth, bacteria will start to grow on the deposited food within two days.
So, it will be a reason for teeth decaying. If you brush your dog’s teeth, it will reduce gum infections which leads to loss of teeth.
As I have already mentioned about the gum infections, here I don’t go deep into it. Simply, brushing teeth brings a bunch of advantages. It makes their teeth strong and healthy. Teeth are for the lifetime. Dogs need them for survival.
What are the disadvantages of brushing your dog’s teeth?
1. Some dogs will feel uncomfortable while brushing.
If your dog has Gingivitis, he may feel uncomfortable while brushing his teeth. If you’ve some kind of gum problem, you will feel discomfort due to the sensitivity of your teeth.
Dogs feel the same when they have gum problems. Be careful when you deal with your dog, as he feels pain while brushing. This is a disadvantage as your dog can feel discomfort.
2. While brushing, bacteria can go into the blood.
This can be prevented. First, let’s see what I mean by it. Dogs are easily subjected to dental infection. When there is a dental infection, you have to be careful while brushing your dog’s teeth.
You are brushing your dog’s teeth. You see, the gum is bleeding. But you keep brushing as we too bleed when we hit the brush on the gum.
Let me explain the risk. While brushing, these bacteria can mix with the blood through the wounds of the gum. Don’t be surprised. This can happen at any moment.
3. Tooth loss of older dogs
If your dog is very old, don’t brush its teeth forcefully. It can make teeth fall. We all lose our teeth when we grow old. Similarly, old dogs are likely to lose teeth.
If you need to brush your old dog’s teeth. Be careful while brushing. Don’t press too much on your dog’s teeth. Pressing hard can break or fall the teeth.
If you’ve never brushed your dog’s teeth, is it too late to brush them?
No. You are not late. Just start tomorrow. Don’t think that your dog is too late to practice a good habit. I know you are still wondering.
Imagine your dog is 7 years old, and you have never brushed his teeth. Still, you are not late. Start it as soon as possible. If your dog is very old, then you should think about it twice.
Suggested Reading: Why does your dog not drink water after dental surgery?
How often should you brush your puppy’s/dog’s teeth?
If you have time, brush your dog’s teeth twice a day. I know you brush your teeth twice a day. But if I ask about your dog. You will probably say no.
It is ok if you can’t brush your dog’s teeth twice a day. Just try to brush them at least thrice a week. Add this to your do-to list. Please continue this. Continuing this habit can resolve lots of dental problems.
Things to be aware of.
1. Don’t press hard on teeth or gum while brushing.
If your dog is old, never do this. Even if your dog is still young, don’t do this, as this can hurt them. Pressing hard on gum can make its gum bleed.
Bleeding gum is a major reason for lots of dental problems. So be careful when brushing your dogs’ teeth. But this can happen as you are brushing your dog’s teeth forcefully.
Imagine the way your mother brushed your teeth when you were small. Your dog has to undergo the same experience.
2. Select a good brush.
There are separate toothbrushes designed for dogs in the market. If not, select a human toothbrush that has soft fibers. Hard fibers can wound the gum. So carefully select the best option in the market.
3. Don’t use human toothpaste.
Why you should not use human toothpaste on dog’s teeth? Let me explain it. Human toothpaste contains xylitol. Xylitol is poisonous for dogs.
Normally, dogs swallow toothpaste while brushing. So, avoid all the human toothpaste. There are tubes of toothpaste designed for dogs with different flavors.
Peanut butter flavor, meat flavor, and milk flavor are some of the favorite flavors of dogs. Why not choose one of them according to your dog preference.
4. You should be careful while brushing your dog’s teeth.
You are putting your hand inside your dog’s mouth. Dog doesn’t like to brush their teeth. So, the dog may get angry when you brush its teeth. So be careful while brushing. You should not hurt yourself.
Conclusion.
What is your decision? Did you decide to brush your dog’s teeth? Yes, probably, now you are ready. In the beginning, you will feel exhausted. But believe me, you are going to do this for your dog. Good luck.
