How to Care for Your Dog's Teeth

In this guide

Dental disease is often called the most common preventable disease in dogs, and the numbers back that up, a large majority of dogs past the age of three already show some degree of it. The upside is that prevention is genuinely simple, it just needs consistency.

Brushing: the gold standard

Daily brushing with a dog-specific toothpaste is the single most effective thing you can do. Human toothpaste is not suitable, it often contains xylitol or fluoride at levels that are unsafe for dogs to swallow. Start slowly: let your dog taste the toothpaste off your finger first, then gradually introduce a soft-bristled dog toothbrush or a finger brush, working up to the outer surfaces of the teeth where plaque builds up fastest.

Building the habit without a fight

• Keep early sessions to a few seconds, building up gradually over weeks
• Use the same cue word each time, so the dog learns to anticipate what is coming
• Reward generously after each session, even a short one
• Aim for daily brushing, but three to four times a week still meaningfully slows plaque

Supporting tools

Dental chews and appropriately sized chew toys help mechanically scrape plaque, though they work best alongside brushing rather than replacing it. Avoid very hard items like real bones, antlers, or ice, which can fracture teeth.

Watch for these signs

• Persistent bad breath beyond a normal doggy smell
• Yellow or brown buildup along the gum line
• Reluctance to chew, or dropping food while eating
• Pawing at the mouth or excessive drooling
• Visible redness or bleeding along the gums

Professional cleaning still matters

An annual dental check-up, and a professional scale and polish when your vet recommends it, catches what brushing alone cannot, since plaque below the gum line only a vet can properly assess and clean.

Raw bones and other chewing debates

Raw bones are sometimes recommended as a natural way to scrape plaque, but vets are genuinely divided on this, since bones carry a real risk of tooth fracture, splintering, and gastrointestinal blockage or injury. If you choose to offer them, size the bone appropriately, supervise closely, and stop immediately if you notice any cracking of the tooth surface. Cooked bones should never be given, since cooking makes them brittle and far more likely to splinter.

Water additives and dental diets

Dental water additives, added to the daily drinking bowl, and prescription dental diets with a kibble texture designed to scrape the tooth surface as the dog chews, can offer modest additional support. Neither replaces brushing, but they are reasonable extras for dogs who are genuinely resistant to having their teeth brushed, and are worth discussing with your vet.

A note on anaesthesia-free cleaning

Some grooming salons offer anaesthesia-free dental cleaning, which scales the visible tooth surface while the dog is awake. This can look reassuring, but it cannot reach below the gum line where periodontal disease actually does its damage, and a struggling dog is at some risk of injury during the process. Most veterinary dental specialists consider it a cosmetic service at best, not a substitute for a proper vet-performed cleaning under anaesthesia when one is needed.

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