Dog Oral Health

We understand that brushing your dog’s teeth can be difficult, however, we’re here with some hacks to make it that bit easier, so you can protect your dog’s oral health without it feeling like a chore (our blog on tooth brush training also has some great tips). Firstly, you need to get your dog used to putting their chin in your palm as this is the easiest way to eventually brush their teeth, but building that familiarity and trust with your pet first is key. 

Start by gently holding your palm up to your dog, then eventually start placing a treat in the palm and marking with a verbal cue or clicker. Gradually increase the amount of time before you click or give the verbal cue, and eventually your dog will be comfortable with this movement. Once your dog gets used to this, you can slowly put your hand in their mouth to continue to build that trust and set you up for the next step. If possible, doing this from puppy age will help it to become a normal part of their routine. 

From here, gradually start to introduce your dog to different teeth cleaning products. Our 360 Finger Toothbrush is an absolute game changer, as you can easily clean all areas of your dog's mouth without it feeling intrusive for them. Pair this with the Smile-K9 Toothpaste to take care of your dog’s oral health effectively.

To look after your dog’s oral health, we have various dog teeth cleaning products that are great for keeping their breath fresh and clean. 

Our Plaque-K9 is a natural dog dental supplement that supports oral hygiene and reduces both plaque and tartar formation. It contains sea kelp to keep plaque at bay, parsley which is rich in calcium to protect enamel and counteract unpleasant breath and dill which is packed with antioxidants and anti inflammatories to minimise damage from free radicals. 

We’d also recommend using our Smile-K9 360 Finger Toothbrush with 360 bristles to clean from every angle, with our Smile-K9 chicken flavoured toothpaste that gently combats plaque and tartar buildup, freshens breath and also supports gum health. This combination of cleaning products for your dog’s teeth is research led and vet-approved, with quality ingredients including natural enzymes, zinc and silica beads. 

If your dog struggles with unpleasant breath, we also have Bright-K9, a gel breath freshener that you simply add to your dog's food or water bowl daily. The innovative formula of this natural dog teeth cleaning product containing green tea extract, peppermint oil and zinc not only supports gum health and reduces harmful bacteria that contributes to bad breath, but helps to neutralise the unpleasant smell. 

There are a few different ways that you can freshen your dog's breath using natural products to clean your dog’s teeth. Giving them crunchy fruits and vegetables as snacks, such as carrots and apples, can help to stimulate saliva production and also remove plaque. Adding herbs like parsley to their food can also help to neutralise bad odour, as well as coconut oil which has antimicrobial properties. 

Often the cause of bad breath is the buildup of plaque and bacteria in the mouth, so using natural dog teeth cleaning products daily to remove this is key. The A-OK9 dog dental supplements are another natural method to freshen your dog’s breath and improve their oral health. We include kelp, parsley, fennel, dill, chamomile, peppermint and fragaria, which are all natural ingredients that are ideal even for dogs with the most sensitive gums.

The best method for getting plaque off a dog’s teeth would be to brush their teeth at least once a day using natural dog teeth cleaning products, which leaves your dog’s teeth clean, their breath fresh and their gums protected. Plaque builds up over time, so it is important that you remain consistent to keep your dog’s teeth healthy. Using the A-OK9 360 Finger Toothbrush with 360 degree bristles clean every part of their teeth, with the silicone being gentle on sensitive gums. They may resist at first, but they’ll soon get used to it, especially with the tasty chicken flavour of our Smile-K9 Toothpaste. Building this habit when your dog is younger is great if possible as it won’t come as a shock when you start using dog teeth cleaning products on them, but as the saying goes, old dogs can learn new tricks!

Alongside brushing your dog's teeth regularly, the optimal dental diet for dogs includes a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that support dog oral health, along with crunchy fruit and vegetables and raw animal bones to remove bacteria and debris from the teeth whilst also strengthening the jaw. Dog dental supplements can also help to provide your pup with the vitamins and minerals they need to reduce the risk of gum issues by reducing plaque buildup and supporting oral hygiene.

Whilst brushing your dog's teeth with natural cleaning products is the best way to help remove plaque and prevent dog oral health issues, there are some alternatives if it’s not possible. If you are unable to brush your dog’s teeth, we would recommend occasional visits to a professional to remove plaque and tartar buildup. 

Dog dental supplements help to minimise plaque and tartar formation, to reduce the risk of health issues with the teeth and gums, as well as targeting bad breath. Many people opt for natural dental chews, like frozen carrots and cucumbers, to provide brain stimulation and help to remove some plaque. 

Encouraging saliva production for your dog can help to clear food particles from the teeth, reducing the risk of cavities developing and plaque forming. Saliva also has antibacterial properties to reduce bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath, so keeping your dog hydrated is key. Making sure your dog has access to fresh water throughout the day and giving them crunchy snacks will help to encourage a healthy amount of saliva production. 

Brushing your puppy’s teeth can start anywhere between 8 to 16 weeks, depending on the size of your dog. The reason why we recommend that you start so early is that a dog’s oral health is essential for their general wellbeing, and they will also get used to having their teeth brushed, so it will make life much easier for you and happier for them. So, when you get your puppy home, get them used to your hand being near their mouth, and eventually in their mouth, so they’re comfortable with you eventually brushing their teeth with dog teeth cleaning products when the time comes.