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Dental disease (especially periodontal disease) is the most common disease in our canine companions. It is also one of the most preventable and treatable diseases. Fortunately, we can reduce or even prevent dental disease by feeding a crunchy diet, appropriate chew treats and toys and daily tooth brushing. The following are steps to guide you on how to brush your dog's teeth:
Step 1 Toothbrush: Make sure you get a soft-bristle toothbrush for your dog. You can get this from any vet clinic or in pet stores. Never use toothpaste on a dog because the baking soda from the toothpaste could harm the dog.
Step 2 Introduce your dog: Don’t just shove the toothbrush into the dog’s mouth and get to work, but gradually introduce your dog to the toothpaste. Take your finger and add toothpaste on it, then gently glide it over your dog’s mouth or teeth so he or she can lick it.
Step 3 Brush the front of the teeth: Once you coax your dog into a good brushing, he or she will eventually let you brush their whole mouth. Make sure you brush the teeth in a circular motion instead of back and forth. For now, just start with the front part of their teeth until you get your dog used to the brushing. It should take you only thirty seconds to brush your dog’s teeth.
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