Any dog ​​owner will at some point say, “My dog ​​has bad breath, what’s wrong?” Dogs have bad breath for the same reasons as humans. But I’ll give you some tips to help you keep your dog’s mouth clean and free of stinky breath.

The importance of dental care

True story: I was sitting in the dog park one day and my dog ​​got on my friend Michelle’s lap. Michelle made a grotesque face and said, “Jack has bad breath.” I thought, “No way. My dog ​​doesn’t have bad breath.” Then I opened Jack’s mouth. I said, “OMG. My dog ​​has bad breath!”

At first, I didn’t know why his breath smelled awful, until I started investigating. I thought dogs’ teeth cleaned themselves. That is only partially true. Like humans, dogs should also have professional teeth cleaned.

Regular dental hygiene is important beyond making sure your dog’s teeth are white. Infected gums, loose or broken teeth, and other periodontal problems in a dog’s mouth can lead to bacteria. The bacteria then travel to your pet’s bloodstream.

And if you don’t catch these symptoms early, your dog’s heart, lungs, kidneys, intestinal tract, and liver can become infected.

Now that I am aware that my dog ​​has bad breath, I know that it means that the infection has set in and the tartar has built up.

But I found a solution.

Tartar buildup

That stinky smell is the smell of tartar and plaque buildup. Tartar is just below the gums. Tartar helps the growth of bacteria, which leads to inflammation of the gums.

If your dog has never had his teeth cleaned at the vet and is at least 3 years old, I recommend that you take him to the vet for a thorough cleaning and polishing. This can be expensive, but it is worth it. You want to know where you are as you are not an expert in this area and you want to make sure your dog’s health is not in jeopardy.

Brush your dog’s teeth

Now comes the fun part. Never use human toothpaste on a canine. Fluoride will make you sick. Buy a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for dogs at your pet store or vet.

The finger brush is very similar to the toothbrush used for babies. It has a rubber hood, which is placed on the finger.

It has soft rubber bristles on one side, which is the side you should use to clean your dog’s teeth and gums. Once your dog is used to the process, you can purchase a regular dog toothbrush.

The brushing process

The actual process of brushing your dog’s teeth is really simple:

1. Tilt your dog’s head back. It should be done at a 45 degree angle, at a junction where the teeth meet the gums.

2. Initially use circular motions.

3. Now use vertical motions to dislodge and discourage tartar and plaque build-up.

Toys and food to maintain dental hygiene

To keep your teeth and gums clean, alternate between wet and dry foods. Also, let your dog have rawhide chews as these help remove tartar. There are many chew toys and dog food designed to help remove tartar from your dog’s teeth.

conclusion

It’s a good idea to get your dog used to looking in his mouth at a young age so that you can be on the lookout for anything abnormal that happens in his mouth. If you brush your dog’s teeth daily and follow the suggestions outlined, you won’t find yourself saying, “My dog ​​has bad breath, why?”