Show Keyboard Shortcuts
  • STUCK, CONFUSED OR CAN’T FIND IT? SPEAK TO ONE OF THE TEAM - 01304 831831

HOW TO BRUSH YOUR PET’S TEETH – SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR YOUR PRACTICE

As vets and nurses, we are aware of the importance of good dental hygiene for the nation’s pets. It comes as no surprise that according to the RVC Dental disease tops the list of most common problems in UK (2021). 

Dental problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis can seriously affect pets’ health causing infections and even major organ problems if left untreated. With owners unaware and our patients unable to ask for help, they often suffer in silence for a long time before owners even notice symptoms of dental problems.

The very best way to help your pet maintain good dental health is to encourage owners to brush their teeth. We’ll go into more detail on this later with our top tips for dental brushing. 

There are plenty of ways to encourage good pet dental hygiene:

  • Regular dental checks at the vets to assess the state of your pet’s teeth.
  • A specially formulated diet or treats to help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar.
  • Scaling and polishing procedures to physically remove the build-up of tartar which, if done early enough, can reverse periodontal disease.

    • Below is our handy guide to teaching owners how to brush their pet’s teeth – feel free to copy and paste this bit for your own social media or blog posts! We have also created an informative Pet Dental Health Waiting Room Poster – to download visit the Resources section ( little book icon on the top right-hand side).





    6 STEPS - HOW TO BRUSH YOUR PET’S TEETH 






        Start simple. If your pet has never had their teeth brushed before, begin by lifting their lips to expose their teeth. Do this several times and reinforce by giving your pet lots of praise.






        When your pet is comfortable with you touching the outside of their mouth, you can now start running your finger along their teeth.





        When your pet is used to you touching the inside of their mouth, place a small amount of pet-friendly toothpaste on your finger, and allow them to lick it off. When your pet is used to you touching the inside of their mouth, place a small amount of pet-friendly toothpaste on your finger, and allow them to lick it off.






        The next step is to introduce a pet toothbrush. We recommend you buy this from your vet or local pet shop as these are made specifically for your pet’s mouth.






        Prepare your bush by wetting the bristles and put a small amount of pet toothpaste on the brush. Allow your pet to lick it off and get used to the bristles. Do not use human toothpaste!






        When your pet is comfortable, try brushing a few teeth with the brush. Don’t overdo it, build up the amount of teeth you brush in each session. Eventually, your pet will allow you to fully brush their teeth.





    your alt here