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It’s a universal truth: nobody likes fishy dog breath. The good news is that thanks to a wide array of new dog dental products on the market, the path to better-smelling puppy kisses is easier than ever. And there’s good reason to pursue it. It’s shocking but true: knowing how to fix a dog’s bad breath can add years to their life.
Bad breath is often a sign of dental and periodontal disease, which can make chewing painful and eventually cause tooth loss. But the real danger is to your dog’s organs, since dental bacteria can cause heart, liver, and kidney problems. It’s estimated that 80% of dogs will have some type of dental issue by the time they are three years old—but we can change that by doing simple things like providing dental chews and daily brushing.
Just by keeping our pets’ teeth clean, we can prolong their life.
3 Dog Dental Care Items To Fix Dog Bad Breath
Dental cleaning is something our dogs may not jump for joy over, but we can turn a chore into a treat by breaking the task up into small steps and rewarding good behavior along the way. These three readily available products will help get you there—and not all of them involve traditional brushing.
Dental Wipes: DentAcetic Cleansing Dental Wipes
Dental wipes are an awesome life hack for dogs that aren’t quite ready for full-on brushing. They require the least training or equipment, and they’re a cinch to use. Simply wrap one around your finger and swab your dog’s teeth and gums, focusing mainly on the outside of the upper teeth. A quick wipe of the teeth and gums eliminates plaque and fixes dog bad breath in one swoop.
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Dental Chews: Ark Naturals Brushless Toothpaste
Doggy dental chews can help keep breath fresh and teeth clean, too. I recommend ARK Naturals Chewable Brushless Toothpaste. Just one of these chews between brushings is a tasty way to eliminate plaque and fix bad breath for your dog.
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Enzymatic Toothpaste: Virbac C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit
Here’s your daily driver. With gentle yet effective enzymes to help break up plaque, this poultry-flavored formula will improve your dog’s dental hygiene and fix their bad breath.
This kit includes both a finger brush and a handled brush. Both work great, so use what works best for you and your dog.
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Nicole’s Guide to Brushing for Dogs
The best long-term solution to fix a dog’s bad breath is to incorporate a regular toothbrushing routine. It sounds hard, but you can work up to it gradually. Who knows—you might even have fun.
1. Get your dog used to you looking at his or her teeth
With your dog facing you or in your lap, depending on what size pup you have, gently lift their lips to reveal their teeth. Reward with a treat. Super simple and enjoyable for the dog. Practice this for a few days until your dog is comfortable with the handling.
2. Help your dog get accustomed to gentle fingers in their mouth
Once you lift your dog’s lip, gently rub the gums and teeth with a finger—then reward again. This is a new experience for our dogs, and by keeping it short and positive, you’ll find it easier to routinely care for their teeth down the road.
3. Add some toothpaste
Put some doggy toothpaste on your finger and let the dog lick it off. Easy-peasy. Keep the rewards coming.
4. Reintroduce rubbing the gums and teeth
Using your finger, rub the toothpaste into the gums and teeth, rewarding after each fingerful.
5. Enter the toothbrush
Apply some toothpaste to the toothbrush and let your dog lick it off. Reward. Don’t let your dog run off with the toothbrush!
6. Bring on the toothbrush and toothpaste—together
Now you should have all the steps in place for success. Don’t try to brush the whole mouth in one go. Do one section, reward, and let your dog loose. Build up to the full set of choppers, and you’ll have your dog’s bad breath fixed in no time. Good work!
If your dog is showing signs of being stressed, aggressive, or frightened, go back a step and move slowly. We want to keep it positive and enjoyable for them.