How often do you brush your dog's teeth?

[LinaCavalieri]

I have a 3-year-old toy poodle and I've just started trying to get her used to having her teeth brushed (I know I should have started when she was a puppy!) She does have 'teeth cleaning' chews a few times a week and gets them professionally cleaned at the groomer but that's only once per month. They are in pretty good condition but I know that toy poodles can have issues with their teeth if not cared for – and I don't want her to end up having to get teeth removed when she's older if it can be avoided.

She doesn't like it at the moment, so I'm trying to do just a few teeth at a time and get her used to it. How long did it take to get your dog used to brushing their teeth if they are a bit older? Any tips? How long do you brush their teeth for? And how often? The internet seems to vary from twice daily to three times a week.

Thank you!

I've got two spaniels and both have got terrible plaque. They want the older one to go in for a scrape. They're both fed really good quality food, raw carrots, yak bones, and they never get treats. Just the luck of the draw really.

We use plaque off, logic gel daily and I've got a tooth scraper that we're using very gently.

Dried chickens feet get the plaque off

It’s unusual I’m able to be smug about my dog as I can’t walk him very much (he’s too nervous) and it’s been a long old learning curve of dog ownership with him … but I brush his every evening, I’ve also just bought an emmipet after I took him to a groomer and she made his teeth perfect with one! He’s less keen on that than the usual electric toothbrush, so I do some days with the Emmi and some with the usual electric. Key was finding a toothpaste he liked…

greyhound so traditionally have v bad teeth plus he is so anxious I’m trying to forestall a vet visit .

He comes now for his teeth clean every evening!

i’m now starting with the nail grinder with some success , as dear god the drama when he has his nails clipped at the groomers !

They don't if your dogs just crunch and swallow them like mine.

We're using liver toothpaste and a brush with our puppy. She chews it and we just move it around.

My old dog we never needed to.

Current dog gets stinky breath if we don't do them at least 3 times a week, so I guess it does vary by breed ?

Thank you! This is what the last two vets we have seen have also said. I'm using an enzymatic toothpaste. How long should I ideally be brushing for? At the moment I can do about 10 seconds before she gets annoyed (but this is about 9 seconds longer than it was last week so she is getting better!)

I do my dogs teeth probably daily. Despite our last few dogs being rescues - so starting it a lot later in life - they love it now despite the initial hesitation! I use logic gel and started off putting it on a lickimat to get them used to the taste and then progressed to brushing. We have two rescues now, and previously also had two, and both sets of dogs literally climb all over each other to be first in the queue for teeth brushing time!

I don't like dental chews so they never get them but they get a dried fish skin chew every evening, which also helps.

Never. She's 6 and gets a big bone from the butcher once a month or so.

We use Virbac enzymatic toothpaste, which I think you can just rub with a finger on teeth if cannot tolerate brushing. We brush every other day, sprinkle PlaqueOff into food and give a yak cheese chew every week.

Once daily in the evening. Started as a puppy so he has zero issue with it.

It is something people like to laugh and snigger about and think is ridiculous but poor oral health affects so much beyond the mouth, so it's a no-brainer for us.

Mine is brushed twice a week, although I know it should be daily, and she’s has several teeth removed. As has a friends JRT.

I agree, bad dental hygiene in humans can cause heart problems, so I assume it’s the same for dogs.

As an update - she’s getting used to it much faster than I thought she would! I can now do both sides and front so I’m going to do that for a little while then gradually move onto the back teeth. Thank you for all the replies!