Like humans, dogs also need dental care. Dental hygiene is just as important for your dog as exercise, eating right and regular grooming. Dogs are subject to dental disease, but there are preventative steps that can be taken to assure your dog of good dental health.

Plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth will turn to tartar or calculus, and eventually grow bacteria. The bacteria, in turn, eats away at the dog’s teeth and gums causing such diseases as periodontal disease and halitosis, along with tooth loss and oral pain. Bacteria in your dog’s mouth can also affect other parts of his body such as kidneys and heart.

Preventative dental care is a necessary part of health care for your dog that should include wellness visits to the dog’s veterinarian and a dental check. As soon as you get your dog, or as soon as he is 6 months old, begin routine inspection and brushing of his teeth. By age 6 months your dog has lost his 28 baby teeth and established adult teeth. Keep in mind, if your dog believes in the dog tooth fairy, it could cost you a few bucks.

Dog toothpaste was developed especially for dogs and that toothpaste should contain non toxic ingredients. Dogs do not have the ability to rinse their mouth and spit out the dog toothpaste reside after brushing so the toothpaste used by dogs have to be safe for him to swallow. Toothpaste for humans should never, ever be used on a dog. Human toothpaste contains detergents, fluorides and a very harmful ingredient called Xylitol. Those ingredients can cause your dog serious health damage, including death, if swallowed.

When choosing dog toothpaste, look for products that are veterinarian approved and contain natural ingredients such as grape and grapefruit seed extract thyme, neem, and rosemary or peppermint oil. It will help if the dog toothpaste is flavored with something the dog likes such as chicken or peanuts. Try a few different types of dog toothpaste before settling on the definitive paste. If the dog likes the taste of the dog toothpaste, it will be an easier experience to brush your dog’s teeth.

Be mindful of the size of the dog toothpaste container, the size of the dog’s mouth and the shelf life of the product. If the shelf life expires before the dog toothpaste is used, further use of the toothpaste will be less effective in preventing good, dental hygiene.