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6 Sneaky Ways to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth (That They Won’t HATE!)

Written by: Justin Palmer
Justin Palmer is a Certified Pet Food Nutrition Specialist and co-founder of iHeartDogs.com. Inspired by his rescued husky, Splash, he dedicated himself to learning about extending both the length and quality of her life. Splash lived and thrived until 18 years old, and now Justin is on a mission to share what he learned with other dog owners.Read more
| Published on July 31, 2017

Since doggy dentures aren’t a thing, keeping your pup’s teeth clean and gums healthy is crucial for their overall health and well-being. Obviously, the best way to get your dog’s teeth clean is to have the vet scrape them while your dog is under anesthesia. This can be very expensive and there are risks associated with anesthesia, so you want to do everything you can to keep your dog’s teeth clean yourself.

Brushing your dog’s teeth every day with a dog-safe toothpaste is the best way to do that, but some dogs hate it and will run from the sight of a toothbrush. Luckily, there are other options that your dog might actually enjoy. Here are 6 ways to clean your dog’s teeth that they won’t hate.

#1 – Dental water additives 

By simply adding a water additive to your dog’s bowl, you can both freshen their breath and ward off periodontal disease. Our favorite water additive employs enzymes and targeted oral probiotics to combat the unhealthy bacteria that are swimming in your pup’s water bowl and making a home in his mouth. Say bye bye to your dog’s bad breath and crusty teeth.

#2 – Healthy/natural diet

Dog food companies would like to convince you that dry kibble is better for your dog’s teeth than wet food. Relying on kibble to keep your dog’s teeth clean would be as effective as expecting crackers to keep your teeth clean. Fresher diets with healthier ingredients tend to help improve your dog’s overall health and well-being, and that includes their dental health.

#3 – Chew toys

There are lots of toys on the market designed to encourage your dog to chew. Chew toys with lots of variety in texture can help scrape the plaque off your dog’s teeth as they relax and enjoy their primal instinct to chew. Your dog should always be supervised when playing with chew toys to make sure they don’t swallow any large pieces.

#4 – Raw bones

While cooked bones can splinter and cause all sorts of problems for your dog, raw bones are a fantastic way to help keep your dog’s teeth clean while satisfying their urge to chew. Keep in mind that you’ll want to choose size-appropriate bones. A chicken wing could choke a Great Dane and a cow femur would be a tall order for a Yorkie.

#5 – A sneaky, soft, invisible toothbrush

For pets that dislike getting their teeth brushed with a toothbrush, this clear, nearly invisible rubber finger toothbrush offers a more gentle, natural brushing experience. Your pup won’t even notice it on your hand! Soft, tiny rubber bristles help clean teeth while small nubs on the back massage the cheeks.

#6 – Tasty Dental sticks

This one is probably your dog’s favorite way to clean their teeth. In fact, they don’t even know its happening!

These treats use only the highest quality ingredients to improve your dog’s dental health, along with other parts of their wellbeing, too. Your dog won’t even know these tasty snacks are cleaning their teeth and freshening their breath!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional.

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