Have you checked to be sure there is no infection of the gum or a tooth abscess? Might get the vet to check the teeth and gums to see if it's time for a dental cleaning.
Most dogs will let you brush their teeth if you very slowly work up to it and gently and patiently desensitize them to the process over a month's time or so, rewarding them with serial treats and a celebration after each session. Most dogs don't take that long but even the most phobic will do fine after a month of a slow process of getting them used to the brush and the toothpaste in their mouth. Start out just touching the brush to the closed mouth and treat, praise and work up from there until you are brushing a tooth a day. Short and sweet and after a while, brush two teeth and out and so on. Before long, you can get the whole mouth in and then serial treat them and really praise them, toss a ball or rough play with them to work out the tension and then a quick trip outside to pee, to further relieve any stress.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |