Does it hurt then to brush their teeth?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Darlene68 · 09-12-2009, 03:08 PM

I only just started to try and brush Bailey's teeth, he is 5 1/2 months, his little mouth is so tiny. He takes a fit and acts like I'm trying to kill him when I go to lift the gums to try and brush, I just give up, I can't get his little mouth open with out him crying

What am I doing wrong??, I'm so worried he will have bad teeth, I know brushing is essential, are there any tips?

marcerella02 · 09-12-2009, 03:47 PM

well he is probably uncomfortable- Layla hates it and i've been doing it since she was a puppy.

I put Layla on her back and pull back her cheeks. Do you use an infant toothrbush? These are better because they are small and soft bristled. Otherwise- you just gotta do it. He will keep whining because he keeps winning (you stop brushing). I do it every morning and every morning she hates it.. lol.. but i'm getting faster and it really pays off. Layla's vet always comments on how nice her teeth are

Darlene68 · 09-12-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcerella02

well he is probably uncomfortable- Layla hates it and i've been doing it since she was a puppy.

I put Layla on her back and pull back her cheeks. Do you use an infant toothrbush? These are better because they are small and soft bristled. Otherwise- you just gotta do it. He will keep whining because he keeps winning (you stop brushing). I do it every morning and every morning she hates it.. lol.. but i'm getting faster and it really pays off. Layla's vet always comments on how nice her teeth are

Yes, I just finished brushing his teeth, and it lasted only about 15 seconds with him putting up a good fight

I know I have to do it, I just wish it it were easier! I do use a baby toothbrush, I just took this pic of Bailey chewing on it, I think he is taking his frustrations out on the poor brush, If only he would let me put it in his mouth that easily!!

ritzydaisy · 09-12-2009, 05:42 PM

Daisy loves to brush her teeth. If she sees me brushing mine, she goes and gets her toothbrush and drags it around the house!
The way I do it is push the toothpaste into the brush and hold it up turning it at different angles and tell her to "chew it, Daisy." It might not get all the places, but she really goes for it and we don't have to fight about it. I take it away a little bit, playfully, and she grabs at it and pulls. Dog toothpaste has enzymes and is different than human toothpaste. Just getting it in their mouth and doing what you can is a big help.

Ellie May · 09-13-2009, 09:38 AM

It shouldn't be causing pain unless he already has problems going on (too young). You can just start slowly and have him get used to your finger first. I find that doing that type of things tends to be w waste of time with Ellie though. I have been brushing for 2.5 years and she has hated it for 2.5 years. She likes her toothpaste though.

I usually do it with her laying on her back. I hold her head with one hand and brush with the other. She tries to push my hand away with her paws and I just keep brushing.

maxmom · 09-13-2009, 10:44 AM

Instead of an infant tooth brush give a cat tooth brush a try, it is even smaller and may be easier on him

toke · 09-13-2009, 03:58 PM

Far as I can tell, it just hurts their delicate sensibilities, lol.

I always brush about the same time every night. She's finally gotten to the point where...all on her own...she slooowly crawls up on my lap, ears down, with that "please don't beat me tooo hard" expression. Then she just sits and sorrowfully waits for the brush. They don't come much sweeter than my little Zo.

I'm just brushing the outsides of her teeth...I read somewhere that that was enough. Does anyone brush the insides, too?

Darlene68 · 09-13-2009, 05:19 PM

I have the most difficult time trying to lift up the mouth to expose the teeth, Bailey puts up a hugh fight, it is frustrating because I know it needs to be done! I read too that the outsides of the teeth is what needs brushing, not the insides.

toke · 09-14-2009, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darlene68

I have the most difficult time trying to lift up the mouth to expose the teeth, Bailey puts up a hugh fight, it is frustrating because I know it needs to be done!

Zoey may be sweet, but she sure doesn't make it easy. Plus, she has a really small mouth and a will of steel.

What I do is stick my thumb between her back teeth and lips and pull out sideways...then stick the brush in. No way I can do any lifting back there. For both the top and bottom front teeth, I pull that whole section of lip up (or down for the bottom) with my thumb and forefinger.

She doesn't struggle anymore, but she doesn't just relax and let it happen, either.

Darlene68 · 09-24-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toke

Zoey may be sweet, but she sure doesn't make it easy. Plus, she has a really small mouth and a will of steel.

What I do is stick my thumb between her back teeth and lips and pull out sideways...then stick the brush in. No way I can do any lifting back there. For both the top and bottom front teeth, I pull that whole section of lip up (or down for the bottom) with my thumb and forefinger.

She doesn't struggle anymore, but she doesn't just relax and let it happen, either.

I'm trying to envision this so I can try it

I've resorted to wrapping Bailey in a towel so he doesn't squirm around so much

Zeus08 · 09-24-2009, 09:26 AM

This is a battle at our house too. What age do you suggest for their first dental cleaning? I have started to see build up on Zeus' back molars. He is now 10 months old.

Darlene68 · 09-24-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus08

This is a battle at our house too. What age do you suggest for their first dental cleaning? I have started to see build up on Zeus' back molars. He is now 10 months old.

I'm not sure, Bailey is only 6 months, maybe when they are a year..?

09-12-2009, 03:08 PM	#1
Darlene68 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,923	Does it hurt then to brush their teeth?? I only just started to try and brush Bailey's teeth, he is 5 1/2 months, his little mouth is so tiny. He takes a fit and acts like I'm trying to kill him when I go to lift the gums to try and brush, I just give up, I can't get his little mouth open with out him crying What am I doing wrong??, I'm so worried he will have bad teeth, I know brushing is essential, are there any tips? __________________ Darlene Bailey Blu & Jesse Bee

09-12-2009, 03:47 PM	#2
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	well he is probably uncomfortable- Layla hates it and i've been doing it since she was a puppy. I put Layla on her back and pull back her cheeks. Do you use an infant toothrbush? These are better because they are small and soft bristled. Otherwise- you just gotta do it. He will keep whining because he keeps winning (you stop brushing). I do it every morning and every morning she hates it.. lol.. but i'm getting faster and it really pays off. Layla's vet always comments on how nice her teeth are __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

09-12-2009, 05:42 PM	#4
ritzydaisy Crazy Miss Daisy Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,904	Daisy loves to brush her teeth. If she sees me brushing mine, she goes and gets her toothbrush and drags it around the house! The way I do it is push the toothpaste into the brush and hold it up turning it at different angles and tell her to "chew it, Daisy." It might not get all the places, but she really goes for it and we don't have to fight about it. I take it away a little bit, playfully, and she grabs at it and pulls. Dog toothpaste has enzymes and is different than human toothpaste. Just getting it in their mouth and doing what you can is a big help. __________________ Yorkie Talkin' with Paula & Daisy!

09-13-2009, 09:38 AM	#5
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	It shouldn't be causing pain unless he already has problems going on (too young). You can just start slowly and have him get used to your finger first. I find that doing that type of things tends to be w waste of time with Ellie though. I have been brushing for 2.5 years and she has hated it for 2.5 years. She likes her toothpaste though. I usually do it with her laying on her back. I hold her head with one hand and brush with the other. She tries to push my hand away with her paws and I just keep brushing. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

09-13-2009, 10:44 AM	#6
maxmom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 2,307 Blog Entries: 1	Instead of an infant tooth brush give a cat tooth brush a try, it is even smaller and may be easier on him __________________ maxmom My belongs to Max and Sophie Mei

09-13-2009, 03:58 PM	#7
toke YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 258	Far as I can tell, it just hurts their delicate sensibilities, lol. I always brush about the same time every night. She's finally gotten to the point where...all on her own...she slooowly crawls up on my lap, ears down, with that "please don't beat me tooo hard" expression. Then she just sits and sorrowfully waits for the brush. They don't come much sweeter than my little Zo. I'm just brushing the outsides of her teeth...I read somewhere that that was enough. Does anyone brush the insides, too? __________________ Debby...owned by Zoey, the no longer Porky Chorkie (or maybe Morkie!)

09-13-2009, 05:19 PM	#8
Darlene68 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,923	I have the most difficult time trying to lift up the mouth to expose the teeth, Bailey puts up a hugh fight, it is frustrating because I know it needs to be done! I read too that the outsides of the teeth is what needs brushing, not the insides. __________________ Darlene Bailey Blu & Jesse Bee

09-24-2009, 09:26 AM	#11
Zeus08 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sahuarita, Arizona Posts: 992	This is a battle at our house too. What age do you suggest for their first dental cleaning? I have started to see build up on Zeus' back molars. He is now 10 months old.