Toothbrush
 

Do any of you brush your doggies teeth? What kind of toothbrush do you use?

The vet has told me that I have to brush Nigel's teeth every night, or risk having him lose some teeth. I bought him a doggie toothbrush and paste from Petsmart, but it seems to large and stiff for his little mouth.

We use a Sonicare with a baby head and CET poultry flavored toothpaste. I brush her teeth 1x - 2x a day since her last dental 12/22/10 where she lost 6 teeth :(

Her dental before that was 11/2008(before she became my pup) and she lost 4 teeth. Her teeth are now (almost) pearly white thanks to my diligence with the Sonicare.

I had Oravet applied during her dental and applied it every week as recommended. At that time my vet advised me that the manufacturer advised that it replaced brushing all together. They were wrong. Within 4 weeks her teeth were bright florescent yellow with brown tartar at the roots :eek:

She has worse teeth than most. Severe stage 4 periodontal disease. Her $130 Sonicare has saved her teeth! :teethysmi

I hear you.... Brutus does not like getting his teeth brushed, but we have a little itty bitty tooth brush and also a rubber thimble like thing with small nubbs on it. He likes the toothpaste (Poultry flavor also) but not anything in his mouth. I got mine from Petsmart as well - we may have the same kind?

We use regular toddler/childrens brushes- none of the doggie ones I found were little enough. After having 3 kids I'm pretty good with getting that brush in and around!

I use the small toddler toothbrushes or child toothbrushes found at target or walmart. I also use the CET dental toothbrushes. We use vanilla mint, poultry, and now malt flavor CET pet toothpaste.

Jackson was a toothbrush hater for a long time. It was such a struggle that I had basically given up and managed only to brush his teeth when he'd get in the bath tub every week or two.

He had to have a dental last month due to another tooth issue (over-bite, had a vital pulpotomy on his canine tooth) so got them cleaned while under. They weren't terrible but did have some tarter build-up on all of his canine teeth. Anyways now they are shiny and white and perfect and I plan on keeping them that way and hopefully not needing for a long time/never needing another dental (at least that's my goal).

So anyways, after the procedure on his mouth, we weren't allowed to brush for two weeks so I took advantage and every night for those 2 weeks, we would go into the bathroom. First couple of days, he'd just go in there and get a treat. Then I brought out the brush, introduced him to it, let him sniff, etc. Eventually he had started opening his mouth when he saw it. I would lift up his lip, get him used to me touching around his face, etc, and he'd get a treat.

Now he's SOOO good at getting his teeth brushed. He comes into the bathroom with me every night, it's his little routine and he doesn't even put up a fuss. I wouldn't say he enjoys it but he tolerates it and that's what is important!

I bought CET beef flavored toothpaste which he seems to like and a CET finger toothbrush (which I find a bit easier to brush with).

I use a small dog tooth brush I found on Amazon by CET also I would suggest looking at the ingredients on your tooth paste and also making sure its not made in china. I love CET tooth paste which I also got on Amazon.

Thanks for sharing this information, sugarmamma.
I use a tiny child tooth brush except with Abba, his mouth is so small I use a cotton swab. Just like people, every doggy should have their own tooth brush.

I use a thimble finger brush once a day with poultry flavor toothpaste and have been doing it their whole lives. Eddie went 6 years before the vet suggested a cleaning, and even then he said they weren't bad.

Ideally, I'd use a larger brush or sonicare as sugarmamma does, but mine fight me too much with a brush and I decided not to push it.

I started by putting some on my fingers and rubbing it on their gums. Once they learned to tolerate that, I went to the finger brush. I let them lick a little before we start. They don't love it, but they don't fight me any more.

I am lucky Sugar is subservient :)

The banning King does not reign supreme???

Unfortunately, I live with a couple mini Dictators.

So your title is bogus. Good for your "public" to know ;)

I got my two boys their toothbrushes from Wal Mart in a two-pack for toddlers. These particular ones have flashing lights in the handle, and I swear that it actually distracts the boys from acting up when I brush their teeth! I use Petzlife Gel on them at least three times a week, and so far, so good on the condition of their teeth. :D

We brush every night as well. I bought a toothbrush/toothpaste combo pack at Petsmart. The toothbrush has 2 ends, one large and one small. We use the small one for Katie Scarlett. The paste we got is a poultry flavor and she loves the taste of it. She isn't too crazy about the brushing, but she is learning just to accept it. She used to not put up a fuss at all, but now she will wiggle her head. I tell her time to brush toothies and Mommy will be gentle and she will quieten down. And we give a treat after brushing her toothies as a reward. She gets her little spoon of yogurt right after. It's a bribe for her to be good I guess, but hey, if it works for us, I'll try anything. The breeder gave us a child's toothbrush to use, but she chewed her way through that one pretty quickly.

We use the little finger toothbrushes and CET toothpaste. I try to brush his teeth every day. :)

This. ..except we only use Vanilla Mint and I use OraVet once a week.

???What is CET toothpaste?
 

just wondered as i am trying to get in the habit of brushing Hobo's teeth...which he HATES (but LOVES his BATH!!!)....but i use a little regular toothpaste and a regular toothbrush...

where do you get CET?

Thanks for the tip about using a Sonicare. I've used one for years but didn't know they make child sizes. I just ordered one from Amazon.

It is a brand that you can get through your vet or online (like from entirelypets or amazon). Regular toothpaste foams, so it is can be irritating to them. It also contains fluoride which is toxic to swallow.

I thought it was because of the sweetner use in human toothpaste?


I use the Conair Interplac toothbrush; it's sold at Target and is only $15.00. I like it because it has a small head that fits in Joey's mouth. It's quiet and it's easier to get the back teeth with this, and it's rechargeable. It also comes with several heads for multiple dogs! ;) Conair Interplak Rotary Toothbrush - White (RTG3CS) : Target

They also make a battery operated one that's even cheaper, but I haven't tried it. Amazon.com: Interplak Battery Powered Plaque...

That could be a factor if any of them contain xylitol. But the fluoride thing is a major concern. Don't some even have the warnings that if more is swallowed than needed for brushing, seek medical help... Fluoride is said to bo more toxic than lead. So it can't be swallowed in large or concentrated amounts (there is a huge debate about why it is in toothpaste and the water supply at all). So anyway, a little Yorkie swallowing enough to brush with would be a huge problem.

So xylitol is the only sweetener we have to worry about? Didn't realize that about fluoride, I know it really helps with preventing tooth decay, not that dogs have to worry about that.

People are just wondering if using something so toxic to prevent tooth decay is in our best interest... And in the case of dogs (and babies) who don't spit on command, it's a definite no-no. Notice baby toothpaste won't have fluoride in it...

Xylitol is the only one I'm aware of. The ASPCA would be a good site to check. Sorbitol is fine (CET actually contains sorbitol).

I jumped on this article because I noticed that Gizmo's back teeth actually had what I thought a decent amount of tartar on them even though we try to brush everyday. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few days that I forgot. But it was only one day that I missed, then the next I got right back on. I'm hoping his teeth are alright.

I can speak as someone, who didn't have it in their drinking water, and my cavities had cavities. Seriously, we went to the dentist twice a year and brushed. My son's, on the other hand, hardly had any cavities. The problem with fillings, as you get older, they crack and have to be replaced, and they have to drill even a bigger hole to replace, eventually that wears out and of course a crown has to be placed on it. I think if you haven't had a cavity, you'll have a much better chance of preventing that. Of course you have to keep the gums healthy too. There would really be no reason to give fluoride to a baby that I can think of.

It's an interesting read. I've had fluoride in my drinking water and still don't have great teeth. I'm not sure that the doubt is that it doesn't work. It seems to. The question is whether the side effects from over exposure (as in drinking it daily) are worth it. I think everybody would freak out if they poured lead in our drinking water for some possible benefit and it is less toxic... Anyway, that is for another thread.