Eating chunks, retrieving a toy, chewing that much-too-delicious bone: dogs use their teeth all day long. Yet most owners' dog teeth receive little attention. But did you know that brushing your dog's teeth is just as important as yours? Just like with humans, dental plaque can lead to annoying dental problems.
In this blog, we give you 5 reasons to start brushing your dog's teeth today
#1 Prevention of tartar
Dental plaque is a well-known phenomenon in dog teeth. It arises because bacteria remain in food residues on the teeth. If you let the plaque sit for a long time, it starts to mineralize under the influence of the saliva. The result is tartar. And where you can easily remove plaque with a toothbrush, you should visit the vet to remove tartar.
#2 Maintaining healthy teeth
Four out of five dogs suffer from dental problems. One of the most common - and most painful - problems is inflammation of the gums. Gums become infected if there is a lot of tartar and an accumulation of bacteria. If you do not correct the inflammation in time, your dog's teeth will become loose. Often, pulling these teeth is the only option to help your dog get rid of the pain.
#3 Prevention of inflammation
Gums are not the only thing that can become infected with poorly maintained teeth. If a gum disease persists for too long, the bacteria from the oral cavity will end up elsewhere in the body of your four-legged friend via the bloodstream. Inflammations of the heart valve, kidneys and liver are the most common. By brushing regularly, you can see if something is wrong.
#4 No expensive dental cleaning at the vet
Of course you can leave the cleaning of the teeth to the vet. Unfortunately, your dog must be under anesthesia for professional dental cleaning. This makes the treatment drastic. Not only for health, but also for your wallet. A simple toothbrush with special dog toothpaste is a lot cheaper and more pleasant for your loyal friend.
#5 Fresh breath
Does your dog's breath not exactly smell like… flowers? This is rarely due to the food. The cause of bad breath is usually plaque. And as you know, that plaque is easy to remove by brushing your teeth. Note: using your own fresh mint-flavored toothpaste is a bad idea. It can be toxic to your dog. A special dog toothpaste - with a tasty meaty flavor - does the job just as well. This way you can breathe with confidence while cuddling.
Learning to brush your dog's teeth
Learned young is done old, and that also applies to brushing your dog's teeth. Most dogs are easy to train, especially if you reward them regularly. Not sure where to start? Then follow our step-by-step plan for brushing teeth in cats.
In addition to brushing your teeth, good nutrition is also important for maintaining healthy teeth. The Fokker Nutri-Fit is available in three different kibble sizes (S, M and L), specially tailored to the size of your dog. The Fokker Weight-Fit also supports optimal healthy teeth. Read our blog about dental care for dogs for many more tips or fill in the Nutrition Guide.
Eating chunks, retrieving a toy, chewing that much-too-delicious bone: dogs use their teeth all day long. Yet most owners' dog teeth receive little attention. But did you know that brushing your dog's teeth is just as important as yours? Just like with humans, dental plaque can lead to annoying dental problems.
In this blog, we give you 5 reasons to start brushing your dog's teeth today
#1 Prevention of tartar
Dental plaque is a well-known phenomenon in dog teeth. It arises because bacteria remain in food residues on the teeth. If you let the plaque sit for a long time, it starts to mineralize under the influence of the saliva. The result is tartar. And where you can easily remove plaque with a toothbrush, you should visit the vet to remove tartar.
#2 Maintaining healthy teeth
Four out of five dogs suffer from dental problems. One of the most common - and most painful - problems is inflammation of the gums. Gums become infected if there is a lot of tartar and an accumulation of bacteria. If you do not correct the inflammation in time, your dog's teeth will become loose. Often, pulling these teeth is the only option to help your dog get rid of the pain.
#3 Prevention of inflammation
Gums are not the only thing that can become infected with poorly maintained teeth. If a gum disease persists for too long, the bacteria from the oral cavity will end up elsewhere in the body of your four-legged friend via the bloodstream. Inflammations of the heart valve, kidneys and liver are the most common. By brushing regularly, you can see if something is wrong.
#4 No expensive dental cleaning at the vet
Of course you can leave the cleaning of the teeth to the vet. Unfortunately, your dog must be under anesthesia for professional dental cleaning. This makes the treatment drastic. Not only for health, but also for your wallet. A simple toothbrush with special dog toothpaste is a lot cheaper and more pleasant for your loyal friend.
#5 Fresh breath
Does your dog's breath not exactly smell like… flowers? This is rarely due to the food. The cause of bad breath is usually plaque. And as you know, that plaque is easy to remove by brushing your teeth. Note: using your own fresh mint-flavored toothpaste is a bad idea. It can be toxic to your dog. A special dog toothpaste - with a tasty meaty flavor - does the job just as well. This way you can breathe with confidence while cuddling.
Learning to brush your dog's teeth
Learned young is done old, and that also applies to brushing your dog's teeth. Most dogs are easy to train, especially if you reward them regularly. Not sure where to start? Then follow our step-by-step plan for brushing teeth in cats.
In addition to brushing your teeth, good nutrition is also important for maintaining healthy teeth. The Fokker Nutri-Fit is available in three different kibble sizes (S, M and L), specially tailored to the size of your dog. The Fokker Weight-Fit also supports optimal healthy teeth. Read our blog about dental care for dogs for many more tips or fill in the Nutrition Guide.
