How to keep teeth clean?

[Potter]

I have been trying to keep Pao's teeth in tip-top condition but
it seems that as much as I brush, it is not enough. I do brush
every night with a baby toothbrush and doggie toothpaste and I am now
thinking of doing it twice a day. I do buy bullysticks for him but he doesn't really chew them and it is hard to get him to chew them! I bought the liquid (forgot the brand) that you mix in to the water but stopped using it as it seem like there is chemical stuff in it. I have the gel to apply on their teeth
(again forgotten the brand) as I have also stopped using it after reading
about alcohol or some content in it...

Now I have seen the teeth of a Mini-Sheltie that I was dog-sitting and her teeth is very very clean and they give her a Greenie every evening but I have heard horrible things about Greenies.

Now..I am willing to put him back on the liquid or the gel as long as it is
not as dangerous as putting him under anesthesia for teeth cleaning...and
I would like to receive inputs and recommendations from YT members on this.

[Dara311]

I would tell you not to brush twice a day. If your dog already has a lot of build up, tarter, and plaque he may need a dental cleaning from your vet to get all that off his teeth.

Good quality dry food will help break off the palque and tarter, as well as chew toys, bones, pigs ears, greenies ( my dog gets these once every couple months or so)

Fiona is 11 months old, and I have not brushed her teeth at all, they are gorgeous!

I would just tell you if they are that bad, brushing and chew toys will not get rid of the build up, and your more than likely going to need to get them done at the vets.

Good Luck

[Princes mom]

I usually brush Prince's teeth at least once a day...sometimes twice. He uses C.E.T and Petzlife. Prince is 5 and has all of his teeth. After his cleaning from the vet, try to brush every day to prevent problems.

[PANAMA69]

I brush my girls with dog toothpaste, and also use Petzlife and a dental scrapper tool but it make me nervous because her gum, that tool is very sharp, I give them floosies too, and femur bones, but I will take Phoebe next month to her teeth clean by her vet, she is going to be tree soon

[PANAMA69]

Originally Posted by Dara311

I would tell you not to brush twice a day. If your dog already has a lot of build up, tarter, and plaque he may need a dental cleaning from your vet to get all that off his teeth.

Good quality dry food will help break off the palque and tarter, as well as chew toys, bones, pigs ears, greenies ( my dog gets these once every couple months or so)

Fiona is 11 months old, and I have not brushed her teeth at all, they are gorgeous!

I would just tell you if they are that bad, brushing and chew toys will not get rid of the build up, and your more than likely going to need to get them done at the vets.

Good Luck

Is pig ears are ok? I have been tempted to get some for my girls, I just to give them greenies until I read here that, they can shock my girlfriend gives them greenies to her yorkies and their teeth are so clean

[Bravo916]

I use the Pfizer dental vaccine on my boy and re-vaccinate every 8mos or so. His teeth build up very little plaque which can be removed by regular brushing. I would definitely contact your vet and look into it--I really recommend it.

[Weezie]

Originally Posted by Bravo916

I use the Pfizer dental vaccine on my boy and re-vaccinate every 8mos or so. His teeth build up very little plaque which can be removed by regular brushing. I would definitely contact your vet and look into it--I really recommend it.

Can you tell me more about this, I've never heard of it. Thanks, Connie

[Bravo916]

Here is the link Pfizer Animal Health Dogs Health Management

I first learned about it at a seminar offered by a leading California "Doggy Dentist." The vaccine is supposed to inhibit the growth of the 3 main kinds of bacteria that colonize in the mouth and create plaque.

My boys teeth have been amazingly clean and he has never had a problem with any vaccine reactions.

Here are some other good links that describe it more:

Dental Vaccine could help prevent bone loss - Pets: Our Faithful Companions - al.com
Canine Oral Health Continues To Make Significant Advances

There is also a product called OraVet that is supposed to work very well also. It is applied by your vet after a professional teeth cleaning and you reapply it every week. In essence, it is a waxy film that coats the teeth, protecting them from plaque. Apparently it was originally developed for humans but didnt do so well in the trials because people didnt like the feel of it on their teeth

[Deegan's mom]

I used to use the C.E.T. stuff until I realized that it contained xylitol, which is supposed to be poisonous to dogs. The funny thing is, is it didn't list it in the english ingredients, only the french!! I was a little ticked off about that and stopped using it immediately. And after looking at the vets office all the C.E.T. products contain xylitol. Anyways, I've been trying to find something to replace those products and I've heard great things about Petzlife & Leba III. The Leba III is a bit more expensive though... I think I'm gonna give it a try.

[Potter]

Originally Posted by Dara311

I would tell you not to brush twice a day. If your dog already has a lot of build up, tarter, and plaque he may need a dental cleaning from your vet to get all that off his teeth.

Good quality dry food will help break off the palque and tarter, as well as chew toys, bones, pigs ears, greenies ( my dog gets these once every couple months or so)

Fiona is 11 months old, and I have not brushed her teeth at all, they are gorgeous!

I would just tell you if they are that bad, brushing and chew toys will not get rid of the build up, and your more than likely going to need to get them done at the vets.

Good Luck

Well Pao is 2.5 years old and his teeth is not full of tartar but I would like them to at least be flashy white...his teeth looks okay but it could be whiter. The Mini-Sheltie that was here, her teeth was pearly white and she is 7 years old and the owners told me it was courtesy of Greenies but I am not sure if I am comfortable giving him Greenies and he doesn't like pig ears at all. He has bones and bullysticks but that is no use if he doesn't really chew them. As for the Pfizer vaccine, I am not comfortable with that. I know I am a little picky when it comes to these things but I do not want to use anything on him that I may not have full knowledge of that will end up hurting him.

I was just hoping there may be a solution...I really do not mind brushing twice a day but I wonder if anyone else does it? I will bring him for a dental cleaning when he needs it but his teeth is not to the point that he needs a dental cleaning either. I am not going to put him under anesthesia unless I need to.