Councilman Mike Elam's Blog

Brushing teeth prevents damage, improves hygiene and serves as a daily ritual for most. However, if you're a pet owner, do you extend this routine to your dog or cat?

Routine care for your pet, combined with regular visits to your veterinarian, will help to maintain a healthy mouth and minimize long-term problems. Signs of a healthy mouth include pink, not white or red, gums and clean teeth, without brownish-yellow tartar buildup.


Make Brushing a Pleasant Experience

Conduct regular checks at least once a week. Owners can make the experience more pleasant for their pet through constant praise and a calm setting.


To help your pet become comfortable with brushing, here are a few tips:

• DO NOT pry your pet’s mouth open. Instead, you can softly pry apart the lips to access the gums and teeth.
  

• Gently massage the teeth and gums with your fingers.

• Introduce a pet-friendly, flavored toothpaste to your pet by allowing him or her to taste it from your finger before starting with a toothbrush. Your veterinarian can recommend toothpaste specially designed for your pet. DO NOT use toothpaste designed for people, as these can contain harmful or unpleasant ingredients.

• Softly brush the outside of the tooth from gum to tip — starting with the upper row first — for a thorough cleaning.

• To limit tartar buildup between brushings, chew toys and crunchy, easy-to-digest treats are a good reward.

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