3 Ways to Keep Your Dog's Teeth Healthy

Like their human owners, dogs can have poor oral health. In fact, about 85 percent of dogs over the age of 4 have some kind of gum disease. Other oral health issues that dogs experience include cracked or loose teeth, tooth abscesses, and infections.

One of the best things you can do improve your dog's oral health is to keep their teeth healthy. Here are three ways to do just that.

1. Choose the Right Dog Food and Supplements

Proper nutrition plays a huge role in maintaining your dog's health. Eating the right dog food ensures that your dog is getting enough proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. The food your dog eats also plays a vital role in keeping their teeth healthy.

Many special dog foods can help to remove tartar and plaque from your dog's teeth, as well as reduce tooth disease. To choose the best food for your dog's teeth, make sure it contains the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal on the package. You will also want to choose dog food that doesn't have any added sugar.

Besides the right dog food, you can give your dog certain supplements that will optimize their oral health. Some of these supplements include:

• Antioxidants, such as Nrf2 and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
• Fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and 1-Tetradecanol complex.
• Biodent, which consists of ground bone, minerals, and organ meats.

One more supplement that your dog's teeth will benefit from is probiotics.

2. Find the Right Dental Chew Toy

Dogs love to chew on things. Since you don't want your dog chewing on your personal belongings, you should give them a dental chew toy. Not only will this give them something to do, dental chew toys will help keep their teeth healthy.

Dental chew toys help to keep your dog's teeth clean by removing plaque and tartar as they chew on it. Dental chew toys come in a variety of sizes so you can easily pick the right one for your dog. You should note that some types of chews can cause more harm than good. Some dog chews to avoid include:

• Cow hooves
• Deer antlers
• Nylon chew toys
• Pig's ears
• Ice cubes
• Sticks

The above items are much too hard for your dog's teeth. Instead of keeping your dog's teeth healthy, the above items can actually damage your dog's teeth. Besides that, things like sticks can cause puncture wounds inside your dog's mouth.

Some people also avoid giving their dogs bones. If you do give your dog a bone, make sure it is raw as cooked bones tend to soften and splinter.

3. Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Brushing your dog's teeth is one of the best ways to keep your dog's teeth healthy. While you may be tempted to use a regular toothbrush, you are better off to purchase a canine toothbrush. You will also want to use a pet toothpaste since human toothpaste will probably upset their stomach. You will only need a peasized amount of toothpaste.

For optimal tooth health, you should brush your dog's teeth two to three times a week. Brushing your dog's teeth should only take 30-60 seconds. If you've never brushed your dog's teeth, they may not tolerate it at first. Try to make it fun for your dog and be sure to reward them with a treat afterward. Along with brushing your dog's teeth, you should get them professionally cleaned once a year.

If you're concerned about your dog's teeth, contact Alta Vista Veterinary Clinic. We provide dental services , which includes digital dental x-rays. Getting your dog's teeth is examined is the first step to healthy teeth and improved oral health.