Dog Brushing Teeth

　　Dog owners all know that oral problems are a serious issue threatening dogs’ overall health; if severe, it can even threaten their lives and directly affect their lifespan. Therefore, cleaning a dog's mouth is something owners should take seriously. Compared with other methods, brushing a dog’s teeth is the easiest and most effective way. Those who care about their dog's health may have heard of dog toothpaste, but do dogs really need dog toothpaste? Are there any alternatives or can human toothpaste be used?

　　First, let’s be clear: even if you clean your dog's mouth with other methods, you should not use human toothpaste to brush a dog’s teeth. Human toothpaste is designed to be non-swallowable, but dogs don’t care and will swallow whatever they use. If a dog swallows human toothpaste, ingredients like xylitol and fluoride can irritate their stomach and affect their health. So if you really want to help your dog brush their teeth and clean their mouth, you must choose products specially made for dogs.

　　Dog-specific toothpaste not only cleans the mouth but contains ingredients harmless to dogs, so swallowing it is not a problem. Another reason is that brushing a dog’s teeth can be a troublesome task because dogs resist, but dog toothpaste often comes in flavors like chicken or peanut butter, which dogs like. This makes brushing more effective and easier. If the dog still doesn't like the taste of toothpaste, baking soda is also a good substitute.

　　Remember, dogs do not care for their oral health by themselves. So owners must be attentive. Food residue inevitably remains in a dog’s mouth in daily life. If not cleaned for a long time, dental calculus can worsen and even cause gum inflammation, periodontitis, and other oral diseases. Therefore, make sure to brush their teeth regularly.