Did you know that regularly brushing your pets teeth and providing them with a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys can go a long way toward keeping their mouth healthy?  Many dogs and cats show signs of gum disease by the time they’re four years old because they aren’t provided with proper mouth care — and bad breath is often the first sign of a problem.  Give your dog regular home checks and follow the tips below, and you’ll have a very contented pet with a dazzling smile.

4. Tooth Decay

Bacteria and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on a pets teeth.  This can harden into tartar, potentially causing gingivitis, receeding gums and tooth loss.  One solution?  Regular teeth cleaning!

5. Canine Tooth-Brushing Kit

Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for pets (or a soft infant toothbrush will work)  or a clean piece of soft gauze to wrap around your finger.  Ask your vet for a toothpaste made especially for pets or make a paste out of baking soda and water.  Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age — it can interfere with their enamel formation.  And please do not use human toothpaste, as this which can irritate a dog’s stomach.  It can be especially toxic if it contains Xylitol, which can cause kidney damage.  Special mouthwash for dogs is also available.

6. Brightening the Pearly Whites

Taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:

• First get your pet used to the idea of having their teeth brushed.  Massage the lips with your finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day for a few weeks.  Then move on to the teeth and gums.
• When your pet seems comfortable being touched this way, put a little bit of pet-formulated toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water on their lips to get her used to the taste.
• Next, introduce a toothbrush — it should be smaller than an adult human toothbrush and have softer bristles.  Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger (or a clean piece of gauze) are also available and allow you to massage the gums.
• Finally, apply the toothpaste to the teeth for a gentle brushing.
• A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your animals gums are inflammed. If your pet has mild gingivitis, brushing too hard can hurt the gums.

8. Know Your Mouth Disorders

Getting familiar with the possible mouth problems your dog may encounter will help you determine when it’s time to see a vet about treatment:

• Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body.  Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge.
• Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused mainly by accumulation of plaque, tartar and disease-producing bacteria above and below the gum line.  Signs include bleeding, red, swollen gums and bad breath. It is reversible with regular teeth cleanings.
• Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection.  Regular tooth-brushings are a great solution.
• Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth.  Regularly brushing your pets teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.
• Proliferating gum disease occurs when the gum grows over the teeth and must be treated to avoid gum infection.  An inherited condition common to boxers and bull terriers, it can be treated with antibiotics.
• Mouth tumors appear as lumps in the gums.  Some are malignant and must be surgically removed.
• Salivary cysts look like large, fluid-filled blisters under the tongue, but can also develop near the corners of the jaw.  They require drainage, and the damaged saliva gland must be removed.
• Canine distemper teeth can occur if a dog had distemper as a puppy.  Adult teeth can appear looking eroded and can often decay.  As damage is permanent, decayed teeth should be removed by a vet.