February is national Pet Dental Health Month, which is all about ensuring your pets have great teeth and gums. Healthy teeth and gums can prevent loss of teeth and illness later on in life, save you from hefty veterinary bills, and keep your pet feeling his or her best. Here are some ways to help keep your pet’s teeth clean, easily!

Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

Just like humans, brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to prevent tartar and plaque buildup. Be sure to use a pet friendly brush and toothpaste, such as C.E.T’s Tartar Control Toothpaste that is safe for pets, & available in Poultry, Vanilla Mint, Beef, & Malt flavors. Regular human toothpaste contains fluoride, which can be toxic to pets that swallow it. Using a soft bristle brush, apply the paste and gently brush your pet’s teeth. You can also offer it to them as a treat to chew on themselves if they aren’t used to the brush yet.

If the brush is too large or cumbersome, there are also brushes that slip over your finger, so that it can be easily slipped into a small pet’s mouth. These are great for puppies or kittens getting used to brushing, or for pets that may be afraid of larger toothbrushes.

What about Oral Hygiene Chews

If you want a more hands-off approach to dental health, consider the DuoClenz Rawhide Chews or C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews available depending on your pet’s size. Dental chews & sticks are a great way to clean the teeth without fighting off the “beast”. They are available for both dogs and cats, and can range from treat-like chews, such as Greenies, or medicated chews such as C.E.T. chews, which help reduce plaque buildup and remove excess tartar. Twisty chews and those with lots of nooks and crannies tend to provide a better chewing surface, which will help to scrape teeth better.

Prescription dental diets are also a great way to improve dental health from the inside out. Dry dog food, such as Purina DH (Dental Health) have specially created kibbles that help scrape off plaque and tartar while eating, and also help to freshen breath. These are great for pets that have chronically bad teeth in combination with brushing or chews.

Help Freshen Breath

Mouth cleaning & freshening water additives are another great way to keep the teeth clean! Some companies such as Oratene offer liquid products that are added to your pet’s water to give them a minty or fruity fresh scent to their breath and also help to breakdown tartar. This is great for pets that don’t like to chew on objects much, or are very averse to having their teeth brushed.

In addition to at-home products, annual dental examinations from your vet are a great idea to see how well you are taking care of your pet’s teeth. They can let you know if a professional dental cleaning is needed, or if the products you are using are beneficial for your pet’s needs. Keeping the teeth healthy mean less chronic pain, systemic illness, and a beautiful smile of pearly-white canines!

With Love,

Mr. Bentley & Ms. Bella

About our Writers

Pet Wish Pros is proud to have Bentley and Bella contributing to our pet health blog. For many years, Bentley has been passionate about improving and learning from the lives and experiences of homeless pets in the greater Atlanta area. Bella is usually busy discovering new pet health products and medications. In her free time, Bella enjoys working on her horse farm. Both Bentley and Bella are devoted to animal health & their experience allows them to keep you informed while saving YOU money! 

Follow Bentley and Bella’s weekly blog updates and stay current with the latest trends in pet health. Please email us at  help@petwishpros.com.