Your furry bud dental hygiene might not be top of your list when dealing with him, but it should be! You should pay special attention to your dog’s dental health. Maintaining very healthy gums and teeth is an important aspect of your dog’s life, as various health issues that begin in their mouth are usually bad news and require urgent expensive vet care.
A poorly maintained dental hygiene can lead to many health problems as your puppy grows. By regularly maintaining good dental health, you’ll decrease the number of bacteria living in the mouth.
Some of these bacteria may enter into the animal’s bloodstream, causing damage to internal organs as well as their teeth and gums.
You might also like our recent blog post on can dogs eat grits and a review on the dog training shock collars available on a separate page.
How Often Do Your Brush or Clean Your Pooch Mouth?
If you don’t clean or brush your pooch mouth in the first place, you should! It’s one of the most important things you can do to prevent dog bad breath from happening in the first place. Plaque (or Tartar) is the immediate result of lots of bacteria build up in your pup’s mouth over time, covering the teeth’ surface.
The more the tartar build-up in the mouth, the more the bad breath.
Your pup might enjoy his teeth being brushed often, but most times, we often forget to do this simple act and not make time to help them clean up. Due to neglect, tartar keeps building up on the teeth, especially the molar’s back and close to the gum line. The sight of this is so gross, and it comes with a very terrible smell.
What you feed your dog is vital to his dental health. If you feed him salmon and sweet potato (nature-friendly meals), expect a pretty firm fish breath. This is most noticeable after he wakes up in the morning or from one of his many power naps during the day.
It is similar to bad morning breath, after long hours of sleeping with our mouth closed, but now, with a hint of fish smell.
Pretty gross, right!
Brushing your dog’s teeth is probably the best way to keep them clean and tartar-free. If you can sacrifice the time to help clean up, doing it every day after their meal. If that’s not convenient, try to do it at least once or twice a week. This requires a bit of training and getting used to, so start getting your dog prepped to having their teeth brushed early on!
But, one sure way to help keep your dog’s mouth clean and lower their risk of infection from harmful bacteria is to use a dog dental water additive.
What Is A Dog Dental Water Additive?
Water additives are liquids that you can add to your furry bud’s drinking water to help prevent tartar buildup in the mouth and freshen their breath. Dental water additives come in liquid form and are administered to your dog simply through their drinking water daily.
These additives are used to help clean your dog’s mouth, similar to the way humans use mouthwash. They are usually tasteless or odorless, so they’re easy to administer.
They’re also all-natural, preservative-free, and contain no chlorhexidine, chlorines, xylitol, or alcohol, but they might contain natural ingredients like vitamin B, colorless beet juice, zinc, and vegetable glycerin.
Some additives claim to decrease bad breath, prevent calculus build-up, and kill microbes in a dog’s mouth.
A dog dental water additive works by using chemicals, natural or non-natural (depending on the brand), to break down plaque and minerals collected in the dog’s mouth. Some chemicals in water additives serve as anti-bacterial and antiseptic agents.
Homemade Water Additives
Homemade water additives that can freshen your dog’s breath, parsley tea or mouthwash, and herb teas made with fennel, ginger, peppermint, and spearmint can be some of the handy ingredients you can use. Squeezing fresh lemon or mixing a drop of peppermint or spearmint oil into your dog’s cold freshwater will cleanse her mouth and freshen her breath all day.
However, if your dog has consistent bad breath, it could be an early sign of dental diseases, such as gingivitis, or even a stomach problem.
Therefore, you should take the animal to the closest vet for an immediate check-up before administering any water additives.
You may have to purchase an oral hygiene rinse, gel, spray, or water additive that contains chlorhexidine when your dog has gingivitis or periodontal disease. You’ll need something that cleanses your dog’s mouth, helps protect her teeth and gums, prevents plaque, and fights bacteria.
For best results, use the water additives in conjunction with your pet dental care program gotten from your vet.
- Brushing regularly – Canine tubes of toothpaste are flavored with chicken and other flavors that your dog might find attractive, so your dog probably won’t resist. Rinse your dog’s mouth well after each brushing, and you’ll see a big difference in a couple of days.
- Use dog formulated mouthwash – They are created specifically to keep your dog’s gums healthy, which is an easy way to treat one likely cause of bad breath in your pup.
- Give your dog dental chews and dental toys – Avoid feeding them cooked bones, as they tend to splinter, which can cause injury and choking. Many toys have built-in toothbrushes!
4 D.I.Y. Ideas to Tryout for Your Dog’s Dental Health
Do-It-Yourself! you can help your dog maintain a healthy mouth at home without several trips down to the vet. In addition to feeding dental treats and ensuring that your pet is on an appropriate diet, here are some great D.I.Y. ways to keep your dog’s dental health in check:
1. D.I.Y. Doggie Toothpaste
Brushing your dog’s teeth is, hands down, is technically the best way to keep them clean and tartar-free. If you can, do it every day after their meal. If not, try to do it at least once or twice a week. This requires training, so start getting your dog used to having their teeth brushed early on!
Doggie toothpaste can be bought in pet stores or at your local vet clinic. It’s a great D.I.Y. alternative as it is natural and super easy to use.
2. D.I.Y. Doggie Mouthwash
This one is for all pet owners out there who have to deal with their pet’s “stinky breath.” Your dog comes over for a quick lick, and you quickly figure out that they’ve been eating poop, or worms, or some strong fishy treat… We know the feeling!
In addition to keeping your dog’s breath minty fresh, this doggie mouthwash has antiseptic properties (thanks to the peppermint!) that will contribute to your dog’s good dental health. To make this mouthwash, make edible peppermint oil and add a few drops on your dog’s food or in their water.
Fun fact: This is delicious on human food too, perfect for salads!
3. D.I.Y. Doggie Teeth Whitening Paste
Do you love taking pics of your dog, but their smile doesn’t look wholesome? There’s an easy, healthy, and all-natural way to make your pup’s teeth whiter. This magical paste is dubbed “the golden paste” and is made from turmeric powder.
To use it for teeth whitening, brush your dog’s teeth with it and rinse once a week. It is also very healthy for them to eat, as it has anti-inflammatory properties and is a great immune system booster.
Fun fact: You can also use this to make your teeth whiter!
4. D.I.Y. Doggie Coconut Drops
This is the ultimate dog treat recipe for fresh breath and healthy gums & teeth. Plus, since it is made from coconut oil, it is also great for your dog’s skin and coat. These coconuts drop treats are small, which makes them perfect for training, and can be kept a long time in the fridge. They are also nice and fresh, ideal for the summer months.
So, enjoy!
Conclusion
With these few D.I.Y. tricks up your sleeves, your dog is guaranteed to have great teeth and gums for years to come! Homemade dog breath treats can help you combat bad breath issues. Cause every little bit helps!