If you have pets and love being around them, feed them the same food you’re having like ice-cream, chips, biscuit even sometimes soft drinks, then you must have given a thought about your dogs’ dental hygiene issues.
And you are right! Dog toothbrush toys serve the same purpose as human toothbrushes.
Do dog toothbrush toys work?
Yes, dog toothbrush toys work well to maintain the gum health of your dog. Pet-safe toothbrush toys with soft bristles, long handle and designed with a special angle work perfectly for your dogs’ teeth. It comes in different sizes to fit your dog’s mouth and also helps to keep their breath fresh.
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You can use a dog toothbrush chew toy or bristly dog toothbrush toy or brushing stick for your dog’s dental health.
These brushing dog toys help in cleaning plaque, removing bad breath, and prevents gum disease without you doing any of the work because it is designed such that the dog can do the brushing himself.
How Do Dog Toothbrush Toys Work?
The working procedure of a toothbrush toy is quite simple. There is one simple rule, though. You can give it to your dog once a day. Don’t let him use it for more than 10-15 minutes.
At first, you have to show the brushing toy to your dog and let him play and get familiar with it, so he doesn’t get aggressive and rip it off while biting.
Once your dog gets familiar with it, he will secure it in place using the paw pads supported by his front two paws and head.
Then he leans downwards and bites the bristle-lined grooves resulting in stimulation with the gum area.
There is also a toothpaste reservoir inside of the brushing toy, which can be loaded beforehand. But before loading it, you take dog toothpaste in your finger and let your dog lick and taste it. If he likes the taste of it, he will continue chewing.
But if he doesn’t, then don’t worry; he will get accustomed to it gradually.
Once your pup gets acquainted with the smell of it, he will continue chewing the toothbrush dog toy, and because of its continuous motion with the bristles, it cleans down to the gums.
Because of the continuous up and down motion, the kibbles stuck into the nook and crannies will crush into small pieces preventing the future build-up of plaque and tartar.
Does Brushing A Dogs’ Teeth Really Help?
Yes. Brushing your dog’s teeth helps to a lot of extents. Here you will see how brushing teeth is helping your dogs-
- It helps to remove the build-up of plaque, tartar, and calculus.
- Gives protection against gingivitis and gum diseases.
- Saves your dogs from chronic pain and tooth loss.
- Prevents tooth decay.
- Helps to remove bad breath.
- Capable of cleaning both front and back teeth.
What Type Of Toothbrush Is Best For Dogs?
Finger toothbrushes are the best for your furry friend’s teeth. These are made of silicone or rubber and fit easily on any finger. They come with long-handled brushes featuring two heads, so you can use them for your smaller pups as well as larger pups.
Finger toothbrushes are very comfortable to use on your furry friends’ teeth. Because of their soft and gentle nylon rubber, it easily slips over your dog’s mouth and easily reaches the gum area. So it helps to remove the kibble remaining.
The long handle allows it to reach every corner of your dog’s mouth, helping to remove plaque and tartar away.
It even can reach all the nooks and crannies where your fingers can’t reach and prevent future tartar and plaque build-up.
Its flexibility has made it easy to use. And because of its mushy and delicate bristle, your dog will also enjoy cleaning their teeth once they get used to it.
How Can I Freshen My Dog’s Breath Without Brushing?
You can freshen your dog’s teeth without brushing by following a healthy diet and ensuring cleanliness. Here are some of the tips and tricks that can help you freshen your dog’s without brushing-
Chewing helps:
- Raw bones- If you are looking for a brushing substitute, then raw bones will help. Give your dog raw bones without cooking and let him chew them as long as he wants. This practice is beneficial to keep the dog’s mouth clean and helps to remove bad breath as well.
- Alveolar bones- If you can’t trust your dog’s stomach with raw bones, then you can go for alveolar or dental bones. These bones are made of ingredients like cinnamon, chlorophyll, and clove.
But they can include some side effects like your puppy’s poop may turn slightly greenish because of the chlorophyll. But a dog’s breath will smell good.
Eating colorful fruits:
Colourful fruits like carrots help in removing bad breath naturally. When your dog bites carrots with their canines, it gets crushed in their mouth in such a way that the beta-carotene reaches the crannies and helps to remove tartar.
Hence, your dog’s breath will not smell bad.
Refreshing leaves:
Chlorophyll present in mint leaves is not only useful for your teeth but also for your furry friend’s teeth. Naturally, your dog will not
like its taste, so you can boil the mint leaves and use them to make a mouthwash.
You can also serve their food with freshly plucked mint leaves.
Vegetable oil:
Did you know using vegetable or coconut oil can be effective for your little buddy’s mouth freshening? You can use this oil in making your dog’s food or just add some drops to your dog’s meal. The taste doesn’t change so you don’t worry about it.
Beneficial bacteria:
Not all bacteria are bad for health. These kinds of bacteria work as a defense mechanism in your dog’s mouth. They fight off the bad bacteria and nurture the good bacteria. So your dog’s dental health remains healthy.
Also check Are Dog Toys Scented?
Do Dog Teeth Cleaning Treats Work?
To ensure your dog’s oral health, cleaning treats can be really useful. For such purposes, you can opt for these two measures-
Dry kibbles for your dog:
In terms of texture, wet food sticks in your dog’s mouth for a long period which later contributes to the building up of plaques and tartar.
Here, you can avoid the hassle of taking your dog to the dentist by serving him dry kibbles instead. And save yourself some bucks!
Means for long-term chewing:
Chewing items like nylabones, whip, or knucklebone play an effective role to keep your pup’s dental health in good conditions.
You can give them for a certain period daily. Spending 30-40 minutes chewing these will help to prevent plaque or tartar build-up.
However, researchers have found that chewing items don’t always work effectively. Because your naughty little friends have hiding-spots inside their mouths, where crunches and nooks and crannies get stuck.
Hence, spending a whole day chewing can’t help get rid of those. You should always be careful while selecting such products.
Alternative To Dog Toothbrush Toys
If your rebellious dog doesn’t like the traditional process of cleaning by toothbrushes, then you can opt for simpler alternatives-
Wipe it away!
If your pup is okay with your fingers putting in his mouth, then it is a very fruitful alternative for you. Utilizing these wipes, you can assure your dog’s oral health with your fingers.
They contain incentives that will help to prevent future build-up of plaque or tartar with stimulation and provide safety from sore gums. This alternative is easier because you don’t need any toothpaste.
Spraying the mouth:
This can be a very functional alternative if your mischievous buds don’t like your fingers inside of their mouths.
They consist of stimulants that will help to fight plaque or tartar or gingivitis. They don’t work as effectively as the wipes but still a good option to lessen plaque and freshen your pup’s breath.
To ensure your beloved pet’s well-being, you can never ignore its oral health hygiene. Toothbrush toys are the ultimate life-saver for your adorable pooches.
It is pretty quick and simple, and gradually your pup will grow fond of this habit. Try to grow this practice of tooth brushing from a very early age to avoid future complications.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are dog toys from dollar store safe?
Is dog toy stuffing dangerous?