Which are the best products for teeth and gum maintenance for dogs?
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There are a wide variety of dental products for dogs available these days, and the best one depends on you and your pets personal preferences. Here are some of the more common things you can try that can help maintain good dental health in your dog.
Dental chews: While not as effective as brushing, dental chews can help by encouraging your dog to chew and scrape off dental tartar. Some chews are now medicated (such as Virbac's CET chews from your vet) and can help break down plaque at the same time. This is usually the least invasive method and one dogs enjoy.
Tooth Brushing: Tooth brushing is a great way to help keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy, but does involve a little more work on your end. You can use a SOFT bristle brush or pet tooth brush along with a dog toothpaste (Do not use human toothpaste as dogs cannot spit out the fluoride which can be toxic if ingested). You can get your dog used to the paste and brush by just applying some on the brush and letting your dog chew on it like a treat. Once they are used to the flavor and texture, you can then begin to gently brush the teeth and help loosen plaque and debris.
Dental Cleanings: The most invasive, expensive but effective, dental cleans are done under anesthesia by your local veterinary clinic. This involves a complete cleaning like seen at your dentist, and may also include tooth extraction of damaged teeth. While effective in cleaning, this option is usually used in cases where the teeth are very dirty and require immediate care. Prevention through other methods can help avoid this, or at least make having the procedure less frequent.
There are also dental additives that can be given in the water or food, however these are often geared more toward freshening the breath rather than cleaning teeth. Stimulation through chews or brushes is best for removing tartar and keeping gums healthier.
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