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Ask a vet which single habit would most improve the lives of pet dogs, and many will say tooth brushing. Dental disease is the most common health problem they see: by the age of three, most dogs have some. It is painful, it is progressive, and dogs are superb at eating through it without complaint.
Daily brushing is the most effective prevention there is. The challenge is not technique. It is persuading a dog to enjoy it.
What you need
- A pet toothpaste — never human toothpaste, which can contain xylitol and foaming agents.
- A soft brush: a finger brush to start, a long-handled pet brush later.
- Treats and a calm five minutes.
Our dental kit picks
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Best for dental care
Enzymatic toothpaste and brush kit
4.4Pet-safe paste (never use human toothpaste) with a finger brush to start.
- Poultry flavour
- No xylitol
The two-week plan
Days 1–3: taste. Let your dog lick a little toothpaste off your finger. Most pet pastes are chicken- or beef-flavoured; this should feel like a treat.
Days 4–6: touch. Lift the lip and rub the paste along the outer surface of the teeth with your finger. A few seconds, then praise.
Days 7–10: the brush. Introduce the finger brush. Focus on the big cheek teeth at the back — the upper carnassials, where tartar builds fastest. Outside surfaces only; the tongue cleans much of the inside.
Days 11–14: routine. Work up to about thirty seconds per side. Do it at the same time every day, perhaps after the evening walk, and follow it with something good.
If your dog hates it
Go back a step and slow down. Short sessions that end well beat long ones that end in a struggle. If your dog’s mouth seems sore — red gums, bleeding, flinching — stop and book a dental check: brushing a painful mouth teaches a dog to avoid it forever.
What brushing can’t do
Brushing prevents new plaque. It will not remove hardened tartar or fix diseased teeth; that needs a professional clean under anaesthetic, with X-rays to see below the gum line. After that clean is the perfect time to start brushing.
Dental chews and water additives help a little. Look for products with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which means they have been tested. But nothing beats the brush.
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