Taking care of a dog’s teeth is one of the areas most overlooked by owners.

Tooth & gum disease can affect your dog’s whole body, straining his immune system with mouth bacteria and/or infection. Teeth that suffer with food debris, cavities, and plaque may rot and fall out, not to mention the foul breath that develops.  It only takes plaque about 3 days to form, so diligence and a strategy is needed to keep your dog’s teeth white and healthy.

1. •Use a hard dog food.  It will help keep teeth free of food debris.
   

2. •Treat with dental chews and toys (supervision recommended).  Greenies and other dental chews freshen breath and scrape the teeth while being chewed.  Rope bones with floss will also help clean teeth.
   

3. •Brush the teeth daily or weekly.  Some dogs really enjoy this process, especially with the liver or chicken flavor doggy toothpaste. 
   

4. •Use a dental scraper on plaque. Get a doggy dental scraper and chip off that plaque about every six months! (see before and after pictures below)

CH Saranac Playing for Keeps, ROM