What is the best way to keep a dogs teeth clean?

How can we prevent plaque build up and gum disease in dogs?

I have invested in a childs soft toothbrush and some very mild childs toothpaste.

Are there any other (better) ways of ensuring nice white, clean teeth?

I have brought a specialised toothbrush and paste from PAH.

Should work well.

mine have there own toothpaste chicken flavour and there own tooth brush they love having there teeth cleaned also giving them bones will all insure good strong clean teeth

I find nothing better than a good bone.

Bodhi, I always understood that human toothpaste was harmful for dogs and that you had to buy special dog toothpaste. I also believe you apply it with your finger, rubbing it on the teeth which may be easier than using a toothbrush, depending on how your dog tolerates fingers in the mouth!

You could also try raw bones to keep teeth clean and raw carrots occasionally. I've never used toothpaste on my dogs - they are fed raw so get plenty of bones.

What kind of bones?

Well, if you don't normally feed raw, large marrow bones from the butcher. Because mine are fed raw, they also have chicken wings, backs, poultry necks and breast of lamb.

I used to use a medium toothbrush and doggy toothpaste that I got from the vet. However, with the increase in my creakiness (phwoarr! It's not good at this time of year! Today has been a b*gg*r), Now I rely on Dentastix, which the dogs love - and the vet says their teeth are excellent! He even suggested that he should take Kali (12) on some of his house calls, to show his other clients how things ought to be!

However, Kali isn't always the most peaceable of house-guests, so his advertising career is not going to take off quite yet!

Tooth-cleaning was always a two-person job (one to clamp the dog's mouth open, the other to wield the brush) and neither Mrs S nor I are as good at collie-wrestling as we used to be! BCs have four-wheel drive, and they CHEAT.

Snorri

Since ours have been fed on a dry food so have to crunch and have dentastix regularly their teeth are fantastic, a lot better than they were when I used to get messed up and struggle brushing their teeth with smelly doggy toothpaste!!!!

I clean with toothbrush and toothpast and lots of different things to chew.

Min xxxx