how to brush your pet’s teeth

Brushing your pet’s teeth might seem like a daunting task, particularly for cats with cattitude. But the truth is, you should be cleaning your pet’s teeth on the reg as it can help prevent plaque and worse forms of dental disease. Plaque is serious business. It can lead to tartar, which not only causes stinky breath, but is also a slippery slope to periodontal disease, tooth loss, bacterial infection, and pain.

We recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily and your cat’s teeth three times a week (or as often as you have the patience to do it). You might be thinking, “Whoa, Nelly! That’s a lot of teeth cleaning!” But if you can get your pet in the habit of teeth cleaning, it will become second nature to both of you.

Here are some tips on how to brush your cutie’s teeth and get them accustomed to it.

Start by petting your pet’s head and slowly working your hand toward their mouth. Gently rub the side of their lips. If you notice them getting agitated, stop and wait until they’ve relaxed.
Gently lift the top lip to examine their teeth, and lightly run your finger along their teeth and gums. Don’t try to open their mouth — just lifting the lip is all you need. This will help them prepare for brushing.
Let your pet taste a little bit of the pet toothpaste, then gently rub the toothpaste in a circular pattern on the outside of their teeth either with a toothbrush, your finger, or a piece of gauze.
Slowly work your way up to 30 seconds of brushing on each side

If you need a visual guide, we’ve got a super helpful video to show you how to clean your pet’s mouth.

Banfield is happy to help support your pet’s health with professional dental cleanings (you should still really try to brush your pet’s teeth daily though). Here’s what you can expect at your pet’s in-office cleaning.