Taking care of your dog’s teeth can be a daunting task. How often should you brush your dog’s teeth? Should you take them to the vet to get their teeth professionally cleaned? Are there treats you can give your dog to keep their teeth and gums healthy?
Whether you have a smaller dog who requires daily brushing or a larger dog breed who isn’t as prone to dental issues, adding plaque-fighting treats like WHIMZEES Dental Chews can be a great supplement to your dog’s at-home dental health regimen.
Here’s what you should know about taking care of your dog’s dental health at home between professional teeth cleanings.
Why Is At-Home Dental Care For Dogs Important?
You know how people say that flossing your teeth on a daily basis can add seven years to your life? Turns out that dental health is just as important to your dog’s overall health.
Veterinarians say that up to 80 percent of adult dogs have some sort of dental disease. Issues in your dog’s mouth can also affect other parts of their health and increase the risks of conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
“Infections in and around the teeth do cause increases in inflammatory mediators and can cause bacteremia (a state in which bacteria appears in the blood), which likely does cause damage to distant parts of the body or distant infections,” says Dr. Lothamer, who is board-certified in veterinary dentistry.
Taking care of a dog’s teeth and dental health is especially important for smaller breeds, as they are more prone to dental issues than some of their larger counterparts.
How Can You Take Care Of Your Dog’s Teeth At Home?
Fortunately, taking care of your dog’s dental health doesn’t require a massive amount of time or energy. Veterinarians recommend two daily brushings — once in the morning, and once in the evening, just like us humans! — no matter your dog’s breed or current dental health.
This will help control plaque buildup and stave off periodontal disease, which can cause bleeding gums and loss of teeth for your pup.
Keeping your dog on an appropriate diet can also help keep their dental health in tip-top shape. Talk to your veterinarian to see what diet you should have your doggo on.
Ask your vet for a food or diet recommendation that not only helps keep your dog at a healthy weight, but also has the vitamins and minerals necessary for your pup’s dental health.
Dental treats are also an excellent option to help your dog remove plaque and have fun at the same time, especially if your dog isn’t too keen on having their teeth brushed.
When your dog chews and gnaws on these dental treats, the mechanical process of chewing helps remove plaque and tartar buildup on your pup’s teeth.
Treats like WHIMZEES Dental Chews have been proven to effectively remove plaque two times better than other dog dental chews on the market because they last three times longer than other dental chews.* Plus, WHIMZEES Dental Chews come in various sizes and shapes, but they all have a firm texture that helps remove plaque from even the most stubborn corners of your pup’s mouth.
Your Dog Still Needs Professional Care
Even if you are brushing your dog’s teeth religiously and giving them tasty, tartar-fighting treats like WHIMZEES, your dog still needs professional dental care.
Talk to your veterinarian about options for professional dog teeth cleaning services. Depending on your dog’s age and health, your veterinarian might put your dog under a local anesthetic in order to deeply clean their teeth and gums.
Your dog might even need special, softer food for after the procedure in case their mouth is sore.
WHIMZEES Dental Chews Will Step Up Your At-Home Dog Dental Care Routine
WHIMZEES act as a mechanical scrubber, removing plaque and tartar as your dog goes to town on the chew. The great thing about WHIMZEES is that come in loads of different shapes and sizes, so you can find the perfect fit for your dog’s dental needs.
No matter the shape, be it an adorable alligator-shaped chew or WHIMZEES classic Brusheez shape, which is modeled after a toothbrush, WHIMZEES chews last three times longer than other leading dog dental chews which means they clean two times more effectively.*
They are made with an easily digestible recipe, so your dog won’t have tummy issues after chewing one. Be sure to always monitor your pup when they are gnawing on WHIMZEES (or any chews, for that matter!) and make sure that your dog always has access to clean water.
Have you tried out WHIMZEES Dental Chews before? Did your dog like them? Let us know in the comments below!
*Based on studies of comparable products conducted by an independent kennel (’17-’19).
