Basics of Dental Health Care for Puppies

A statistic figure that may seem disturbing is that nearly 80% of dogs start to show dental problems by the time they are 2 years of age. They are often affected by gum disease as well. So what is the best cure for this? Prevention! Yes, nothing works better than working around preventing any kind of dental trouble in your puppy, because, once there is a build-up of plaque on the teeth, the only way of removing it is through mechanical cleaning. But you can help your puppy by sticking to a puppy dental care routine. Today we will tell you all about it. 

The right dental care 

You can play an important role in your puppy's life by beginning with dental care early on in their lives. However, if you want it to be a pleasant experience for them, you must wait till they have adult teeth (when they are about 6 months old). Mentioned below are a few things that you can do to keep those teeth shining: 

• Start with brushing: Brushing teeth is extremely important if you want to maintain proper puppy dental care. It is an experience that your puppy will have to get used to. The sooner you begin with it, the better it is. You can start the procedure by gently rubbing your puppy’s gums with your finger. Ease into it by massaging their gums on a regular basis. After a few days, you can switch over to a soft rubber brush and load it up with toothpaste that is specially formulated for puppies. Keep in mind that you should never use human toothpaste for puppies or dogs. 

• Invest in puppy chew toys & dental treats: Puppy parenting means accepting that teething is a natural process and it is a fact of life. If you have the right kind of chew toys that are made for teething puppies, you will be able to take care of your puppy’s teeth and prevent them from doing destructive behaviour. There are several chew toys and dental treats that are made for teething puppies. They also help in removing the build-up of tartar and plaque on the teeth. Chew toys or dental treats are also useful in keeping the teeth clean. 

• Schedule a check-up: Last but not the least, it is very important to schedule a proper check-up at the vet. The vet will perform a physical examination thoroughly and may recommend when your puppy requires dental cleaning. It is a very crucial part of puppy dental care. You must make an appointment at the vet at least twice a year for a proper dental check-up. 

These were a few basics of puppy dental care. We hope we were able to answer all your queries. If you are looking to book a dental examination for your dog, then hop in at Zigly where our experts will conduct a physical examination and guide you on how to take care of your puppy’s oral health.