It’s important to keep your dog’s teeth pearly white. And if you’d like to keep them clean the natural way, we have a few suggestions for you to try.
Without regular maintenance, your pet’s teeth can become weakened or damaged and his gums diseased and inflamed. When this occurs, you’re going to have not only stinky breath, but potentially serious infections that can spread throughout his body. While damaged teeth, infected gums or full-blown periodontal disease (tartar build up under the gums that creates pockets of bacteria and causes teeth to loosen) all require the skill of a veterinarian, there are some simple at-home steps that we as pet owners can take before their little chompers reach the seriously-bad-breath-warning stage and they include regular cleaning and inspection.
Let’s look at these seven tips to keeping your pet’s “pearly whites” clean and healthy:
1. Add Cinnamon to their Food
Cinnamon is full of antioxidants, and its naturally antibacterial properties can help ward off tooth decay and combat bad breath. Just a teaspoon sprinkled into a bowl of dry or wet food and you’re good to go.
2. Brush with Coconut Oil
When those artificially flavoured doggie toothpastes fail, try dabbing your pet’s toothbrush into this natural and flavourful antibacterial. Dogs are known to like the nutty taste which makes brushing easier.
3. Supplement their Diet with Probiotics
Bacteria found in your pooch’s gastrointestinal system is also found in his mouth. Probiotics help maintain a healthy balance and natural options include bananas, apples and green leafy vegetables.
4. Give them something to chew.
Most dogs’ fave way to brush their teeth is with raw bones that will naturally scrape away plaque but you can also add treats such as carrots and apples that are high in Vitamin C (known to ward off bacteria).
5. Use an Effective Toothbrush
Pitch the soft kiddy brush and opt for one designed to brush a dog’s teeth (in other words, quickly). Triple-head options are on the market and cover all sides of the tooth while massaging the gum-line.
6. Include Fresh Herbs in their Meals
As a natural remedy to stinky breath that is not necessarily the result of hygiene issues, try adding a little chopped mint, parsley or cilantro to your pooch’s diet. All are safe and tasty options for dogs.
Article curtesy of Mary Simpson from petguide.com