Pet's teeth have a lot of work to do – dogs use their mouths for more than just eating, they use them to play, explore and taste a lot of their surroundings too.
If your dog’s teeth aren’t properly cared for, it can cause problems.
Luckily the experts at natural pet supplement manufacturer nutravet have shared their top tips to help look after your pet’s teeth.
Registered Veterinary Nurse Korina Stephens said: “By the age of three, 80 per cent of dogs have developed some form of periodontal disease.
"Poor dental care doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth, the bacteria generated by gum disease could eventually enter their bloodstream and potentially damage their heart liver or kidneys.
“When your pet has healthy teeth and gums, they can get the most out of their food, crunching every delicious mouthful as they go, but if their teeth hurt, they’ll soon go off their meals and their metabolism will suffer.”
Here are 11 tips to help brushing and maintaining dental health.
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5. Bones
Don’t feed your dog bones as these can wear down and damage their teeth. Bones can also break into splinters which can damage their gums and throat if swallowed. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Choose the right brush
Cleaning your dog’s teeth is an important part of maintaining your pet’s dental care to help provide optimum health and quality of life. When your dog is ready, use a proper dog toothbrush with a longer handle, which will help you reach all their teeth. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Reduce treats
Don’t feed them too many sugary treats, as this can cause more bacteria to build up on your pet’s teeth. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Pick your toothpaste carefully
Make sure you use a toothpaste specifically for dogs, never use human toothpaste which is toxic to dogs. Photo: Canva/Getty Images