Best dog toothpaste according to redditors

You can always try the enzymatic toothpaste route! My cats love the chicken flavor, it's their favorite. You do have to work up to it though. Just let them get used to licking it off your finger, then you dabbing it on their lips, then you putting it on their front teeth, etc. until you're able to stick your finger on their back molars. It may take a few weeks or a month or two but my cats get excited about it now- they see it like an additional treat! Haha, joke's on them, I'm brushing their teeth.

Adorable pup!

There are two ways that I brush my Corgi's teeth which have great success.

So, first you will need a few things :

• (looks like you have a sample of this) Enzymatic toothpaste
  
  
• Maintenance Oral Gel
  
  
• Toothbursh, I use higher end brushes, which do make a difference. Kid's brushes are the best size or the small head ones. You can find some that are angled as well. For your pup the little finger brush is probably best for now.
  
  
• beef cannoli
  
  So, now that you have that... On to the ways I brush.
  
  Thumb in mouth This method is the most thorough and best approached from the front of the dog
  
  
• Take your index finger and gently rest it across the snout, being gentle and careful to not restrict airway or poke their eyes.
  
• Take your thumb and insert it in between the upper and lower jaw. It should enter one side and come out the other, effectively propping open the jaw and exposing the teeth while keep their tongue busy. Be careful here when doing this with any dog as you can lose a thumb if the dog is likely to bite or clamp down. Starting early usually mitigates the risk. Use your judgement!
  
• Brush each tooth in a gentle circular motion, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. I reapply toothpaste once per side. Be sure to gently brush around the gums as you can cause the gums to recede and wear away enamel if you are too forceful or use too stiff a brush. Treat them like your teeth.
  
• Brush the insides of the teeth if you can reach.
  
• Brush the tongue afterwards or let them lick the remaining paste off the brush to help clean the tongue.
  
• Afterwards, take the maintenance gel, apply about a .5 to 1inch line of gel on the upper and low gums of each side. I like to rub his lips on this to disperse but they are supposed to lick it and disperse it themselves.
  
• Give your pup a nice chewy, such as a tendon. Make sure they aren't made in China! I prefer ones made in the USA or Germany. Be careful with made and distributed / packaged in markings... Essentially, don't skimp! These are great occupiers, help prevent chewing on things you like, and also help keep their teeth clean, like those pesky molars!
  
  Now the second way...
  
  Closed mouth quick brush. This method is great for if you don't have a lot of time or the dog is a biter.
  
  
• Place your thumb across their snout.
  
• place the rest of your hand underneath their jaw, effectively holding their mouth shut. Be gentle here!
  
• slip the toothbrush between the lips. You can do this step first if it is easier for you.
  
• brush like normal, trying to get everything
  
• Let them open their mouth slightly and slide the toothbrush in between their front canines.
  
• brush the inside of their teeth
  
• brush their tongue
  
• apply gel as above
  
• Give your pup a nice chewy, such as a tendon.
  
  Hopefully this helps you! If you do this 1-2 times daily and provide high quality chewy snacks like tendons, you should reduce the need for dental visits at the vet of complete remove the need. Do pay attention to the gums and teeth though and consulate a vet for further advice.

Food:

• Orijen. We rotate around between foods, but always come back to this one. Great coats, no dental problems, consistent energy levels, good digestion, all around good.
  
• Durapet steel non-skid dishes. Nice solid steel construction, and the rubber ring stays put even with frequent washing.
  
• Fish oil! Right now we use Kirkland brand capsules from Costco, which the dogs gobble up like candy.
  
  Leashes/collars/harnesses:
  
  
• "WMC" leather leashes. 3/4" 4ft long, perfect weight and length for everyday training walks. I have no idea what this brand is but it's the best leash I've ever owned. Stamped with "WMC" which I assume is an identifying mark of some sort.
  
• brass id plates from gun dog supply. They last forever and work great.
  
• Not a commercial product, but, a ponytail tie around tags to silence them.
  
• Perfect Fit fleece lined harness for dogs with thin fur. The most comfortable option I've found.
  
• Sense-ible harness. A simple, classic front-clip harness. No frills, does the job without unnecessary cost or weird features.
  
  Grooming:
  
  
• Miller's Forge nail clippers. Simple, cheap, sharp, better than the expensive alternatives.
  
• Earthbath grooming wipes have been a godsend for my allergy dog. Wiping him down every day drastically reduces his seasonal allergy symptoms.
  
• Epi-Soothe shampoo for itchy skin.
  
• Rubber brush for short coats. No particular brand--brands have evolved over the years. Zoom Groom is popular now, but anything made of flexible grippy rubber with fingers/nubs will work.
  
• Burt's Bees shampoo has been a pleasant surprise. No strong perfume, and leaves coats soft without drying them out.
  
• CET toothpaste. The poultry flavor is a big hit--way better than some other brands.
  
  Beds:
  
  
• Kuranda beds. No stuffing to trap allergens, tall enough to let the roomba underneath, and sturdy as all hell. Throw a washable blanket on top for snuggling and it's the perfect dog bed. Seriously, if you take nothing else away from this, just remember Kuranda.
  
• ruff wear roll up mats. Mine are way older and don't look like the product pictured there, but hopefully the new ones are similar. Waterproof no-slip rubber backing, fleece top that lasts through serious abuse (read: digging), and a thin padded layer that doesn't bunch. Perfect for camping, mat training, training classes, any and all travel.
  
• Berkley & Jensen brand dog beds/throws. The ones I got were like thick blankets, canvas on one side and fleece on the other side with a thin layer of padding in the middle. They're amazing. Folded in half it's a crate mat. Folded twice it's a dog bed. Spread out it's a floor protector while feeding gross bones. Spread out it's also a car seat protector.
  
  
  Toys
  
  
• Orvis leather toys. They appear not to be sold currently, but I have a leather retrieving dummy that was perfect for intro retrieve training with a dog who was utterly disinterested in toys. The soft leather enticed him to pick it up, which was all the help I needed at the time.
  
• JW treat ball. Large opening, so perfect for chunks of biscuit or jerky. Large pieces of treats can be squeezed through the flexible opening for a challenging game. Soft rubber bounces quietly, does not clang around on hard floors or against hard furniture like buster cube or kong wobbler.
  
• Classic Kongs. I take this one for granted, but really useful toy. Stuff it with food before you leave for work and your dog has something productive to focus on for a little while at least.
  
• Goughnuts. Virtually indestructible rubber chew toys.
  
  Training goodies
  
  
• Starmark clicker. Loud click. raised button gives you more options than a typical box clicker.
  
• iClick clicker. Very quiet click. Also with a raised button for versatility.
  
• Terry Ryan treat bag. Again, mine is really old so I hope the new one is similarly good. The hinges pop open/shut with no trouble, way more convenient than a drawstring. Mine has been used and washed regularly for 6+ years without harming it.
  

You can definitely have anesthesia-free dental cleaning for dogs, the vet I take my dog to does them although it's not in Vancouver.

You should probably call some vets and ask them if they offer that - it might not be year-round because sometimes it's a specialist that travels between cities every few months that does it. Googling "Vancouver vet anesthesia free dental" led me to http://animalcareclinicvancouver.com/index.php , although I can't find the page on it. At worst, you should call them and see if/when they offer it, and if they don't then you can ask them if they know any other vet clinics that do, and if not keep calling other vets. Vancouver is about as large as the city I live in, so I would be very surprised if no options are available.

In the longer term, you can also brush his teeth yourself, although most dogs won't like it you might have to get him used to it for his own health. Link to dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Also, why does he have a tendency to build up tartar? Is it because of his food or some other condition? Does he have enough chew toys? Chew toys are supposed to help keep a dog's teeth clean.

Best wishes for you and your dog.

Edit:
Adding this link I found after a bit more googling
Anesthesia Free Cleaning in Victoria
It's not Vancouver, but it's pretty close

could be a bad tooth, i would look around in the mouth for any obvious signs of decay, lumps, redness, etc. Also make sure to check between the upper lip and teeth. A puggle I baby sat would get into the cat litter and it'd get stuck up there where he couldn't remove it and I had to dig it out, ugh! That would be pretty stinky!

They do make dog tooth brushes (two kinds, one goes on the finger and another looks sorta like a ppl one but smaller) and tooth paste in flavors like poultry and peanut butter. Mine's a little pup still but we just started and she loves it, it's like a treat 2-3 times a week! I found it at the pet supply store near me, but it's also on Amazon right here! Plus I've heard bad things about Greenies in the past and I don't have to worry about her choking on them or anything with this. And she'll let me in her mouth more readily when she's an adult hopefully.

If there are any problems they may have to clear up first before you can start using something like this, but the vet should be able to tell you for sure come Monday. Good luck!!

Before I adopted my yorkie, she was fed a diet of wet food and no teeth brushing. My vet thought she had the teeth of a 10 year old when she was just 1 year old. After a deep cleaning, we use CET toothpaste. Shes not used to brushing so I use my finger which the vet dental tech recommended.

• Item which would most make me seem like an old posh Englishman maybe a little bit, or not at all. They shower, right? - Home WL
  
  
• Most "oh god, I would never be seen with this in public" looking item - Woof WL
  
  
• Most phallic looking item - Woof WL
  
  
• Most geeky item - Silly Fun WL
  
  
• Item which would most help me achieve a goal - Books WL
  
  
• Best item to bring to a deserted island? Food. - Holiday WL

It's this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYVNNZG/ref=dp_cerb_2?th=1&psc=1
They come in different flavours too! My cat loves the poultry one.

I usually get a lot of comments on how white and bright my dog’s teeth are.

I started when she was a puppy, getting her used to the process. At this point, she allows me to brush every single tooth, top, bottom, even inside. And then I always end it with her favorite part, which is tongue scraping (basically her licking the toothbrush)
FYI: if your dog allows you to, it is ideal to brush each tooth in a circular motion, just like you are supposed to do with your own teeth.

Honestly I used to brush it every other day and gave her dental chews on the off days but even then she would still get accumulated tartar. I even always put doggy mouthwash in her water that is supposed to prevent tartar buildup. The only way to prevent it is to brush everyday. Since I switched to everyday, my vet has told me there’s no buildup at all.

Once they get used to it and you make it a habit, it’s honestly super quick and not much of a hassle. Teeth are so important for dogs - they rarely ever do root canals or fillings - if something is wrong, they usually just extract the tooth. Imagine when they get older, how are they gonna survive if half their teeth are so damaged that they all need to be removed?

I recommend this toothpaste. Petsmile Professional Dog Toothpaste - 4.5 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OPCW5GG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0hITDbTK65Y7F

also available-- Toothpaste - Enzymatic Tartar Control, Seafood Flavor
>Helps eliminate mouth odors.
>Contain no foaming agents, so they are safe for pets to swallow

This kit has the kind of brush I use - it's very common style, and many are sold through different manufacturers:

https://smile.amazon.com/Petrodex-Natural-Dental-Toothpaste-Toothbrushes/dp/B0002AQBC4/ref=sr_1_32?keywords=dog+toothbrush&qid=1574264522&rnid=2941120011&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-32

Make sure you don't accidentally buy one made for a small dog, but this brush may work for any size.

I get the Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste - my dogs have both really liked the Poultry flavor:

https://smile.amazon.com/Petrodex-Enzymatic-Toothpaste-Buildup-Poultry/dp/B00025K0R6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=petrodex+toothpaste&qid=1574264736&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1

I have a couple of these finger brushes, and they seem to work well. I use them to give the teeth a finishing touch, rub along the gumline, and get behind some of the teeth where it's difficult to access with a brush.

https://smile.amazon.com/Petosan-Microfiber-Fingerbrush-Oral-Cleaner/dp/B01B6365SU/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=dog+finger+toothbrush&qid=1574264804&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-19

And I'd like to plug the amazon 'smile' program. If you use smile.amazon.com to buy things they will donate 5% of your purchase price to charity. You get to choose the charity - mine is the Grey Muzzle Organization. But you have to remember to go to smile.amazon.com when purchasing, not the regular amazon.com.

There are mouth sprays that used to help clean dog teeth, and basically smell like mouthwash to me. I just spray it into my dog's mouth (on the teeth, specifically), and it does wonders for my dog's breath. Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Spray is the specific one I use, but there are tons of other brands.

Edited to add: honestly, I'm not sure most sprays are going to alleviate the smell of dead corpse - it is a really, really strong smell. But, I would suggest looking for things that smell similar to vapo-rub smell, as that is what cops use to block out the smell of dead humans. Not sure if anything like that exists though.

Enzyme tooth cleaners such as These work wonders for long term solutions in addition to brushing. Just add them to their water. Things to keep in mind... they dont work instantly, and stay away from additives that just "freshen" breath, make sure its enzymatic or youre wasting your money

I use this
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00RZDXA7K/

Have you checked pet stores?

In my experience the dental chews function more are breath mints rather than cleaning the teeth. Their is special toothpaste for dogs because they don't know to spit out the toothpaste so it is important you don't use human toothpaste because the fluoride will upset their stomach. This is what I use http://www.amazon.com/Petrodex-Dental-Poultry-Toothpaste-Toothbrushes/dp/B0002AQASO/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_22 and I also bought an additive for his water which did improve the smell. I usually brush my dogs teeth right before we go to bed because they say they shouldN'T drink or eat for 30 minutes before or after the brushing although I don't know why that is.

edit: also you only need to brush the outside of the teeth not the inside.