Do You Need to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?

Lots of people brush their dog’s teeth.

Lots of people don’t.

So…do you need to brush your dog’s teeth?

Let’s take a step back. If your dog needs regular, expensive teeth cleanings or veterinary care for his mouth and gums, then we should take a look at what you’re feeding your dog in the first place.

Lots of dry food, even the grain-free kind, are high in starch. It’s the starch that sticks to your dog’s teeth, building up plaque and necessitating cleanings.

It’s a myth that the abrasive, crunchy pieces of kibble clean your dog’s teeth. Because if you have ever watched a dog eat, they usually just wolf it down quickly without chewing it up into little bite sized, scrubby pieces that act like a toothbrush!

But if you feed your dog raw meaty bones, you won’t need to brush your dog’s teeth. Raw diets also help prevent tartar build up. But if you can’t feed your dog raw all the time, balanced high quality cooked or canned diets can also work well.

When selecting a food, try to avoid potatoes, peas, oatmeal, corn and other starchy ingredients. That will do wonders for your dog’s teeth in the long run.