Many products are promoted for dental health—diets, chew toys, treats, etc. There is nothing wrong with using these aids but nothing compares with brushing for getting teeth clean.

The actual brushing is no more complicated than brushing our own teeth. Getting our pets to accept it can be a different story but is easier than you probably think if you approach it correctly. It’s always easier to start with a puppy or kitten, when possible, but pets of any age will usually accept brushing if we have patience.

The important thing to remember when you begin home dental care is that the training process is done slowly and patiently. Flavored pet toothpastes and special toothbrushes make the process easier. (Never use human toothpaste. The fluoride your pet swallows creates serious toxicity.)

1. Introduce your pet to the toothpaste by offering a taste. Over several days, keep offering a taste and, when your pet readily takes the paste, offer special praise or petting or a treat.

2. Now begin to accustom your pet to having its face and mouth handled by gently rubbing your pet’s muzzle and chin frequently. When your pet lets you do this without any resistance or pulling away, again offer special praise or petting or a treat.

3. Once your pet readily accepts the toothpaste and muzzle rubbing, put a little toothpaste on your finger or a piece of gauze and gently rub over the incisors and canines. If your pet is okay with that, use lots of praise or a treat as a reward. If your pet resists, don’t scold or punish, just go back to rubbing the muzzle. Take a break and try the finger or gauze again later. Remember, be patient, we want the process to be fun and something your pet looks forward to.

4. Gradually increase the number or teeth you are rubbing until you have made your way to the back teeth without your pet resisting. You only need to do this on the outside surfaces of the teeth. Don’t forget the rewards. Once your pet accepts your cleaning all of the teeth this way, you are ready for the final step.

5. Using a toothbrush that is the correct size and type for your pet, start again by brushing the incisors and canines. Gradually increase the number of teeth you do each time as you work your way to the back teeth. Again, you only need to brush the outside surfaces. Offer lots of praise and maybe a treat to make this a good activity.

Some of the key words to remember in this process are: patience, praise, patience, rewards and patience. Puppies and kittens (and many adults) like to squirm and have short attention spans, so make your sessions brief. If having their teeth brushed means something tasty (the toothpaste and a treat) and some extra petting or playtime, you may find your pet following you to the bathroom for a toothbrushing session. We know of at least one dog that used to go sit in the bathroom at night waiting in line to have her teeth brushed.