Baking soda has a number of benefits when it comes to oral hygiene, including removing plaque and bad breath, fighting cavities, and even curing gingivitis. It also helps with dry mouth by neutralizing acids in your mouth and preventing bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
To use baking soda for teeth whitening for dogs, simply mix ½ teaspoon baking soda with ¼ teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl until you have a paste-like consistency. Apply this mixture to your dog’s teeth using a cotton swab or gauze pad and leave on for five minutes before rinsing off with water. Repeat this process once or twice per week until desired results are achieved.
Read on to learn more about How To Use Baking Soda As Teeth Whitening For Dogs, Vet-approved Homemade Dog Toothpaste and How Often Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
How To Use Baking Soda As Teeth Whitening For Dogs
Baking soda is a great product to use to eliminate bacteria and clean problem areas on your dog’s teeth. Making a baking soda toothpaste for your small dog is very simple and easy to do. Brushing your dog’s teeth is important for his overall health. Small dogs have small faces, which may cause dental problems to begin with. Your small dog’s oral health is going to be closely tied to his overall health. Be sure you’re brushing your dog’s teeth and maintaining his overall health so he does not develop periodontal disease, causing harm in his tiny mouth and throughout his little body. Baking soda is a natural cleaner that is used to whiten, clean, and deodorize your dog’s mouth, teeth, and gums. Baking soda is also great for killing bacteria along the gumline and between the teeth. Brushing with baking soda helps prevent oral health troubles.
Dog’s Perspective
Baking soda does not taste all that great. So your little guy might be a bit apprehensive about having his teeth brushed with baking soda. If your dog is used to having his teeth brushed already, you might begin adding baking soda to his toothpaste a little at a time. Over time, you can decrease the amount of toothpaste and increase the amount of baking soda until you are using baking soda every time. For the first few sessions make them short and simple, and always reward your little guy for tolerance and patience.
The Fingers to Brush Method
STEP 1 Bland fingers Start with your fingers and nothing on them. Take one finger and rub it along your dog’s front teeth. Try to open his mouth wider to run your finger across his back teeth as well. This will help your little guy get used to having something in his mouth and touching his teeth.
STEP 2 Make paste Pour a tablespoon of baking soda into a small bowl and add a teaspoon of water. Mix the paste until it has the thickness and texture you’d like. Your small dog might like more water than baking soda at first. Eventually, it should be a thick, pliable paste.
STEP 3 Fingers again Repeat the first step using your fingers along your small dog’s teeth, only this time add a bit of the baking soda paste to your fingertip.
STEP 4 Toothbrush Once your small dog has allowed you to brush his teeth with your finger once or twice, introduce a small toothbrush with the baking soda paste on it. Give your little guy some time to sniff the toothbrush before adding the paste and placing it in his mouth.
STEP 5 Baking soda paste Place a small drop of baking soda paste into the toothbrush and brush your small dog’s teeth using the same method you used with your fingers. Run the toothbrush in circular motions around the teeth in the front. Lift your small dog’s upper jaw and move the toothbrush to the back teeth for cleaning.
STEP 6 Angle Angle the small toothbrush to 45-degrees to get the gumline clean. Remember, baking soda can help kill bacteria, so be sure to get the gumline with additional baking soda on the brush.
STEP 7 Reward Always give your little guy a treat for brushing his teeth. Though it might feel silly to give him food after brushing, it will keep him coming back and motivated each time knowing he gets a treat in the end.
The Hold Tight Method
STEP 1 Prepare Prepare the baking soda toothpaste in advance by mixing a small amount of warm water with baking soda until you have the consistency you’d like for a gentle paste. Place a small amount of your baking soda paste on a small toothbrush for your dog.
STEP 2 Hold your pup Holding your small dog is easy if you can secure him in one arm and hold that same arm over his head. Try to keep your little guy’s head still.
STEP 3 Raise lips Lift your dog’s upper lips using the toothbrush prepped with baking soda toothpaste. This will reveal his upper and lower front teeth.
STEP 4 Brush teeth With the front teeth revealed, brush your dog’s teeth using small circular strokes spreading the baking soda across the teeth.
STEP 5 Back teeth Using the arm holding your little guy and lift up his upper jaw to reveal his back teeth. Brush his upper and lower back teeth with the toothbrush loaded with baking soda.
STEP 6 Gums Angle the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to brush the gum line all around his mouth. This will keep his gums healthy and free of debris that can cause plaque.
Caution & Considerations
- Taking care of your dog’s dental health should be part of regular grooming as well as regular veterinary check-up visits.
- Periodontal disease can be the root cause of a multitude of problems with your dog’s overall health. Not only can he lose his teeth and experience bone loss, but he could also develop major organ problems as a result of poor dental care.
- Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis is the best way to get him used to the act of teeth brushing.
- Baking soda is a great natural ingredient for homemade toothpaste.
- Baking soda fights bacteria growth at the gum line where periodontal disease starts.
- Be sure to brush as much of the tooth surface as your dog will allow, to keep every tooth healthy and clean.
- Train your small dog to tolerate brushing his teeth by offering a tasty reward at the end. This will also help to remove the salty taste of baking soda from your dog’s mouth.
- Do not use or mix human toothpaste with baking soda on your dog’s teeth. Human toothpaste is harmful to dogs.
- If your small dog is nervous or intolerant of brushing his teeth, brush his mouth in sections during different sessions.
Conclusion
Give your small dog a big healthy smile with the power of water and baking soda together. His big pearly whites will be healthy and clean, and brushing will support his overall health and give him a barking good smile.
Vet-approved Homemade Dog Toothpaste
Pet owners are usually great at taking care of their furry companion, but one habit often falls away. Tooth brushing. While most owners are aware of health issues from rotten dog teeth, only eight percent of pet parents brush their dog’s teeth daily.
In their study, IPSOS, a data supplier in Toronto, found that a shocking 43 percent of dog owners have never brushed their dog’s chompers.
Brushing your dog’s canines can be a fun activity that you introduce into their day. If this is something you’ve never tried before, then it’s not too late.
Oral health is vital at every stage of your dog’s life. Rather than buying a dog toothpaste filled with unfamiliar contents, we give you some homemade dog toothpaste recipes with natural ingredients from your pantry.
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
To make tooth brushing a pleasant activity, praise your dog throughout the whole session. Reassure your puppy if he’s nervous, or give him a calming remedy thirty minutes before starting.
Simple Step-By-Step Instructions for Dog Tooth Brushing:
- Choose a time of day when your dog is content.
- Brush their teeth in a space that is quiet and free of distractions.
- Position your dog with their face looking away from you.
- You can introduce the sensation of tooth brushing by using a soft cloth around your finger and “brushing” their outside teeth. Focus on that gum line.
- Start slow. If your dog can only handle a little bit of brushing, stop and try again tomorrow. Slowly, your pet will get used to the process, and eventually, you’ll be able to reach each chomper.
- When your puppy is comfortable with the cloth rubbing, let them taste some toothpaste. Only use a pea-sized amount at a time.
- Once your dog is comfortable with the cloth brushing, introduce a dog toothbrush or a finger brush.
- Gently move your dog’s pout out of the way and brush their teeth in a circular motion. The canines and molars need the most attention as they are hotspots for periodontal disease.
- Don’t worry about the insides of the teeth unless your pet is very cooperative. The dog’s tongue moves plaque away from these areas. The outside teeth surfaces need the most attention.
- Keep it up! Don’t forgo this vital health routine.
Top Teeth Brushing Tips:
- The early introduction of a toothbrush will establish a habit and make brushing easier later, so start when your dog is a puppy.
- Wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after brushing your dog’s teeth. A canine mouth has a lot of bacteria in it.
- Use a different toothbrush for each of your pets. Label them, so you don’t forget whose is whose – no one wants to share a toothbrush. Ew!
- Clean your dog’s toothbrush after every use. A simple way to disinfect it is to place it in boiling water for a few minutes. Sore it upright to dry (like you would your own).
How Often Should You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
Taking care of your pet means adding healthy habits to your routine. This can mean taking your doggo for a walk, combing their coat, clipping their nails, and brushing their teeth. Just as humans need to brush their pearly whites twice a day for good oral hygiene, your dog’s teeth also need regular brushing.
Experts have suggested that you brush your furbaby’s teeth just as often as you brush your own. Yes, we know that seems like a lot when your pup would rather chew on a toy! If twice a day seems like a tall order, try aiming for once a day, or at least two to three times a week. Aim for 30 seconds on each side. On your “day off,” you can get your dog some dental chews.
Dog-Friendly Toothpaste Ingredients
Add a pinch of this, that, and a whole lot of love. Making dog-friendly toothpaste for your dog means that you can use natural ingredients that are safe, non-toxic, and effective on your pet’s pearly whites. No one will judge you for using store-bought dog toothpaste, but making homemade dog toothpaste will combat stinky dog breath while having added perks for your dog.
Ideally, you want a toothpaste that tastes good and is useful in scrubbing teeth clean. Here are our favorite ingredients for DIY doggie toothpaste.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can have many uses and is a wonderful addition to your dog’s life. When it comes to using coconut oil in tooth brushing, you’ll be happy to know that the oil has antimicrobial properties that effectively remove harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the mouth. Coconut oil can reduce plaque buildup, fight gum disease and prevent tooth decay.
If you already add coconut to your dog’s diet for its many other beneficial properties, then your dog will be familiar with the taste, making teeth cleaning an effortless event.
Chicken or Beef Broth
Low-sodium chicken, beef, or vegetable broth will be a flavorsome addition to your dog’s homemade toothpaste. You can buy bone broth specially made for dogs, or you can make homemade broth. Making a homemade broth is worth the effort as it can last for a long time once frozen.
Freeze your broth into ice cube trays and use them for your meals or your dog’s toothpaste. A beef bouillon cube may seem like a good cheat option, but store-bought options are often too salty or contain onion powder, which is toxic for pets.