Should I start brushing my puppy's teeth?
Puppies lose their baby teeth before the age of 6 months. Even though these teeth will be replaced by permanent ones, it’s a great idea to start getting your puppy used to having their teeth brushed now. You'll hopefully make this a daily routine with your dog, so the sooner you start practicing, the better.
How to introduce tooth brushing
It can sometimes be a bit tricky to get your puppy used to tooth brushing. Before you start, remember to be patient and let this training take the time it needs. After all, you don't need to rush the actual brushing just yet, as your puppy still has their baby teeth to lose.
1. Start by gently touching around your puppy's mouth and lifting their lip slightly. Always reward generously when your puppy is calm during handling.
2. Now, lift their lip a little further so you can glimpse their teeth and gums. Reward them!
3. Briefly rub your finger against their canine teeth. Reward!
4. Gently move your finger further back into your puppy's mouth, so they get used to you having your fingers further inside. Reward them! It’s important for the future that you can reach the larger, back teeth.
5. Gradually increase the time your puppy stays calm with your fingers in their mouth before you reward them.
Things to remember
By practising this a few times a day, you can also keep an eye on your puppy's teeth. They should loosen naturally, and the new permanent teeth should come through without any baby teeth remaining.
