🦷 Vet’s 2025 Guide to Brushing Teeth & Dental Cleanings for Dogs and Cats 🐶🐱

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Dental disease is one of the most common and preventable health issues in pets. 🪥 Without daily plaque control and regular vet care, oral bacteria can lead to pain, tooth loss, and infections that affect the heart, kidneys, and liver. 😷

This 2025 guide walks you through everything you need to know about brushing, dental cleanings, toys, and early warning signs. 🐾

🪥 Why Should You Brush Your Pet’s Teeth?

Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. If not removed daily, it hardens into tartar (calculus) that irritates the gums, leading to infection and eventually tooth loss. 🦠

Untreated gum disease (periodontitis) causes pain, bad breath, and in advanced cases, damage to internal organs through the bloodstream. 🧬

✅ Daily Brushing Removes:

• 🦠 Plaque buildup
• 💛 Yellow stains near the gumline
• 😷 Bacteria that cause bad breath

🧼 How to Brush Your Dog’s or Cat’s Teeth

1. 🪥 Choose the right brush: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or finger brush made for pets.
2. 🍗 Use pet-safe toothpaste: Human toothpaste contains detergents and fluoride that are harmful if swallowed.
3. 😺 Start slowly: Let your pet lick the toothpaste first. Practice lifting the lips and gently touching the teeth.
4. 🕒 Brush for 30–60 seconds daily: Focus on where the tooth meets the gumline.

Tip: Reward brushing with treats or praise to build a positive routine. 🎉

🧻 What About Dental Wipes?

Wipes can help if your pet resists brushing. Be sure to wipe the gumline, where plaque builds up. 🧽 They’re not a substitute for brushing but are better than nothing. 💡

✅ What Is the VOHC?

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is a group of board-certified veterinary dentists. They approve dental products proven to reduce plaque and tartar. 🏅

Look for the VOHC seal when buying:

• 🦴 Dental diets
• 🪥 Toothpastes and gels
• 🦷 Chews and rinses

📅 How Often Do Pets Need a Professional Cleaning?

It depends on your pet’s oral health and your brushing consistency. 🧪 Examine your pet’s teeth monthly. Look for:

• 🟤 Brown or yellow deposits near the gumline
• 🔴 Red or swollen gums
• 🤢 Bad breath

Guideline:

• 🐾 No brushing? Expect cleanings every 6–12 months
• 🪥 Daily brushing? You may extend intervals to 12–18 months

🧼 Why Home Scraping Is NOT Enough

Scraping tartar off with a nail or dental tool only removes surface buildup. Dental disease hides below the gumline, where bacteria cause deep infections. ⚠️

💤 Is Anesthesia Required for Cleanings?

Yes—and for good reason. Anesthesia allows us to:

• 💤 Thoroughly clean under the gumline
• 📸 Take dental x-rays
• 😷 Prevent bacteria from entering the lungs during cleaning

Is It Safe?

Yes. We use gas anesthesia, pre-op bloodwork, and advanced monitors—just like human hospitals. 🏥

🦷 What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning?

An Oral Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention (Oral ATP) includes:

1. 🧪 Pre-anesthetic exam and bloodwork
2. 🦷 Oral exam under anesthesia
3. 🔬 Subgingival scaling and root planing
4. 💎 Tooth polishing
5. 🌊 Irrigation and fluoride/oral sealant
6. 📸 Dental x-rays
7. 📋 Charting and treatment planning

💰 How Much Does It Cost?

It varies based on:

• 🦷 Severity of dental disease
• 🧪 Pre-op testing
• 💊 Anesthesia and medication

Your vet will offer an estimate during your pet’s initial oral exam and update it after full evaluation under anesthesia. 🧾

🍽️ What’s the Best Diet for Dental Health?

Hard kibbles help reduce plaque, but don’t rely on diet alone. There are also VOHC-approved dental diets designed to scrub teeth while chewing. 🐾

🚫 Toys to Avoid

• 🐄 Cow and horse hooves—break teeth easily
• 🪵 Hard bones or antlers—common cause of fractured molars
• 🚫 Tug-of-war for puppies—can move developing teeth

🐱 What Are Cat Cavities (Tooth Resorption)?

Cats commonly develop tooth resorptions—painful lesions at the gumline that destroy the tooth. 🦷

• 😿 Cause is unknown
• 🧪 Detected during dental x-rays
• 🔧 Most require extraction for pain relief

👃 Bad Breath Means Trouble

Bad breath isn’t “normal” for pets—it’s a sign of infection. Don’t mask it with treats. Seek an oral exam and cleaning. 😷

📋 What Tests Are Done to Diagnose Dental Disease?

• 🩺 Full oral exam (under anesthesia)
• 📏 Periodontal probing
• 📸 X-rays to check bone loss and root health

🧒 When Should I Start Dental Care?

Start when puppy or kitten teeth erupt. Early brushing habits make adult dental care much easier. 🍼🪥

🧪 What If My Pet Already Has Dental Disease?

• 🧼 Early stages = scaling and polishing
• 🔧 Advanced cases = surgery or extractions
• 💊 Monthly antibiotics may help in certain cases

🐶 Which Pets Are Most at Risk?

Small breeds (like Maltese, Yorkies, and Shih Tzus) are at higher risk because of tight spacing between teeth. 🐾

🦷 What If My Pet Breaks a Tooth?

Broken teeth need treatment:

• 💉 Root canal to preserve the tooth
• 🔧 Extraction if the nerve is exposed

Don’t leave a broken tooth untreated—it’s painful and will lead to infection. ❗

📱 Ask A Vet Can Help

Not sure what products to use? Curious about your pet’s breath? Get answers fast at AskAVet.com. 🩺

• 📲 Snap photos of your pet’s teeth
• 📋 Get product recommendations from licensed vets
• 🦷 Track brushing routines with the Ask A Vet App

📲 Download the Ask A Vet App

Get daily care tips, vet-approved VOHC products, and live dental Q&A all in one place. 🐕📱

🎯 Final Thoughts

Healthy mouths = healthy lives. Brushing daily and scheduling regular cleanings can prevent the #1 chronic disease in pets: periodontal disease. 🦷

Whether you’re brushing every day or just getting started—Ask A Vet is here to support your pet’s dental health. 💬🐾

Because a clean mouth means more tail wags, more purrs, and better breath. 🐶💖🐱