Best Dog Toothbrushes & How to Choose the Right One?

As a dog owner, you love your pet and want to make sure he remains healthy for as long as possible. Many people believe that taking care of your dog’s dental health is as important as providing him with proper food and exercise. But which parts of dog dental care are essential and which one you can skip. Is brushing puppy’s teeth vital? And how to do it right? Here’s what this guide is all about. 

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Do dogs really need to have their teeth brushed?

Dogs like humans are subject to cavities and periodontal disease. Regular home brushing helps keep their teeth clean and plaque from building up and may even sweeten their breath.

It is recommended that you brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week and begin while they are puppies, so they get used to the feel of the toothbrush in their mouth. And therefore you can avoid many potential dental problems and dog tooth pain in the future.

What Kind of Dog Teeth Brushing Products are Out There? 

There are a variety of dog teeth brushing products available to use when cleaning your dog’s teeth. Finger toothbrushes are small soft toothbrushes that fit over your finger and are ideal for smaller dog’s teeth and for puppies as they allow you to get used to your dog’s mouth. 

Double-sided toothbrushes with a small brush on one side and a larger one, on the other hand, are great for larger dogs. 

Dental wipes work well on dogs that will tolerate having their teeth brushed with a regular toothbrush. 

Brushing bones and balls are toys that many dogs love and a great solution for dogs that won’t allow their humans to use a toothbrush or put a finger in their mouth. 

Can you use a human toothbrush on dogs? 

Human toothbrushes have very tough bristles that can scratch dog’s gums, causing them to fear to have their teeth brushed at all times. So overall, it is not advisable to use a human toothbrush on your dog. However, depending on your pet’s size, it is possible to use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush. 

How to choose the best toothbrush for your pup?

Not every dog toothbrush is suitable for every dog. However, there are some things that all toothbrushes for dogs should have. For example, you’ll need a toothbrush with an angled head and soft bristles regardless of the size of the dog. 

You will need to find a toothbrush with the proper size head size that will fit your dog’s mouth. For smaller dogs, you will want to use either a finger brush or a single brush with a tiny head. 

Larger dogs will likely need more than a toothbrush or at least a double-headed toothbrush that has small bristles on one end and larger bristles on the other. 

The rule of thumb when your pup is new to the toothbrushing, start with a finger brush as it will be easier for your control and will allow you to get the to shape and the hard to reach places of your dog’s mouth. 

Now that you know how to choose the right toothbrush for your dog, here is a look at some of the best dog brushes available in 2020. (And remember, that you have to use the toothpaste specifically made for dogs as human toothpaste contains ingredients that could make your dog sick).

Best dog toothbrushes comparison

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Some dogs hate having their teeth brushed and will squirm around, making getting their teeth brushed thoroughly.

360-degree finger toothbrushes by Barkley’s have bristles all the way around to help ensure that you can get your dog’s teeth clean no matter how much they squirm. 

The brush is made from durable silicone that will fit almost any finger (Just wet it and slide it on) and is BPA free. The silicone is thick enough to protect your fingers from your dog’s teeth and has soft enough bristles to clean the teeth and gently massage your dog’s gums. 

Do you have more than one dog that varies in size? If so, this toothbrush kit may be just what you need to clean the teeth of both your large dog and your smaller one. set by Ortz comes with 2 finger brushes, one with short bristles for small breed dogs and one with longer bristles for larger breeds dogs. Each of the finger brushes is expandable to fit on different size fingers. 

Besides, there is a long handle double-sided toothbrush, which makes it easier to reach the back teeth of larger dogs. 

These brushes allow you to brush the teeth of both small and large dogs more comfortably and with less of a fuss.

Is your large dog finicky about having their teeth brushed, rejecting every toothbrush you put in his mouth? If so, set of 12 toothbrushes may be just what you need. These toothbrushes come in various sizes (so those will work not only for large dogs), and the bristles run from very soft to harder ones.

The brushes are also made from food-grade materials and are designed to both brushes and massage your dog’s teeth. With so many items to choose from, there is sure to be at least one brush your finicky large dog will like.

If you have a new puppy or a small dog that has not had their teeth brushed before they will be nervous or even frightened by the experience, at least at first. This may end up causing your pet to fight all future teeth brushing and result in both you and your pooch becoming stressed.

kit by EC Markt is designed to make your dog’s first introduction to teeth brushing an enjoyable experience. So that may make your puppy or adult dog actually like to have their teeth cleaned.

This set comes with 7 brushing options. You start with the chewing/brushing ball (with dog toothpaste) introducing your dog to a flavor they like and having their teeth cleaned, and gums massaged. Then move on to the finger brushes and later the long-handled brushes. 

Your dog will recognize the scent of the dog toothpaste and recall the comfort of having their gums massaged and be willing to take the next step. 

Puppies can be fearful of strange objects, so having a long handle toothbrush being shoved in their face might prove to be too stressful for a young pup.

Especially when they are going through teething and all related struggles.

But there’s a loophole. Most puppies do enjoy chewing on your finger. They don’t mind you putting your finger in their mouth, so set of 12 finger toothbrushes is an excellent way to introduce your new puppy to having their teeth brushed. 

These brushes are made from silicone and have incredibly soft bristles so they won’t hurt your pup’s tender gums. 

Trying to find a dog toothbrush that your dog likes or at least will tolerate can be an extremely frustrating and time-consuming experience. And that may leave your dog with unbrushed teeth for weeks or even months.

However, dental care set by Pienoy with its 8 toothbrushes that come in various sizes and styles may solve their problem. There is likely to be at least one toothbrush that is the right size for your dog’s mouth and that he likes. 

Since these brushes are sized for small to large dogs and offer both finger brushes and long handle brushes, you will be able to try different brushes until you find the right one. And the price for all that convenience is more than justified. 

Best of all, these brushes are made from food-grade materials, so they are safe for your dog.

If your dog hates having his teeth brushed to the point when he fights, snarls, and even snaps until both and your dog are stressed and exhausted, you might feel as though you have to give up on cleaning his teeth at home.

Still, with doggie dental bone by Bagen, you can let your dog brush his own teeth by merely chewing on a play bone. 

This dental bone has a place to put into toothpaste so you can sweeten his breath while he cleans his teeth, and you won’t have to fight him to get his teeth clean. 

This toy comes with a cleaning brush (and a finger brush as well). It is also recommended that you only allow the dog to chew on the bone for 4 to 6 minutes to keep it last.

Credits: thanks for the photo to Canva.