How to Brush a Dog's Teeth When Your Dog Resists

The easiest way to brush a dog's teeth is to teach it like any other trick, one small step at a time. Get your dog comfortable with you handling their mouth first, then brush just the outer surfaces for a few seconds a day. Thirty seconds of calm brushing every day beats a monthly wrestling match.

What this article covers

• Get Your Dog Comfortable Before You Brush Their Teeth
• How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth Once They're Comfortable
• Choosing Toothpaste for Brushing Your Dog's Teeth
• Can Chews and Water Additives Replace Brushing Your Dog's Teeth?
• When Your Dog Needs a Professional Teeth Cleaning

Get Your Dog Comfortable Before You Brush Their Teeth

Think of it the same way you taught your pup to give a paw or roll over. You break the skill into tiny steps, reward each one, and only move on when your dog's relaxed. If they pull away, go back a step and finish on something easy. Puppies pick it up fastest, but older dogs can absolutely learn too. Some get there in a few days, others take a few weeks, and both are completely normal.

Pick a calm moment for each session, like right after a walk, when your dog's tired, happy, and ready to flop. Our friends at Pink Papyrus make gorgeous rope leashes and walk sets, so that pre-brushing stroll is a treat for both of you.

1. Touch the muzzle. Gently stroke the outside of your pup's face for a second or two, then praise and treat.
2. Lift the lip. Raise their lip to peek at the front and side teeth, then let go and reward.
3. Taste the toothpaste. Put a dab of dog toothpaste on your fingertip and let your dog sniff and lick it. (Ours comes in banana mint and bacon cheese, and most dogs treat it like a snack.)
4. Rub with your finger. Slide your finger along a few outer tooth surfaces near the gumline.
5. Bring in the brush. Let your dog sniff it, then touch it to one or two front teeth and reward.

Keep each session short and cheerful. Even if you only reach a few teeth at first, your dog is still learning a habit that will keep them healthy for life.

If you've ever felt your dog's jaw tighten around your knuckle mid-brush, you'll know why we made the BiteBlock. It slips onto your finger and sits in the side of your dog's mouth, so they bite down on soft natural rubber while you brush the other side, and your hand stays out of harm's way. It started as a design idea that pet parents kept asking to buy, so our team developed it properly, made it more comfortable, and added small and medium sizes. Your dog will still need a little training to accept it, so introduce it the same slow, rewarded way.

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth Once They're Comfortable

1. Settle your dog somewhere quiet and put a small amount of dog toothpaste on the brush.
2. Lift the lip so you can see the outer surfaces of the teeth.
3. Start with the easy-to-reach front and side teeth, using small, gentle circles along the teeth and gumline.
4. Work gradually toward the back teeth, where plaque and tartar tend to build up.
5. Stop while your dog is still calm, and finish with praise or a treat.

You don't need to get every tooth from every angle, and that comes as a relief to most pet parents. Plaque piles up mostly on the outer surfaces, where your dog's cheek sits against their teeth, and those are the easiest ones to reach without a struggle. Gentle little circles along the gumline do more than hard scrubbing, too, and your pup will thank you for it.

Daily brushing is the gold standard, but don't beat yourself up if life gets busy. Even three or four times a week makes a real difference. A few seconds every day soon turns into a cozy little routine your dog expects, and a long session every couple of weeks never gets you there.

If brushing still feels like a battle, it might not be you or your dog. It might be the brush. We designed our BrushMate with two angled heads, a bigger one for the back teeth and a smaller one for the front, plus a long neck that reaches the molars without your hand going into your dog's mouth. It has soft bristles and rubber gum stimulators that are gentle on sensitive gums, plus a built-in tongue cleaner for fresher kisses.

Choosing Toothpaste for Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Do not use human toothpaste on your dog. It contains fluoride, which is dangerous for dogs to swallow, and some brands also contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Your dog can't rinse and spit the way you do, so whatever goes on the brush ends up in their tummy. Stick with a toothpaste made just for dogs, and you can brush with total peace of mind.

Enzymatic toothpaste is a lifesaver while you're both still learning. It keeps working after you put the brush down, because its enzymes break down the bacteria in plaque and loosen it before it hardens into tartar. Even a quick, wobbly first session does some good. Our enzymatic toothpaste is made with natural ingredients, comes in banana mint and bacon cheese, and is safe for dogs and puppies. Most dogs think it's a treat, which makes your job a whole lot easier.

Can Chews and Water Additives Replace Brushing Your Dog's Teeth?

We totally get why so many pet parents rely on dental chews, treats, and water additives. They're easy, and your dog loves them! Sadly, they're not enough on their own. Chews can scrape some plaque off the tips of the teeth, but they can't clean along the gumline the way a brush can, and that's where gum disease starts.

They're still great to have around. Chews and wipes make a handy backup on days your dog just isn't in the mood, and water additives can freshen things up between brushes. None of them can remove tartar that's already hardened, though, so think of them as your brushing routine's trusty sidekicks.

When Your Dog Needs a Professional Teeth Cleaning

Once plaque hardens into tartar, no toothbrush in the world can shift it. That's a job for your vet, who'll clean your dog's teeth under anesthesia, scrape off the tartar, and check for problems hiding under the gumline. Do not try to scrape hardened tartar off at home, because it's easy to hurt your dog's gums. Many vets suggest a dental checkup once a year.

Gum disease can do more than give your dog stinky breath, too. By age three, most dogs already have some, and bacteria from infected gums can get into the bloodstream and affect organs like the kidneys. Every few seconds of brushing you squeeze in really does count.

A professional cleaning can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000, depending on where you live, your dog's size and age, and how much work their mouth needs. If your dog needs teeth pulled or treatment for advanced gum disease, expect the bill to land near the top of that range. Ask your vet for an itemized estimate before you book. Next to that, a tube of toothpaste and a few seconds a day look like a pretty great deal!

Book a vet dental exam if you notice any of these signs:

• Persistent bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Loose or broken teeth
• Difficulty eating
• Excessive drooling
• Swelling around the mouth

If your dog suddenly starts fighting the brush, they might be in pain, so check with your vet before you push on. Once their mouth feels better, go back to the first easy step, keep sessions short and sweet, and let your pup set the pace.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay if my dog swallows the toothpaste?

Yes, that's exactly what dog toothpaste is made for. Dogs can't spit, so our enzymatic toothpaste is safe for them to swallow. Just use a small dab on the brush.

When can I start brushing my puppy's teeth?

As soon as you bring them home. Start with the touch-and-taste steps, and keep it extra gentle while they're teething, because those little gums can be sore. Our Small BiteBlock is made for pets from 5 to 15 lb and is safe for a puppy's baby teeth.

Should I keep brushing if my dog's gums bleed?

Pause the brush and book a vet dental exam, since bleeding can signal a problem that makes brushing painful. You can keep practicing gentle muzzle touches in the meantime, then go back to brushing once your vet gives the all-clear.

Can the BiteBlock replace the training steps?

No. It keeps your fingers safe and your dog's mouth open, but your dog still needs those slow, rewarded steps to feel relaxed. Introduce it gently, and never use it to push through when your pup is saying no.