How to Clean Your Dog’s Back Teeth When They Won’t Cooperate

Getting your dog to accept tooth brushing is not always easy. Even dogs that happily lick toothpaste from a toothbrush can resist when you try to reach the back of their mouth.

The back teeth still need attention, though. The large upper fourth premolars and molars can collect plaque and tartar, making them important areas to include in your dog's dental routine.

Ideally, your goal should be to gradually teach your dog to accept brushing throughout the mouth. For dogs that can tolerate it, tools such as Paw Ready's BiteBlock can help create access to the teeth while making brushing easier and more controlled.

But what if your dog simply will not cooperate yet?

There is another technique you can use temporarily: brushing the outer surfaces of the back teeth with the mouth closed.

It is not a replacement for working toward full-mouth brushing. Think of it as a useful fallback when opening your dog's mouth is not currently an option.

Why the Back Teeth Matter

The back teeth do a lot of the heavy chewing, and their location can make them easy to overlook during brushing.

The upper fourth premolars, often called the carnassial teeth, are particularly important. Their position farther back in the mouth means owners can have difficulty seeing or reaching them.

That is why it is easy to fall into a routine of brushing the teeth you can see and skipping the ones that are harder to access.

But brushing the front teeth alone is not the goal.

A good dental routine should eventually include as many tooth surfaces as your dog will safely and comfortably allow.

Ideally, Work Toward Full-Mouth Brushing

If your dog is comfortable having their mouth opened, reaching the back teeth directly is the better long-term goal.

This is where gradual training can make a big difference.

Paw Ready's BiteBlock is designed to help owners safely create access to the mouth while brushing. When a dog has been properly introduced to it and accepts it comfortably, it can make it much easier to see and reach teeth farther back in the mouth.

The key is training, not forcing.

Your dog may need time to become comfortable with having their lips handled, feeling the BiteBlock, and eventually having their teeth brushed. Start slowly and reward cooperation.

But not every dog will be ready for that immediately.

If your dog pulls away, clamps their mouth shut, or becomes stressed whenever you try to open their mouth, continuing to force the issue can make brushing even harder.

That is where the closed-mouth technique can help.

When Your Dog Won’t Let You Open Their Mouth

You do not have to abandon the back teeth simply because your dog is not ready for a fully open-mouth brushing routine.

Most of the tooth surface that you can safely brush without opening the mouth is on the outer side, facing the cheek.

With your dog's mouth closed, you can gently lift the lip and slide a small toothbrush into the cheek area. This gives you access to the outer surfaces of the back teeth without trying to hold the jaw open.

Again, this is a fallback technique—not the ultimate goal.

If your dog is currently unable to tolerate a BiteBlock or open-mouth brushing, getting some brushing done is preferable to giving up completely while you continue working on training.

Build Tolerance Before You Brush

If your dog becomes nervous when you touch their mouth, spend some time making mouth handling a normal part of their routine.

Do not rush this process.

Days 1–2:
Gently lift the lip for a few seconds, then release and reward your dog. Practice on both sides.

Days 3–4:
Lift the lip and gently touch the outside of the teeth with your finger. Keep the session short and positive.

Days 5–6:
Gradually work farther toward the back teeth. You are not trying to scrub yet. The goal is simply to make the sensation familiar.

Days 7–8:
Introduce a small amount of dog-safe toothpaste. Let your dog taste it from your finger or toothbrush before attempting to brush.

Days 9–10 and beyond:
Introduce the toothbrush. Start with the teeth your dog is most comfortable with, then gradually work farther back.

If your dog becomes uncomfortable at any stage, go back to the previous step.

The goal is not to complete a perfect dental cleaning on day one. The goal is to build a dog that becomes increasingly comfortable with the process.

How to Position Your Dog

Your position can make a surprisingly big difference.

Instead of standing directly in front of your dog, try sitting or kneeling beside them. Have your dog facing the same direction as you, with their body gently supported against your leg.

Small dogs may be more comfortable sitting on your lap and facing away from you.

Use one hand to gently lift the lip on the side you are brushing. Avoid gripping or forcing the jaw.

For this closed-mouth technique, you are simply creating enough space to slide the brush between the cheek and teeth.

Keep your movements calm and controlled.

The Closed-Mouth Back-Tooth Technique

Once your dog is comfortable with the toothbrush, try the following:

1. Start farther back.
Your dog's patience may be limited, so consider starting with the teeth that are hardest to reach rather than spending the entire session on the front teeth.

2. Lift the lip gently.
Create a small opening between the cheek and teeth rather than trying to open the jaw.

3. Angle the bristles toward the gumline.
The area where the tooth meets the gum is especially important because plaque can accumulate along this margin.

4. Use small, gentle movements.
You do not need to scrub aggressively. Light pressure is enough.

5. Work across the outer surfaces.
Concentrate on the back teeth first, then gradually work forward as your dog allows.

6. Keep the session short.
A few successful seconds are better than pushing your dog until they become frustrated.

7. Reward cooperation.
Finish while your dog is still relatively comfortable and reward them for participating.

As your dog's tolerance improves, continue working toward brushing more of the mouth.

What If Your Dog Still Won’t Let You Reach the Back?

This is where patience matters.

Some dogs will accept brushing along the outside of their teeth but still resist having their mouth opened. Others may need considerably more time before they are comfortable with a BiteBlock.

Do not interpret resistance as a reason to stop dental care altogether.

Instead, continue with the areas your dog allows you to reach while gradually working on mouth-handling and BiteBlock training.

The long-term goal is still to reach as much of the mouth as possible.

Choose a Brush That Can Reach the Back

A toothbrush with a small head and a longer handle can make it easier to reach behind the canine teeth and into the cheek area.

Paw Ready's BrushMate was designed with this type of access in mind. Its dual-ended design provides two brush-head sizes, while the angled heads and longer neck help you reach different areas of the mouth without putting your hand directly inside.

The important thing is to choose a brush that allows you to maintain control while using gentle pressure.

Pair it with a dog-safe enzymatic toothpaste rather than human toothpaste. Human toothpaste can contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs, including xylitol in some formulations.

Paw Ready's enzymatic toothpaste comes in Banana Mint and Bacon Cheese flavours, giving owners options for finding something their dog enjoys.

Keep Working Toward Better Access

The closed-mouth technique can be particularly useful when your dog is still learning to cooperate.

But it should not become a reason to stop training.

If your dog eventually becomes comfortable with the BiteBlock, you can work toward opening the mouth safely and gaining better access to the teeth that are difficult to reach from the outside.

That gives you a more complete brushing routine and makes it easier to see what is happening inside your dog's mouth.

And remember: never force a dog through significant fear, pain, or resistance. If brushing consistently causes distress, or if you notice bleeding, swelling, loose teeth, bad breath that suddenly worsens, or other changes in your dog's mouth, speak with your veterinarian.

All in All

The best dental routine is one your dog can consistently tolerate.

Ideally, that means gradually training your dog to accept brushing throughout the mouth and using a tool like the BiteBlock when appropriate to help create access to the teeth.

But if your dog is not ready for that yet, you still have options.

Gently brushing the outer surfaces of the back teeth with the mouth closed can help you continue caring for your dog's teeth while you work on improving their tolerance.

Start where your dog is comfortable, keep sessions short, and gradually work toward reaching more of the mouth.

For brushes, enzymatic toothpaste, and tools designed to make brushing easier, explore the Paw Ready dental collection at www.pawready.com.