How to Use a BiteBlock to Stop Your Dog from Chomping the Brush

You get the toothpaste on the brush, lift your dog's lip, and — chomp. The brush becomes a chew toy, your fingers get caught in the crossfire, and the whole routine ends in about nine seconds.

You're not doing anything wrong. Dogs bite down on things that enter their mouths; it's reflex, not defiance. The fix isn't more patience or a firmer grip. It's giving your dog something else to bite on while you brush. That's exactly what the BiteBlock does.

Why brushing is worth the trouble

Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in dogs and cats. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, roughly 80% of dogs show some form of it by age three, and it can escalate from bad breath to tooth loss to organ damage. Yet only about 2% of owners brush daily — largely because the first few attempts go so badly that people quietly give up.

A professional dental cleaning runs anywhere from $500 to $3,000 if extractions are involved. Two minutes a day is a better deal.

How to use the BiteBlock, step by step

1. Load it onto your finger. For the Small and Medium sizes, slide the BiteBlock onto your middle finger with the grooved edge facing up and the bite surface perpendicular to your palm, then tuck your index finger between the grooves to lock it in place. 

2. Insert it into the side of the mouth. Let your dog bite down on the block. Rest your thumb on top of the snout and steady the jaw from underneath with your bottom two fingers. Keep the grip light — snouts are sensitive. You now have one-handed control and a free hand.

3. Brush the opposite side. With your other hand, brush the side of the mouth that isn't holding the block. Get the outer surfaces and the inner ones.

4. Switch sides. Take the BiteBlock out, move it to your other hand, and repeat on the other half of the mouth.

That's the whole method. The teeth stay accessible, the mouth stays open, and the brush stops being the target.

A few things that make it stick

• Start young if you can. Puppies who grow up with a brushing routine barely notice it later.
• Expect a training period. Your dog may need a few sessions just to accept the block before you brush anything. Let them investigate it, reward calm behaviour, and build up gradually. Older dogs usually need longer — that's normal, not a failure.
• Size matters. The Small is built for pets 5–15 lbs, the Medium for 15–85 lbs. A block that doesn't fit won't sit comfortably or hold position.
• Use dog toothpaste. Human toothpaste isn't safe for dogs. An enzymatic formula keeps working on plaque between brushings, and the banana mint flavour helps sell the whole experience.
• Keep sessions short at first. Thirty seconds that end well beats three minutes that end badly.

Ready to try it?

Paw Ready builds the BiteBlock alongside the BrushMate dual-ended toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste so the whole routine works as one system — protected fingers, cleaner teeth, calmer dog.

See the full instructions and video walkthrough, or browse the brushing bundles and combos at pawready.com.