by Marielle Elise

Created on: February 06, 2009

Did you know that brushing your dog's teeth can add up to five years to his life? Most pet owners underestimate the importance of dental care for their pets, but good dental hygiene is just as important to the health of our canine friends as it is to their human counterparts. In fact, disease linked to poor dental hygiene is probably the most preventable illness that dogs can face!

If you've never brushed your dog's teeth before, it's not too late to get started. The most important key to your success, as with most endeavors, is to equip yourself with the right tools. You'll need a toothbrush, canine toothpaste, and most likely some water-that's it! The choices are endless, so have some fun with deciding which products to use. Choose right, and brushing your dog's teeth can be a positive bonding experience for both you and your dog.

First, the toothbrush. There are several companies that offer special canine toothbrushes, in many different varieties. Depending on the size and strength of your dog's jaw and his level of comfort regarding your hands in or near his mouth, you may want to choose accordingly. The finger toothbrush is a soft, textured plastic guard that you actually slip over your index finger. It allows for the best control of where you brush, but may not be a good choice for a dog with a very strong bite-watch out for those fingers! Another option is the three-sided pet toothbrush, with an angled head that lets you get on all sides of the teeth at once. This might a good choice for someone who wants to get the job done thoroughly, but fast. Last, but not least, is a regular old human toothbrush. The cheapest option by far, this toothbrush will work just fine if you've got a cooperative partner-but a word of caution: Some softer-bristled toothbrushes come apart easily, and you want to make sure that your toothy friend isn't swallowing any bristles.

Next, for the toothpaste. You'd be hard-pressed to find a dog who won't chew his own toothbrush, if you've got the right toothpaste! Manufactured specifically for the canine palate (and safe for the canine stomach, too!), there are many brands of dog toothpaste out there to choose from. To make your job the easiest, go with a flavor of toothpaste that you know your dog loves. While we wouldn't brush our teeth with a liver pate, a liver-flavored toothpaste will do just fine to clean your dog's teeth-and he'll think it's delicious, too! Could vanilla-mint be his thing? Lots of dogs adore this flavor-and it

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