Have you ever heard someone say that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's mouth?

Question

I've heard this numerous times. Where could such crap possibly have originated from? There's a reason a dog's breath stinks. I don't lick my own a***, and it's not just because I can't.

Answer 1

From a microbiologist's perspective here you go...

...A dog's mouth and human's mouth is cess pool of bacteria and other gross things. But the idea that a dog's mouth being "cleaner" than a human's comes from the fact that the natural occurring fauna (fancy word for life forms) that grow in a dogs mouth are less toxic/disease causing to a human than the natural fauna found in human mouths. Both a full of all kinds of things...and your body has natural defenses to help protect you from this bacteria (like mucous membranes, low ph and high acidity in your stomach, skin, and an immune system) so typically you are not affected by the bacteria. However think of what happens when you scratch your gums or bite your cheek. Typically that site gets a little infected and pretty sore (this is because you lost 2 or your protective defenses--skin and mucous.) After a few days your body fights off the infection and your sore goes away.

Regarding dog's breath stinking...I know many humans that have worse breath than any dog I've ever encounterd. But bad breath in humans and dogs is caused by (yep you guessed it) the bacteria living in their mouths. Also, a poor diet can cause stinky breath too. Really the licking their own hinnies doesn't play much into the scent of their breath. What small amount of fecal residue that they may remove from their anus would be fully diluted and virtually undetectable. (Its still really gross and have NO intentions on trying to replicate it myself).

So...relax...there is truth to this saying...you just have to have an open mind and way too much biology in your life to really appreciate it. :o)

Answer 2

The way I heard it when I was a kid was that a dog's mouth is actually "sterile." I can even recall someone in my neighborhood attempting to "prove" this to anybody who'd sit still for it by letting his dog lick the inside of his own mouth — not a particularly conclusive demonstration, but memorable just the same.

I believed what I was told at the time in spite of the contradictory evidence at hand, namely that people often become quite ill and even die from dog bites. If a dog's mouth is sterile, how could it transmit rabies, tetanus, pasteurella or any of the other types of infection associated with dog bites?

But I digress. The precise question was: Is a dog's mouth cleaner than a human's? The answer to that is no, too, and basically for the reasons you've already cited. As we all know, dogs aren't particularly fussy about where they put their tongues or what goes into their mouths.

"A dog's mouth contains a lot of bacteria," notes Dr. Gary "Ask the Vet" Clemons. "Remember, a dog's tongue is not only his wash cloth but also his toilet paper."

Not only accurate, but delicately put!

So, where did the notion that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's come from? Doctors, evidently. It has long been noted in the medical literature that human bites are more likely to become infected than those of other mammals, including dogs. Statistics to that effect were published in journals and repeated by medical professionals, and folk wisdom took off from there.

Answer 3

This is true that dogs mouth has less bacteria than a human mouth, however there are 2 things people should consider.

1-The human mouth is even dirtier than the floor of a public bus. The human mouth is pretty dirty.

2- Although a dogs mouth does have less bacteria in numbers, they have a different type of bacteria that could cause people to become sick if they were to find their way into a human mouth.

This is why veterinary technicians that perform dental procedures will wear face shields during the time they are performing dental cleanings.

If your dogs breath does stink especially bad, you may want to consider some treatments for your dog.
They should have a sort of "neutral" smell to them. Often times "Greenies" (very popular) will help with this, pork bones and other types of dog chew bones sold in pet stores will help, and specially designed dog food that is shaped and formulated to help dogs with dental issues, and the food can be found at your local veterinary office, as it is usually prescribed.

And there are specific dog style toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a special gel type of "mouth wash" for dogs that helps to maintain a healthy dog mouth.

Hope this helps clarify things up.

Answer 4

Yes I have heard that but it is untrue. Dogs have different elements in their saliva that breaks down problem foods that they eat, however, they eat/lick some really nasty stuff ( like private parts of other dogs etc.) and that can also get broken down in their stomachs. Humans should try to stay away from the mouths of dogs, cats, horses and even some humans if possible! Some times little children will lick the dogs mouth after the dog has licked theirs, but I've never seen anyone get sick yet!

Answer 5

Hey I'm not an expert but have you seen your dog at the sink brushing it's teeth and tongue?? I mean come on, i don't go off and eat some poopy. And the food you eat is normally clean. They eat off the ground. Lick their you know what's and are unsanitary!!! They do eat poop,nasty dog food, and other things that have a beautiful amount of bacteria in it. Next time when your dog tries to lick your face, go brush his teeth at least 20, eh maybe 40 minutes before he touches your face. Get him some doggie mints, it helps for 10 seconds.

Answer 6

"My receptionist's daughter took this strange belief as the topic of her science fair project. Several times each day for several days, she took culture swabs from the mouths of their Labrador Retrievers, her own mouth, and her parents' mouths. Before eating, after eating, after brushing, first thing in the morning, lots of times. Each and every time, the dogs were the hands-down winners in numbers and variety of bacterial colonies. It was a prize-winning science fair project."



---- The idea of dogs licking their wounds has NOTHING to do with their salivia being able to heal lol ... think of it in these terms... a sore in your mouth will heal fast than a scratch on your leg b/c its constantly wet and the moisture leads to a faster recovery... nothing about bacteria.

Answer 7

A dogs saliva is more acidic then humans. The statement comes from a study that was done proving that people get more infections from HUMAN bites then dog bites. There is not scientific way to prove this since not all people brush their teeth (gross) and not all dog eat their own poop (double gross). I would take a kiss from a strange dos, though then from a strange human because of the acid in dogs mouths. So really, there is no good answer to your question. Sorry.

Answer 8

I think for their own sake their mouths are cleaner then ours. When a dog gets wounded they lick their wounds which cleans them. I agree with you how can something be cleaner then ours when they eat poop, dead creatures, and lick everything? I know if a dog might have worms you shouldn't let it lick babies feet, face and hands, the same goes for cats also.

Answer 9

It's a mix-up of ideas. Dogs have the ability to consume and lick and whatever things that would make you sick. That's doesn't mean that you could put dog spit in your mouth and be OK.

Answer 10

I saw a recent episode of Mythbusters on Discover Channel where they tested this myth.

Yep -- the dog's mouth was cleaner.