how do I open my dog's mouth?

Question

we are trying to brush our dog's teeth. he's already 2 and we've never done it. we've given him the toothpaste to taste and he likes it but he won't let us open his mouth.

Answer 1

You do not need to fully open the dogs mouth to brush their teeth, and you do not need to brush the sides of the teeth that are closest to the tongue. Just lift the lips up and use a toothbrush by sticking it just inside the lips and then brush away. Be sure to use toothpaste for dogs, not the kind for humans.

Answer 2

When I brush my dog's teeth, it is a tough job. I've actually given up on the toothbrush, and have put the toothpaste on a wet washcloth. He seems to accept it better.

Work one side at a time. I lift up my dogs lip to show his teeth. This way, while he clenches his jaw, I can still get the outside of his teeth. To get his mouth open, I just stick my hand in, and let him mouth a little. He doesn't bite hard, because he knows he's not allowed, but it gives me enough time to get the back teeth.

I have a golden retrvr, so I guess it will all depend on the breed you have. You won't get it perfect the first time, but keep trying. A little brushing is still better than no brushing at all. Good Luck.

Answer 3

To initially open his/her mouth I found that by applying gentle pressure at the left and right side of their cheeks and pressing against the back of their teeth that they will open their mouth a little and when the flesh of their cheeks goes a little in, they will open wider. At that point they will also pull away and so you will have to put the brush in very quickly. When you do that hold the back of their head so that they can't pull away and just brush.

They may chew a little on the brush but that's OK.

Now if the dog gets VERY disturbed at having the brush in the mouth, you will have to resort to the previous answer of the brushing food stuff.

Answer 4

For tooth brushing, first just lift the lip and brush the teeth from the outside. Then, with the dog facing to your right, put your left had on top of his muzzle, around his nose, and lift up. Reach in with the other hand and brush the insides of his teeth.

I use a kind of stuff from my vet that I apply once a week. You just rub it on the teeth and leave it. It's not as challenging as brushing teeth, and it dissolves the build up between the teeth.

It's great that you're taking care of your dog's teeth. When I was younger people just didn't do that and dogs ended up with lots of tooth problems when they were older.

Answer 5

The parts and teeth that you most have to worry about are the molars, towards the commissure of the lips. and only on the outside. The inside of the teeth aren't really a problem, but there are salivary glands that effect the outside of the molars. So...you don't really have to open the dog's mouth, but just raise the lips and get those molars.

Answer 6

You might have trouble getting him to let you brush his teeth. Normally people start brushing as a puppy so the dog can get used to it. An alternative is to just buy Detabone dog treats. They clean the teeth and you dont have to go through the trouble. My vet recommended them to me. I give me dog one a week and it does the trick. Her teeth are shiny white.

Answer 7

I had to just push the brush in my dogs mouth. Instead if brushing I just give her rawhide bones. They clean my dogs mouth great. She is 9 years old and her teeth are in perfect condition.

Answer 8

I brush my minpin's teeth once a year, & to open her mouth, we just grab her lower jaw & her upper jaw & pull them apart. Once the toothbrush is in her mouth, she can't close her mouth, so we just brush it. Sometimes, if she pulls away when we try to open her mouth, we poke our fingers in her face & provoke her so she will open her mouth to bite us. As soon as she does, I put my fingers inside her mouth & then brush her teeth! Good luck!!