Why do they say dogs mouths are cleaner than humans??

Question

I mean come on!!! They eat poopy some times!!!

Answer 1

It's not true. It's just that human bites to humans are more likely to become infected than a dog bite because humans carry more bacteria and viruses that are likely to infect other humans. But dog mouths have plenty of bacteria just like any other species and they can cause an infection too. Old wives tale.

Answer 2

I think the saying originates in the fact that dogs lick their wounds when they are injured - and they often heal pretty fast. So people assume that there are antibacterial qualities or certain enzymes in dog's saliva.

That isn't exactly true, however, it is true that dog saliva has enzymes in them that human saliva does not. Also, a lot of bacteria that dogs carry are species specific. That means, if your dog licks you, you won't get any diseases the dog may carry bacteria for. If you kiss another human, they might give you strep throat.

I wouldn't say their mouths are "cleaner", but their saliva is different from humans and doesn't carry the same bacteria that a human's saliva does.

Answer 3

You are exactly right. A dog's mouth is Not cleaner than a human's mouth because dogs eat poop, and whatever else they find on the floor. They lick their own butt, they lick their feet. This is a myth that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's mouth, it came about because dog's have less different types of bacteria that naturally live in their mouths than humans. But that doesn't include the other types of bacteria they pick up from the environment.

Answer 4

People have closely-spaced teeth between which very nasty germs like anaerobic bacteria can grow. Dogs, on the other hand, have widely spaced teeth so only aerobic germs can grow there. A dog bite is much, much less dangerous than a human bite as far as infection goes.

Cats, on the other hand, have fangs like hypodermic needles and can give you an unpleasant bacterial infection called Pasteurella.

Answer 5

They have certain bacteria in their saliva that kill harmful bacteria. Also, if a dog licks a cut that you have, it will heal faster, it's just like putting salt water or going to the beach. It has healing qualities.

Answer 6

i couldnt say why...though i think i read somewhere that the saying really isnt true.

but in my opinion, id take doggy kisses over people kisses any day (i mean, theres some nasty looking/smelling people out there...but puppies are always cute!)