If the thought sounds a little nutty to you — on par with giving your pup a pedicure, perhaps — you might want to have a chat with your vet. She’ll  probably tell you that regular oral care for your pooch is just as important to its long-term well-being as it is to yours.

It’s true that dogs went thousands of years without toothbrushes, oral cleanings, and dental X-rays, but so did people. And our mouths, just like those of our four-legged friends, suffered for it — with gum disease, tooth loss, chronic pain, and more. Also, in those days, people and animals did not live as long as we do today.

Now most of us see the benefit of daily brushing, twice yearly cleanings, and regular dental X-rays for ourselves. And though dogs don’t eat the wide range of cavity-causing foods we enjoy, they need regular dental care for many of the same reasons we do:

• To prevent the build-up of plaque, tartar, and calculus
• To check for and prevent gingivitis and gum disease
• To look for trauma, such as broken or fractured teeth
• To inspect for developmental or orthodontic problems

Protecting Your Dog From Pain

By the time they are 3 years old, most dogs already show signs of gum disease (also called periodontal disease). As a result, dogs may be at risk for some of the same problems that chronic infection can cause in people, including heart, liver, and kidney problems.

“Pets don’t show pain from dental disease,” says Tony M. Woodward, a veterinary dentist in Colorado. “When they’re in pain I wish dogs would paw at their faces or stop eating, but they don’t.”

As a matter of fact, your dog can have a mouthful of abscessed teeth and still eat just fine, Woodward says.

“That’s the main reason why people should care about dental problems in pets: It hurts them,” he says.

8 Tips for Good Doggie Dental Care

1. Get your dog regular exams and cleanings. Good oral care doesn’t start and stop with tooth brushing. It should include regular dental exams, including X-rays and a professional cleaning under general anesthesia. “The goal is to maintain oral health, function of the teeth, and a pain-free state,” says Colleen O’Morrow, DVM, a veterinary dentist in Manitoba, Canada.
2. Start young. If you’ve got a puppy, now is the time to include brushing in his good-manners training. But have no fear, even pets in their teens can learn to love a good brushing — if you take it slow.
3. Brush gradually and gently. Start by putting a little toothpaste on their brush and let your dog lick it off. Then try touching the toothbrush to your dog’s teeth. After that, brush for a few seconds. Take a month or two to introduce her to this new habit. When your dog is ready for a real brushing, raise her lips to expose teeth and gums. Then brush from the gum line to the tip of the tooth. Avoid opening your pet’s mouth, which can lead to panic and struggling.
4. Use toothpaste made specifically for dogs. Toothpastes for humans contain certain types of fluorides and detergents that are meant to be spit out after you brush. Your dog will swallow toothpaste, so buy a product meant for pets. Pet toothpaste can come in a host of flavors, including poultry, beef, seafood, malt, peanut, and vanilla-mint.
5. Use a pet-specific toothbrush. The heads of brushes made for people are too wide for a pet’s mouth, and even soft bristles are usually too hard. Talk to your veterinarian about the best toothbrush for your dog. Your vet may suggest a soft power brush. Or some vets suggest a finger brush that slips over your finger like a thimble. But avoid finger brushes if you have a small dog; your finger is just too big to be a comfortable fit for your pet’s mouth. And if you have more than one pet, get each pet its own brush to avoid spreading germs.
6. Brush in back. For pets, dental problems are often most severe in the back, upper teeth. So it’s most important to brush the outsides of the big teeth there, say the pros.
7. Chew on this. Dogs benefit greatly from chewing every day on something that helps keep teeth clean.
8. Make tooth brushing fun and rewarding. Before and after brushing, praise, pet and play with your dog. “I like to combine brushing with a positive reinforcement,” says Barry L. Rathfon, DVM, an Idaho veterinarian whose practice is limited to veterinary dentistry. One of the best reinforcements, he says, is to brush your pup’s teeth just before a meal. To remind yourself, put your pet’s toothbrush near his food supply.

It’s true that some dogs just don’t want to have their teeth brushed, and that’s OK. But don’t give up too soon. About 80% of dogs will allow you to brush their teeth, Woodward says, even older dogs. That’s if you start gradually and make it fun.