Homemade Dog Teeth Cleaner

Many pet owners do not realize the importance of keeping a dog’s teeth clean. Over time tartar may build up and your pet’s teeth will suffer the consequences. Its teeth may begin to rot, which will cause your dog to experience an incredible amount of pain. Moreover, a dog with missing teeth will develop additional problems--it will be unable to eat food properly, necessitating the move to softer, less healthy foods. The dog may even hurt its jaw while attempting to consume the foods it once loved. Try these homemade remedies to keep your dog’s teeth clean.

While there are those who decry turkey necks as a poor remedy for keeping a dog’s teeth clean, Raw Fed Dogs.net and dog forums at Thrifty Fun suggest that these bones can be the best solution. Chewing on bones is something that dogs do naturally in the wild, and the act helps preserve the teeth so they can continue chewing and eating tough foods. Some people use frozen turkey necks, but this is not the best option. Raw bones of appropriate size and shape can be chewed and manipulated by dogs until their teeth are shiny and white, and a turkey neck happens to be the appropriate size and shape for optimal cleaning. Make sure you observe your dog as it chews--you don’t want it to accidentally swallow the whole thing.

A dog’s teeth can also be cleaned by chewing on and eating hard biscuits. Studies have demonstrated less plaque buildup and healthier teeth and gums in dogs who regularly consume hard food and biscuits instead of simply eating canned food. You can make your own biscuits using the following recipe: one and a half cups of wheat flour, one and a half cups of baking mix, a half cup of finely chopped mint leaves, a quarter cup of milk, 4 tablespoons of margarine, 1 egg, and a tablespoon of maple syrup. Mix the ingredients and roll them onto a cookie sheet, then bake them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. These biscuits contain ingredients that your dog will find extremely tasty, but will also clean its teeth in the process.

Dogs, just like people, can benefit from the liberal use of toothpaste. Some of the best can be made easily at home. Mix together 6 teaspoons of baking soda, a third of a teaspoon of salt, 4 teaspoons of organic glycerin and 2 teaspoons of peppermint. The mixture will look similar to the toothpaste that you use (although you might not want to try it yourself, it also tastes similar). The toothpaste should be kept in the refrigerator and applied to the dog’s teeth and gums with a toothbrush at least once every couple of days.