Pet Health: brushing teeth

Brushing teeth helps prevent dental disease and keeps breath fresh. It makes good sense that a pet company would develop a toothbrush and toothpaste and call the combo “Kissable” Unfortunately, the product is not as good as the name. And, that’s the way with many pet products—the advertising is superior to the product.

So what is wrong with the Kissable product?--it’s a potential breeding ground for bacteria. The brush has three sides that come together so that it cannot dry out. When a toothbrush stays moist, bacteria proliferate. This makes the toothbrush a health hazard.

The best toothbrushes clean easily and dry easily. Human toothbrushes will work for pets if you choose the right size, and use SOFT. Unfortunately, human toothpaste won’t work for pets. Pets don’t spit and human toothpastes are not meant to be swallowed but to be spit out. Use pet toothpaste and brush. Taking a wipe to the teeth is doesn’t help the breath much, or the teeth, because the bacteria that cause odor and gum disease are just under the gum line. Brushes do a much better job of reaching these bacteria than wipes do—and that’s why human dentists tell us to brush our teeth and not wipe them off.

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