Brushing Your Dogs Teeth

Brushing your dogs teeth helps to
freshen their breath and improve
health

Brushing your dog's teeth is a great way to promote hygiene in addition to your pet's general grooming. Brushing your canines teeth is something that can be enjoyable for both you and your pet. It will help you feel good as a pet owner and they will often enjoy the massage that comes with brushing. Not only can it be a fun process, but it is also a vital key in keeping your best friend in tip-top shape.

One of the most important reasons to brush your dog's teeth is because dogs are often in close proximity to us. For example, the moment when your dog jumps on you and wants to play, consider that you might look back and be glad that you brushed their teeth. Before you get started, here are a few items that you will want to have on-hand. 

• Toothbrush - They do make toothbrushes just for dogs. With softer bristles, they are gentle on your dog's gums. The longer handles also provide better reach for larger dogs. These are actually quite useful, we have one for our dog at home.

• Toothpaste -  Available in dog-friendly flavors like chicken or beef, specialized toothpaste will be sure to impress your pet. Do not use human toothpaste as it can be bad for dogs. I don't have the study with me, but there are articles out there on this.

• Optional - Chewable breath-freshening treats. These are great to give your dog after the brushing is complete. You can find these, as well as the aforementioned products at either a pet store or for a better deal, look on Amazon. 
  

When brushing your dog's teeth, refrain from being overly aggressive. This may startle your pet and cause them to pull away. If you're relaxed, your dog will be too. Try imagining brushing your own teeth. That way the brushing will be a comfortable experience for your pet. Try brushing in gentle, circular motions, making sure to focus especially on the gum line. That's where plaque lines tend to build and wreak havoc on the mouth. Make sure that you get all the teeth thoroughly and remember to be gentle. 

Once you've finished with the brushing, it's a great idea to provide your pet a treat to reinforce the good behavior of sitting still. In addition to brushing, there are Benefit chew treats that are made to aid in the removal of tartar buildup and freshen breath. Pedigree also makes a similar product called Dentastix, and there is also another one called Dentabites. These types of products in addition to brushing are great at keeping your pet's dental health in the best shape possible. 

"Dog"by Paul-Vincent Roll is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Streptococcus Mutans

Deep within the darkest recesses of the mouth, tiny colonies take up residence. In small numbers, no harm is done to the teeth. When their numbers increase, however, their sole purpose is to create havoc on an otherwise healthy mouth. Just what are these tiny beasts that can cause plaque, cavities, and tooth decay? They are known as Streptococci mutans. And when simple defenses such as brushing teeth and flossing regularly are neglected, they can become quite nasty.

Streptococci mutans is a form of bacteria that are normally found in the mouth. As soon as a baby's teeth start growing, these tiny microorganisms are introduced into the mouth with the first bite of food. They then remain there throughout his or her life. In normal quantities, S. mutans are actually beneficial to a person's health. They aid in the body's synthesis of vitamins. The bacteria also help boost a person's immune system by continuously releasing small amounts of antibodies. They also form a first-line defense against invading microbes by attacking them directly within the oral cavity.

Despite all its benefits, s. mutans have a dark side to them. If careful oral hygiene is not practiced on a regular basis, they can become out of control. S. mutans and other bacteria will multiply rapidly in the presence of food, especially sugary ones. They can also grow quickly when the pH of the mouth becomes acidic, as when a person suffers from a prolonged illness.

When the bacteria first begin to grow uncontrollably, the first sign is the buildup of the sticky, yellow substance known as plaque. As the plaque thickens, it causes the mouth to become more acidic. This leads to further bacterial growth. As the numbers of S. mutans increase, they begin to eat away at tooth enamel. This leads to cavities. If left unchecked, tooth decay can occur.

The best defense against the rampant overgrowth of S. mutans is meticulous oral hygiene. Brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste after every meal removes any food left behind. Fluoride is also very effective at counteracting the damage done by the bacteria. Flossing the teeth regularly is also vital, as this removes any food particles that become caught between the teeth.

Keeping a check on streptococci mutans is important to maintaining a healthy mouth and body. By using good oral hygiene methods, these naturally occurring flora can provide benefits to the body, instead of causing it harm.

A Basic Guide to Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is important to help prevent cavities and promote overall health. For these reasons alone, it is essential to have a good hygiene regimen. Today, I would like to share with you a basic guide to implementing your own oral hygiene routine.

A famous dentist once said, “every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond.”. What he meant by this is that brushing is more than just some mundane activity. Brushing is about protecting the inner resources of the mouth from dangerous bacteria. Bacteria that can multiply and leave corrosive acid as a by-product.

The first step you will want to take in achieving supreme oral hygiene is to prepare. This usually involves a trip to the store, however, you may find that you already have many of these items. If you do not have them already, it is wise to obtain a toothbrush with soft bristles, quality toothpaste, waxed dental floss, and mouthwash. These are some of the most vital and basic tools that you should have in your oral hygiene toolkit.

After preparing, you can now start in flossing. This will gently remove plaque from in between teeth in areas that a toothbrush cannot reach. Make sure to get between every tooth and behind your far back ones. After you floss, the plague will dislodge and move away from the crevices between teeth. This then allows it to be easily removed after brushing and rinsing. Flossing is a step that a lot of people tend to skip. Simply keeping it in your routine can be a game-changer.

Now the next step to supreme oral health is to brush. Start at the back molars and move towards the front. It is very common for some people to start at the front and completely forget about the back molars. The average person has thirty-two teeth. If you do not know how many teeth you have, it is highly recommended that you count just so you will know. This will raise dental awareness and help to motivate you to brush each tooth every day. Also, as mentioned, every tooth you do have is worth its weight in gold.

Once you have brushed your teeth you should then move on to your tongue and gums. Ever wonder what the white stuff fuzzy stuff on your tongue is? This is a build-up of plaque that instead of being on teeth, is on the tongue. The tongue is a breeding ground for many plaque organisms to thrive on. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that you brush the tongue. After brushing the tongue, you should move on to your gums to remove any plaque there as well. Afterwards, you should even then massage your gums with the toothbrush. This helps to promote gum health by stimulating blood flow.

Finally, you should rinse. The purpose of rinsing is to remove all the debris left behind from flossing and brushing. It is recommended that you rinse two to three times to make sure you get everything out. Water will work just fine for rinsing, though if you opt for a mouthwash that can be even better as it can kill any remaining microorganisms. When deciding on toothpaste, choose high quality over low-cost generics. The same can be said with toothbrushes. Consider choosing a toothbrush one with soft bristles as hard bristles can sometimes scratch teeth on a microscopic level.

After you have finished with these steps; preparing, flossing, brushing and rinsing. You should now be able to feel your teeth as being smooth and very clean. Also, after brushing the tongue you may even be able to taste foods better! With so many sugars and refined carbs in today's food, it is near impossible to avoid plaque. The best way to combat plaque is to implement a thorough oral hygiene routine that will work efficiently at removing this plaque from the mouth.

"Liaboe_Electric_Toothbrush_Hands_On_Image (40)"by electricteeth is licensed under CC BY 2.0