Discover the Best Homemade Dog Toothpaste

Your pup comes in for kisses and you have to violently turn your head away. It’s time to brush some doggy teeth so you can enjoy those smooches! It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time and your pup is older — there’s no judgment here. It’s never too late to get started to improve your pooch’s oral and dental health. You don’t have to buy any overrated, additive-filled products on the market. Instead, try the best homemade dog toothpaste! You probably already have the ingredients at home!

The Best Homemade Dog Toothpaste

The best homemade dog toothpaste incorporates a couple of key ingredients: coconut oil, baking soda, mint leaves, and broth. You need a food processor to blend all of the ingredients but once you create the paste, you can store it in an airtight container, and it’ll keep fresh for two weeks. The exact measurements are below:

• Broth, sodium-free (1 teaspoon)
• Baking soda (2 tablespoons)
• Mint leaves (6 total)
• Coconut oil (1/4 cup)

Coconut oil is fantastic for use in this recipe because it’s antimicrobial. It helps to fight any gross viruses or bacteria hanging out in your pup’s mouth or around their teeth. Plus, it helps to reduce the amount of plaque that builds up in your pup’s teeth while helping to combat gum disease.

If your dog is already a fan of coconut flavor, the experience is bound to be pleasant. However, the best homemade dog toothpaste is the one that isn’t just effective, but that your dog also enjoys. So, we’ve included a couple of other homemade dog toothpaste options with different flavor profiles to suit your pup’s palate.

3 Other Tasty, Easy-to-Make Options

You can keep it simple with homemade dog toothpaste that only incorporates two ingredients. Take 1 tablespoon of sodium-free broth and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Together, this creates a paste that you can use to brush your dog’s teeth. Broth makes it appetizing for your pup, which gives you a chance to get in there to really get their teeth clean. Baking soda is perfect because it’s abrasive. It tackles plaque and it works to deodorize. This helps to clear up your dog’s funky breath as well.

For a more cinnamony experience, you can try a homemade toothpaste that incorporates 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of sodium-free broth, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of parsley flakes, and 1/2 cup of coconut oil. Mix everything together except for the coconut oil. First, melt the coconut oil down, and then you can add it to the mixture!

If your dog is a fan of peanut butter, this next recipe is ideal. You need 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of sodium-free broth, and 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter. Not only are you combining the flavor of peanut butter, but you’re also including a flavorful broth to entice your canine to accept the teeth-brushing session!

Why Is It Important to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?

Just as you require regular tooth teeth brushing to maintain your oral and dental health, dogs benefit in just the same way. You help to prevent dental disease, you keep their breath smelling at minimum tolerable, and you relieve them of any pain or discomfort. You can help prevent infections and tooth decay (and also save on ridiculous preventable veterinary bills!).

How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

The very first step before you even try to brush your dog’s teeth is to make sure that your dog is calm and content. After some time at the dog park, a long walk, or a fun backyard play session, your dog will have exhausted some of that restless energy and you’ll be able to tackle toothbrushing without too much protest!

Head to a Quiet Spot

If you have a full house with kids running around, your dog’s going to be turning its head left and right trying to keep up with all the distractions. Instead of making this job harder for yourself or your pup, head over to a quiet location like a bathroom where you can close the door behind you.

Positioning is Important

You won’t be able to brush your dog’s teeth if you’re facing it as well as if you position yourself behind its head so that you can brush in the same kind of motion you brush your own teeth.

Use a Washcloth First

Before you go jamming a toothbrush into your dog’s mouth, first introduce them to the sensation they’re going to feel with the bristles hitting against their teeth and gums. You can simulate this by using a washcloth wrapped around your finger. Just help them understand what the motion is going to be and get a sense of what brushing is going to feel like.

Give Them a Little Taste

You’ve prepared your perfect homemade dog toothpaste and it’s time to give them a little taste. Just put a tiny amount on your finger and let them lick it up. You want them to get acquainted with the flavor and get excited about their future tooth-brushing sessions.

Be Gentle and Patient

You might have the most amazing dog that just lets you complete the first toothbrushing session without any trouble. But if that’s not the case, don’t worry. If they’re protesting too much, just stop. You don’t want to create a negative association with this important part of your dog’s dental hygiene. If it’s too much the first time, try again the next day. Eventually, your pup will get used to it and you won’t have so much trouble.

Remain Consistent

Brushing your dog’s teeth is a part of their routine care. It’s not a one-and-done thing just like it is not a one-and-done thing for you. Keep up this routine to prevent gum and tooth issues. Your pup will thank you for it!

How Often to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

In an ideal world, you would brush your dog’s teeth just as frequently as you brush your own. However, with busy schedules and sometimes multiple pups in the family along with human children, that may be too much to ask. However, that doesn’t mean you throw away the task altogether. Do it as often as you can, even if that means only a couple of times per week. The point is to get in there and help your puppy maintain good dental hygiene. You can also supplement their oral care by providing them with dental chews!

Benefits of Using Homemade Dog Toothpaste to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

When you use your homemade dog toothpaste, you’re likely using ingredients you already have at home. That means you don’t have to buy anything extra, which is great for saving. The transparency of ingredients can also bring you peace of mind because you know exactly what’s going into the toothpaste and everything you use is simple and easy to pronounce.

You don’t have to worry about extra ingredients that you can’t decipher. You can also cater your homemade dog toothpaste to your pup’s preferences. If they respond more to a meaty flavor, you can prepare the perfect toothpaste for them. If they like more of a peanut butter flavor, you can easily alter it and make the experience a fun one!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com