Ways To Brush Your Dachshund's Teeth

4 Easy Ways To Brush Your Dachshund’s Teeth

Dental Care is an important part of grooming that many dog owners tend to ignore.  Caring for your Dachshund’s teeth can pay off with better health and nicer smelling breath.

Dachshunds are more prone to dental hygiene problems than other dog breeds, so they need extra dental care.  Here are 4 Easy Ways to Brush Your Dachshund’s Teeth…and not just with a toothbrush.

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Table Of Contents

Ways To Brush Your Dachshund's Teeth
 

Do Dachshunds Have Bad Teeth?

As a Dachshund owner, you and I know very well that our doxies have massive appetites.  If they were allowed to eat all day long, they would.

Dental diseases, like Gingivitis, are caused by having leftover food sit around the gums.

When food sits on the gums, a nasty bacteria, called plaque, builds up.  Then, tartar starts to form and harden.  This can cause your dog’s gums to become irritated and inflamed (aka gingivitis). 

Bad doggie breath is commonly caused by plaque and tartar build up on your Dachshund’s teeth.

Go ahead, take a look at your dachshund’s mouth after they have eaten their meal.  You may find that they have some dog food deposits tucked in the back of their cheeks, right up against their teeth and gums.

My miniature dachshund, Reno, was famous for this.  I would catch him storing globs of food (eww…) towards his back teeth.  I tried to massage his cheeks after he ate his meals to help loosen that stored food in the back of his mouth.

 

What Is Dental Disease In Dogs?

Dental Disease (aka Periodontal Disease) starts with tartar build-up on the teeth.  This can then progress into an infection of the gums and the teeth.

If your Dachshund’s dental issues aren’t treated, they may lose their teeth!

Dental Disease is just the beginning.  Lack of proper dental care can also lead to kidney problems, damage to the liver, or heart issues.

What Is The Difference Between Plaque And Tartar?

  • Plaque is the yellowish-colored stuff that begins to form on your dog’s teeth when dog food sits on your dog’s gums and teeth for a while. Plaque is the soft, sticky stuff.
  • Tartar forms when that nasty plaque mixes with the different minerals found in your dog’s saliva. Tartar is brownish in color on the outer surface of your dog’s teeth.  Tartar is the hard-calcified plaque that is hard to remove from your dog’s teeth and often needs to be removed through dental cleaning at the vet.

Different Breath Smells

Smelly dog breath can also indicate more serious problems with their GI tract or respiratory system,

Find Out More: Is Your Dachshund’s Stinky Breath A Sign Of Illness?

Ways To Brush Your Dachshund's Teeth
 

6 Signs Of Dental Disease In Dogs

  • Bad Breath (most common)

  • Inflamed Gums

  • Dropping Food

  • Loss of Appetite

  • Tartar

  • Loose Teeth

Did you know 80% of dogs have dental disease by age 3?  (akc.org)

 

How To Prevent Dental Disease In Your Dog:

It is important to clean your doxie’s teeth and maintain regular checkups with your vet to prevent any dental diseases in your dog.  Here are some easy tips on how to prevent doxie dental issues.

1. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth:

To prevent dental disease in your dog, brush your dog’s teeth a couple times per week.  If you are able to do it daily, that’s even better. Use a dog toothbrush and some yummy beef, chicken, or peanut butter flavored toothpaste (Reno’s Favorite dog toothpaste). 

2. Oral Exams and Dental Cleanings:

Take your dog to the vet for an oral examination every year.  If your doxie is prone to tartar on the teeth, schedule a dental cleaning.  Before your dog receives his dental cleaning, your vet may require a blood test to screen for any hidden diseases that may make going under anesthesia dangerous.

 

3. Good Quality Dog Food:

Feeding your dog a high quality dog food can reduce the number of times you visit the vet.  Your dog’s teeth, coat, and overall health will benefit from good quality dog food.

Post You May Like: Easy Ways To Keep Your Dachshund Healthy

4. Chew Toys and Treats:

Chew toys with little ridges on them can help knock off some of the hardened tartar and help keep your Dachshund’s teeth clean.  My Dachshund, Eko, enjoys the Flavored Nylabones (From Amazon). 

We go through many chew bones every couple of months.  Most chew bones aren’t really “edible,” so make sure to replace them when needed.

Ways To Brush Your Dachshund's Teeth
 

How Often Should Dachshunds Get Their Teeth Cleaned?

My dog’s vet recommends getting your doxie’s teeth professionally cleaned one to two times per year if they have tartar build up issues. 

This of course depends on your dog’s overall health.  So far, my dogs only need to go once per year.

When is the Best Time to Get My Dog’s Teeth Cleaned?

February is National Pet Dental Health Month in the USA. A dog’s dental cleaning is discounted during this month, so it is the best time to have your dog’s teeth cleaned.

Another way to help you pay for a doggie dental cleaning at your vet is by having pet insurance that specifically covers dental cleanings.

What Is The Best Dog Toothbrush And Toothpaste?

Use a small toothbrush that is gentle on your Dachshund’s mouth.  You can use a small child toothbrush or dog toothbrush, both work fine.  Using a Beef, Peanut Butter, or Chicken flavored dog toothpaste is best. These flavors tend to be a favorite among the canines. 

Note: Only use a toothpaste formulated for dogs.  Human toothpaste can cause your pup to have an upset stomach.

Our Favorite Dog Dental Cleaning Kits:

Toothbrush: This Dog Toothbrush Kit gives you different brush sizes and styles to try.  Some dogs prefer the finger brush over the long dog toothbrush.

Toothpaste: Petsmile Toothpaste for dogs helps reduce plaque, tartar, and helps fight bad breath.  It also says you don’t have to use a toothbrush with it.  You can get this toothpaste from your vet or Amazon.

Post You May Like: Homemade Dog Toothpaste Recipes by Healthy Paws.

dachshunds have bad breath
 

4 Easy Ways To Brush Your Dachshund’s Teeth

You can clean your Dachshund’s teeth with a dog toothbrush, adding a dental additive to their water, using a dog toothbrush chew toy, or feeding them a special oral care dog food.

#1: Using A Dog Toothbrush

  • 1. Squeeze a small amount of that yummy dog toothpaste onto your finger and allow the dog to lick it off.

  • 2. Start by gently brushing your dog’s teeth with the finger brush.

  • 3. After your dog is used to the finger brush, introduce the doggy toothbrush.

  • 4. Take breaks often and offer some more licks of the dog toothpaste as a positive reward.

 

No-Brush Solutions:

If the dog toothbrush just isn’t working out, there are alternative ways to keep your Dachshund’s teeth clean.

Virbac Dental Chews to brush dachshund's teeth

#2: Dog Dental Chews

Doggie dental chews are a lifesaver for me when it comes to keeping my Dachshund’s teeth clean without the hassle of brushing. Eko and Gretta love the Virbac dental chews because they see them as tasty treats.

1. Virbac Dental Chews:  These dental chews are recommended by The Veterinary Oral Health Council. On their website, click on the dog products pdf to see a large list of recommended dog chews for oral health.

2. BarkBox Bright Toothpaste & Toothbrush Chews Kit:  This dental kit is also a nice choice for pups who don’t care to have a toothbrush in their mouth. The chicken flavored toothpaste helps freshen breath and reduces plaque buildup.  Check them out on the BarkBox website.

#3: Dental Additives

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Magic Mouthwash from Alpha Paw is getting a lot of positive attention and reviews by dog owners. It is a no-brush formula that you add to your pup’s water. 

Use DACHSTATION20 for 20% off on Alpha Paw!

It helps keep their teeth clean and gets rid of stinky doggie breath too.  I personally haven’t tried this one yet, but plan to grab a bottle when my dachshund, Eko, is a little older.

I have tried the green minty gel additive from a different company in the past for my dachshund, Reno.  I squeezed the gel on his teeth without brushing, but that particular additive just gave my dog diarrhea and major stinky Gas!  So, you can skip that one.

 

#4: Oral Care Dog Food

Science Diet has a specialty dog food called “Oral Care for Adult Dogs” that helps clean your doxie’s teeth while they eat. It’s also recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

I am currently giving this to my Dachshunds, Eko and Bastian, and they love it!  See my picture below for the size difference of this food.

The oral care dog food is a lot larger than the regular science diet food, so my dogs think it’s a special treat.

Now, because of the ginormous size of this oral care dog food, I will not be completely switching over to this food. 

I am just adding in a couple of the oral care dog food morsels to their current food, and it works out great.  

My older dog, Bastian, is 15 years old.  He doesn’t have a whole lot of teeth left, but he still enjoys these large oral care dog food bites as a special addition to his current food. 

Little Eko, who is 1 years old, will roll the large bites around in his mouth and then start to crunch them carefully.  

This oral care dog food is for adult dogs only.

Great news: I have noticed that my Dachshund’s breath is improved, and their teeth look great. Yay!

Ways To Brush Your Dachshund's Teeth
 

Bonus Tips:

Toothbrushing Dog Toys

If the toothbrush and additive method still didn’t work for your doxie, no worries.  Try using a tooth-brushing dog toy.  There are lots of options out there, but here are Eko’s two favorite toothbrush doggie toys:

For Aggressive Chewers: The alligator dog toothbrush toy works awesome!  You can add dog toothpaste to this toy and as they chew, they brush their own teeth.

For Moderate Chewers: Try this dog toothbrush toy. You can add dog toothpaste in the bristles.

Dog Toothbrushing Service

You know those grooming vans that pull right up to your doorstep? Well, just like that, there are mobile pet dental cleaning services too.

Bright N’ Shine Pet Dental offers non-medical, non-anesthetic pet teeth cleaning service. They’re currently available in select areas across Florida, Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina.

If you are still having trouble and your dog hates having teeth brushed, here are some out-of-the-box ideas from Happy Natural Dog: How to Brush a Dog’s Teeth That Hates Having Them Brushed.

Disclaimer

I am not a vet. I am a devoted dog mom who understands the importance of maintaining a dog’s oral health. It is recommended to get your dog’s teeth cleaned professionally by a vet and brush your dog’s teeth daily.

It’s essential to recognize that some pet parents opt out of brushing their dog’s teeth or choose alternative methods due to health or personal reasons. While I’m not suggesting these alternatives replace professional dental care, I’m here to share my experience and offer suggestions that can contribute positively to your dog’s oral health. Please consult your vet for tailored advice regarding your dog’s dental care needs.

How do you keep your Dachshund’s Breath Smelling Fresh?  Let us know below.

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