I always used to think that dogs had bad breath, and that's just the way it is. It never really occurred to me that it's because they have such poor hygiene. It is suggested that you brush a dogs teeth twice a week. Dogs can get canine plaque, canine tartar and gingivitis, and periodontal disease. A healthy dog should have teeth that look like healthy dog teeth, and breath that is at least tolerable.
To combat daily dirty teeth we try to keep a good supply of clean teeth treats. Greenies are one of the most popular dental treats, and although they are rather expensive, you can get a free sample of Greenies if you don't mind putting your name on their mailing list. And if you are really good about taking care of your dog, and actually brush his teeth on a regular basis, you may need to get a full canine dental kit. Most of the pet ood companies also tout that their food is good for dental care but I've seen multiple articles saying this isn't necessarily true. One I found has this to say about food being good for a dog's teeth:
Contrary to the myth propagated by pet food companies, dry food is not good for teeth.8 Given that the vast majority of pets eat dry food, yet the most common health problem in pets is dental disease, this should be obvious. Humans do not floss with crackers, and dry food does not clean the teeth.
All in all a dog should have a good dental plan laid out for them so they can keep up a great smile.
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All this is really important since Finn just lost all his baby teeth. We didn't find any of them to keep as souvenirs, shame. His new chompers, though, are coming in nicely and are obviously strong as he is getting tougher and tougher to beat in toy tug-o-war.
