Your dog’s teeth require regular cleaning and care – just like ours! They may not get cavities often but plaque, tatar and gum disease cause the same problems in their mouths as they do yours and mine.

There’s nothing nastier than a panting dog in your face with halitosis – #ugh

KEEPING IT “ONE HUNDRED” – 

That’s what I hear college kids say when they want you to know they are being totally transparent – 

I’m keeping it 100

I would like for the Boys teeth to look like this…

But the truth of the matter is… I’ve got a ways to go, Jaxson has started showing signs of tartar stains …

Reason is, I have not been diligent at all – when it comes to dog dentistry responsibilities. #badpetparent

Did you know – humans have 32 teeth and dogs have 42. Imagine going your entire life without brushing or flossing – let alone having an exam. If we loose teeth due to poor oral hygiene habits – we’ve done it to ourselves. But our dogs depend on us to help them keep all they were given.

SHOW ME THE MONEY – 

I remember gasping out-loud the first time I heard estimated costs associated with a basic canine dental cleaning – 

Between $300.00 to $700.00? Are you serious?

YES – that was my question and YES – my voice went up a few octaves when I got to the end of the sentence.

Oh, and by the way – this doesn’t include special treatments for periodontal disease or extractions. #whoa

As February creeps closer towards us, you will notice more advertising on social media and practically everywhere about National Pet Dental Health Month. If it’s time to have your pups choppers examined, check with your vet and inquire about a dental discount. Many veterinary clinics offer a 5 – 10 – 20% incentive to ease the financial discomfort. 

According to the experts – 

The main reason a dogs dental cleaning is so expensive is due to the x-rays and anesthesia required. X-rays are important to assess periodontal disease – and the dog requires anesthesia during the procedure.

But recently I have heard of pet dental services that provide non-anesthetic teeth cleaning.

BEST DENTAL CLEANING PRACTICES – 

While I can see the beginning of plaque and tartar on a few of Jax’s teeth, his healthcare provider (aka veterinarian) and I agreed, if I jump into a dental cleaning regiment now, I could possibly delay teeth cleaning until the future. 

Over the weekend, as Kimberly and I recorded Episode 22 of our Girls with Dogs Podcast, we talked about a natural solution to cleaner teeth for our dogs. Neither of them really benefit from daily dental chews because they rarely take time to truly chew tasty treats. As we chatted, she turned me on to something I never knew – Coconut oil for dental health.

That said – I have decided to try two of her suggestions – 

• CocoChew – This company makes all their products from 100% sustainably sourced coconut husk. I ordered their large Cocoball which is supposed to naturally scrub their teeth as they chew.  Balls are right up Jax’s alley, so hopefully he will become attached not realizing he’s helping a sister out by flossing at the same time 🙂
• Virgin Organic Coconut Oil from CocoTherapy to use as a toothpaste. 
• I’ll probably order a couple of new finger toothbrushes #lovethosethings

We’ve been a huge fan of coconut oil for years, but I never EVER remember reading that this is a great product to use for dental hygiene purposes. Apparently, the lauric acid in coconut oil kills bacteria that causes tooth decay and stinky breath in your dog’s mouth. Not to mention you’re using a substance that can aid in digestion, immune response, and improve their skin and coat.

Google it – you will be A-mazed at how many fascinating articles there are out there. And let’s face it – a panting pup in your face will smell much better after a good brush with coconut oil then that chicken liver flavored toothpaste I once used #insertgagreflexhere 

ONE MORE THING – 

If you’re wondering about Harley’s teeth, he’s now thirteen years old and has never had his teeth professionally cleaned! I cannot take credit for this, I guess he’s just got good genes LOL Vet says they’re a little stained, but nothing that requires medical attention…

There’s nothing like a smile from a happy, healthy dog ❤️