Build an easy to follow routine to keep your dog’s teeth clean
Around 85%* of dogs aged over three years old experience poor dental health. Building a regular dental care regime, that doesn’t take up a lot of time, can really help to keep your dog happy.
Here, is a five-step plan you can follow:
- Brush your dog's teeth — don't feel guilty if you're not doing it every day, just build it up so it becomes a regular part of your dog's routine. Get your dog used to having their mouth handled before they even seen a toothbrush and build it up slowly. When brushing, use a circular motion and always use a specific pet toothpaste and brush. Did you know? 1 in 5 owners never brush their dog’s teeth **
- Use dental chews — dental chews are great as they work to clean teeth in several ways and are convenient for dog and owner! The YuMOVE Daily Clean Sticks are designed to physically scrape the teeth, known as mechanical cleaning. The innovative spiral shape maximises contact with tooth surfaces, cleaning as dogs enjoy chewing. Active ingredients that help to clean teeth are also key in dental chews. The right ingredients help to clean teeth too. Make dental treats a usual part of your dog’s day — they’ll see it as a treat!
- Feed a good quality diet — feeding a good quality food will help protect canine gnashers. Better quality ingredients will do less damage to the teeth, and abrasive textures of treats or food can even help to clean them too.
- Check your dog's teeth at home — in-between vet appointments, regularly check over their mouth and gums. Ensure there is no swelling, inflammation, ulcers, cracked lips, that the tongue is moist, there isn’t bad breath, and when you press the gums the capillary refill is not delayed.
- Have regular vet check-ups — get your dog’s teeth checked regularly with your vet. They will spot the signs of any issues and will help prevent problems with cleaning.
What to look for in dental chew?
Dental chews are important items that we rely on for caring for our canine companions. They are the most convenient way for us, as owners, to help care for our dogs’ teeth. There are two main ways dental chews work:
- Mechanical cleaning — the shape and texture of dental chews are designed to scrape the teeth to help prevent build ups of plaque and tartar. The spiral shape of YuMOVE’s Daily Clean Sticks does just this and has been created to maximise the benefits from chewing.
- Active ingredients — certain ingredients, because of the enzymes they contain, help to breakdown bacteria in the mouth and keep teeth clean. YuMOVE Daily Dental Sticks contain seaweed from the pristine waters of the Outer Hebrides, clinically proven to help prevent plaque and tartar build-up — these sticks pack an ocean full of goodness packed into every bite. They’re friendly on the tummy too and great for fresh breath.
Always check the feeding guidelines of dental sticks, but often owners are advised to give one every day (sometimes one every other day for small dogs). Many owners like to make this the same time each day so their pet is almost ready and waiting for their chew. This means we can be safe in the knowledge that we’re helping to clean our dogs’ teeth daily.
YuMOVE are a B Corp certified company, which means they have undergone a rigorous process to prove they’re committed to business practices which help people and the planet. The brand is driven by delivering benefit to pets, and this is underlined in their Six Week See The Difference Guarantee — if you don’t see the difference in 42 days, you get your money back.
*https://www.scielo.br/j/rceres/a/Q3YpNc3brQJGmgxNtjsrQ6G/?lang=en