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How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Brush daily with a soft brush and dog toothpaste.
  • Never use human toothpaste, which can contain xylitol and fluoride.
  • Focus on the outer surfaces along the gumline.
  • Go slowly and reward your dog at every step.
  • Chews and additives help but don't replace brushing.

Table of Contents

At a glance What you need Step by step Human toothpaste? Alternatives VOHC seal FAQ Sources

To brush your dog's teeth, use a soft dog toothbrush or finger brush and a toothpaste made for dogs, and gently brush the outer surfaces of the teeth along the gumline, where most plaque builds up. Go slowly over a week or two so your dog learns to enjoy it.1,2 Brush daily if you can, since plaque starts to reform within days.3,1 Never use human toothpaste, which can contain xylitol and fluoride that are harmful when swallowed.1,4

Brushing at a glance

  • How often: daily is best; at least every other day.3,2
  • Toothpaste: dog toothpaste only. Never human toothpaste.1
  • Focus on: the outer, cheek-side surfaces of the back teeth and canines.2
  • Brushing removes plaque, not hardened tartar. Tartar needs a professional cleaning.3
  • Related: dog teeth and dental care.

What You Need

  • Dog toothpaste. It's flavored (often poultry or beef) and safe to swallow. Enzymatic pastes keep working after brushing.4,1
  • A soft toothbrush. Dog brushes come with angled handles, double heads, or as rubber finger brushes. A soft child's toothbrush works for small dogs.
  • Treats and patience. Short, positive sessions work better than long ones.
  • Gauze or dental wipes if your dog won't accept a brush yet. Wiping the teeth every other day still helps.2

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth, Step by Step

Take a few days for each step, and move on only when your dog is relaxed.1

  1. Pick a quiet time and place when your dog is calm, such as after a walk.
  2. Get your dog used to having his mouth handled. Gently lift the upper lip and lower the lower lip with your fingers, then reward.
  3. Let him lick a little dog toothpaste off your finger, so he learns it's a treat.
  4. Touch the toothbrush to his teeth without paste, and praise him.
  5. Add toothpaste and brush the upper front teeth, then the upper side and back teeth, using small circles along the gumline.
  6. Brush the lower front teeth, then the lower side and back teeth.
  7. Focus on the outer surfaces. You don't need to open the mouth wide; most plaque is on the cheek side, and the tongue cleans much of the inner side.2
  8. Keep it short, under a minute at first, and end with a reward. Work up to about two minutes.

If your dog growls, snaps or is very fearful, stop and ask your vet or a trainer for help. A painful mouth can also make dogs resist, so have your vet check first if brushing seems to hurt.1

Can I Use Human Toothpaste on My Dog?

No. Dogs swallow toothpaste instead of spitting it out, and human toothpaste can contain fluoride, foaming detergents and, in some brands, xylitol, a sweetener that can drop a dog's blood sugar dangerously and damage the liver.1,4,5 Baking soda and salt aren't good substitutes either. See xylitol poisoning.

If Your Dog Won't Let You Brush

Brushing is the gold standard, but other products help, especially combined with brushing:2,6

  • Dental chews and treats. A review of eight trials found that non-rawhide dental chews slowed tartar buildup, but the trials were short, small and funded by the makers.7
  • Dental diets. Some help slow new tartar, but they don't remove existing tartar, and ordinary dry kibble doesn't clean teeth.6
  • Water additives, gels and sprays. In a 2025 trial, a water additive helped gum health only when combined with brushing or a daily chew, while daily brushing or chewing reduced deposits.8
  • Wipes or gauze rubbed over the outer surfaces every other day.2

What the VOHC Seal Means

The Veterinary Oral Health Council, a group of veterinarians and veterinary dentists, awards its seal to products shown in trials to reduce plaque, tartar or both by at least 20 percent. Makers fund the trials, following VOHC protocols.9 You can look up accepted products for dogs, sorted by type, on the VOHC website.10 The seal means the product reduces buildup. It doesn't mean every chew is safe for every dog, so pick a size your dog can't swallow whole and watch him chew.

Avoid very hard chews such as antlers, bones, hooves, hard nylon toys and ice cubes, which commonly break teeth. If you can't make a small dent in a chew with your fingernail, it's too hard for your dog's teeth.11,12 See tooth abscess.

Dog General Diseases and Symptoms QuickLinks

Lyme Disease Overview Lyme Disease Symptoms Lethargic Dog Fever and Temperature Shaking and Trembling Not Eating Drooling Bad Breath Poisoning Chocolate Grapes and Raisins Xylitol

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I brush my dog's teeth?

Daily is best. Brushing every other day still helps, but less often than that doesn't keep up with plaque, which starts to reform within days.

Can I use human toothpaste on my dog?

No. Dogs swallow toothpaste, and human toothpaste can contain fluoride, detergents and sometimes xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Use toothpaste made for dogs.

What can I use instead of dog toothpaste?

Brushing with just water still removes plaque mechanically. Don't use baking soda, salt or human toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is inexpensive and dogs usually like the taste.

Is it too late to start brushing an older dog's teeth?

It's never too late, but if your dog already has tartar or sore gums, have a professional cleaning first. Brushing afterward helps keep the teeth clean.

Do dental chews really work?

Some help slow tartar buildup, especially those with the VOHC seal, but the evidence is modest. They work best alongside brushing, not instead of it.

How do I clean my dog's teeth without brushing?

Dental wipes or gauze, VOHC-accepted chews, dental diets and water additives all help somewhat. None is as effective as daily brushing.

Should I brush my puppy's teeth?

Yes. Start gently once your puppy is settled at home. Baby teeth fall out, but getting used to brushing early makes it much easier for life.

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Sources and further reading

This article was written and fact-checked on November 3, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. AKC Staff. How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth and Why It's So Important. American Kennel Club, updated February 17, 2026.
  2. Mulherin BL, DVM, DAVDC. Periodontal Disease in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed February 2024.
  3. Bellows J, Berg ML, Dennis S, et al. 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2019.
  4. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. Periodontal disease. Cornell, accessed November 2026.
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine. Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs. FDA Consumer Update, content current as of December 17, 2025.
  6. Barnes C, Hiscox L, Bellows J. Dental Disease in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 2024.
  7. Holden R, Brennan M. Do dental chews prevent dental calculus build up? (BestBETs for Vets). University of Nottingham, 2022.
  8. Gawor J, Jank M, Harvey CE, Nicolas CS. Effectiveness of Dental Homecare Protocols in Unscaled Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 2025.
  9. Hart H, DVM. What Is VOHC? PetMD, May 30, 2025.
  10. Veterinary Oral Health Council. VOHC Accepted Products. VOHC, dog product table dated May 29, 2026.
  11. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Riney Canine Health Center. Risks of a fractured tooth. Cornell, accessed November 2026.
  12. Milella L. Exploring tooth fracture risks in canine patients. Vet Times, May 2019.

About this article

Last updated : new page written using the 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines, American Veterinary Dental College position statements, the Merck Veterinary Manual, Cornell, VCA, the University of Illinois, MSPCA Angell and peer-reviewed studies.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.