How to brush your dog's teeth, step by step, even if it hates it
In short: Use a dog toothbrush or finger brush and dog toothpaste, never human toothpaste. Build up over several days: taste, lip lift, then the brush. Brush the outer surfaces at the gumline with light strokes, ideally every day. Brown tartar needs a vet.
By Abu Bakar SaadatPublished 28 October 20266 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq
✓ Reviewed by Dr Ramin Khan, veterinarian (DVM) · 29 October 2026
IllustrationAt a glance
- You need
- Dog toothbrush or finger brush, dog toothpaste, treats
- How often
- Daily is best (PDSA, AVMA); a few times a week still helps (SF SPCA)
- Never
- Human toothpaste or baking soda (VCA)
- See a vet if
- Brown tartar, red swollen gums, loose teeth, pawing at the mouth
- Advice from
- VCA, PDSA, AVMA, SF SPCA, VOHC, ASPCA and Texas A&M vet hospital, read 28 October 2026
- Checked
- October 2026
Plaque is a sticky layer of saliva, food and bacteria that hardens into brown tartar and can lead to gum disease and tooth loss (PDSA). The AVMA, quoting the American Veterinary Dental College, says most dogs show some sign of gum disease by the age of three. The Veterinary Oral Health Council calls brushing the best daily way to keep a pet's teeth clean. The trick is to teach it slowly, so your dog never learns to dread it.
Where should you start?
A puppy
Start as soon as it comes home, with a finger brush or gauze (VCA). Short, happy sessions.
An adult dog that's never been brushed
It's never too late (VCA). Begin at the first stage below, even if your dog seems relaxed.
Brown tartar, sore gums or a smelly mouth
Vet first. Brushing keeps clean teeth clean; it won't remove tartar (PDSA).
Your dog growls or snaps when you touch its mouth
Stop and ask your vet. Pain in the mouth is one possible reason, and a vet or behaviourist can help you plan.
How to brush your dog's teeth
Let your dog lick a little toothpaste off your finger.
Illustration This first stage is only about taste: let your dog sniff and lick the paste (VCA, SF SPCA). If your dog isn't keen, Texas A&M's vet hospital suggests starting with a little low-salt broth instead.
You should see: your dog licking eagerly and coming back for more.
Lift the lip for a second or two and rub your finger along the gums.
Illustration VCA suggests practising lifting the lips for short periods over several days. Then rub a little paste onto the gums and teeth with your finger (SF SPCA). Treat after each go.
You should see: your dog staying still while you lift the lip on both sides, without turning its head away.
Let your dog sniff and lick the brush with paste on it.
Illustration Introduce the brush slowly and pair each stage with treats and praise (SF SPCA). Let your dog lick the paste off the bristles before you try brushing (VCA).
You should see: a relaxed dog that treats the brush like a treat dispenser.
Careful: press lightly. If the bristles flatten, you're pressing too hard (SF SPCA).
Brush the outside of the teeth where they meet the gum, with small, gentle strokes.
Illustration: bristles angled towards the gumline Lift the lip so you can see where the brush goes. SF SPCA suggests holding the brush at about 45 degrees towards the gums and using light back-and-forth strokes; Texas A&M's vet hospital describes small circles. Either way, work along the outer surfaces, front teeth and back teeth, one side then the other.
Don't worry about the inside of the teeth: VCA says most pets won't let you brush there.
You should see: the bristles reaching the line where tooth meets gum, not just the tips of the teeth.
Stop while it's going well, and reward your dog.
Illustration If your dog gets agitated, stop, even if you've done only a few teeth, and try again later (VCA). Short sessions are fine, especially at first (SF SPCA). End with praise, a treat or a game (VCA).
You should see: a dog that is still happy when you finish. That is what makes tomorrow's session easier.
Brush at the same time every day.
Illustration PDSA and the AVMA both recommend daily brushing; occasional brushing won't shift a build-up (PDSA). If daily isn't realistic, SF SPCA says a few times a week still makes a real difference, and consistency matters more than perfection. The AVMA notes a study in which only 2% of dog owners managed daily brushing, so a routine you can keep is the goal.
You should see: after a few weeks, your dog coming to you when the brush comes out.
Training plan at a glance
| Stage | What you do | Move on when |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Taste | Paste (or broth) on your finger | Your dog licks it eagerly |
| 2. Lip lift | Lift the lip, rub the gums with your finger | Your dog stays still on both sides |
| 3. Brush | Sniff and lick the brush | Your dog is relaxed with the brush near its mouth |
| 4. A few teeth | Brush a few outer surfaces, then stop | Your dog is still calm at the end |
| 5. Full mouth | All outer surfaces, both sides | Keep it up daily, or as often as you can |
VCA's advice is to take several days over the early stages. If your dog looks worried at any stage, go back to the last one it enjoyed.
How to tell it's working
- You can brush the outer surfaces of all the teeth, both sides, without a struggle.
- No brown, hard layer is building up near the gums (PDSA).
- The gums don't look red or swollen at the base of the teeth (Texas A&M vet hospital).
- Your dog sees the vet for regular check-ups. SF SPCA and Texas A&M recommend a professional clean about once a year.
If something goes wrong
| What happens | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your dog pulls away when you lift the lip | You moved on too fast | Go back a stage and keep sessions very short (VCA) |
| Your dog chews the brush | The brush feels like a toy | Use a finger brush or gauze for a while (VCA) |
| You can't reach the inside of the teeth | Normal: most pets won't allow it (VCA) | Concentrate on the outer surfaces |
| A brown, hard layer won't brush off | That's tartar (PDSA) | Book a vet check; brushing alone won't remove it (PDSA) |
| The gums look red or swollen | A sign of gum disease (Texas A&M vet hospital) | Stop brushing that area and see your vet |
Questions readers ask
Is it too late to start brushing an older dog's teeth?
No. VCA says it's never too late to start with an adult dog. Ask your vet to check the mouth first: if there is already tartar or sore gums, the teeth may need a professional clean before brushing can keep them clean (PDSA).
Do I have to use toothpaste?
Not at first. Texas A&M's vet hospital suggests starting with no cleaning product, just a little low-salt broth on gauze or a finger brush, and moving to a pet toothpaste once your dog accepts brushing. Dog toothpaste is made to be swallowed, so there's nothing to rinse (SF SPCA).
Why does a vet clean need an anaesthetic?
The AVMA says most dental disease is below the gumline, where you can't see it. Anaesthesia lets the vet clean and check there, take X-rays, and spares your dog stress and pain.
Are dental chews as good as brushing?
No. They can help reduce plaque and tartar, but PDSA points out that dogs chew mostly with their back teeth, so chews do little for the front ones. Look for the VOHC seal, and cut back your dog's food a little to make up for the treats (PDSA).
Sources
We base our articles on the makers' official documentation.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: How to brush your pet's teeth
- PDSA: Vet Q&A: How do I remove plaque from my dog's teeth? (8 March 2021)
- AVMA: "Doggie breath" could be a sign of serious disease (1 February 2023)
- San Francisco SPCA: How to brush your dog's teeth (3 April 2026)
- Veterinary Oral Health Council: About the VOHC seal
- ASPCA: Updated safety warning on xylitol (23 May 2019)
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital: Periodontal disease
