Choosing a Dog Toothbrush
With so many different models available, it can be tricky to work out what each type of dog toothbrush does and why they might suit your pup. Consult our buying guide to help work out what you need to look for to best provide your dog with top dental care.
Types of Dog Toothbrush
Regular Brush
Nothing fancy, just a standard dog toothbrush. The only thing that makes these types of brush discernibly different from human toothbrushes is that the handle will usually be thinner, longer and more angled, allowing you to reach far back into a dog’s mouth. Dog toothbrushes also have far softer bristles to prevent them from injuring a dog’s gums.
Finger Brush
Appearing like a sort of bristled thimble, a finger brush allows you to easily clean a dog’s teeth by simply placing your hand inside their mouths. This is often less awkward than using a brush and is particularly useful when it comes to control, as it acts as a kind of glove over your finger, meaning you can get to hard to reach places more efficiently. They are usually made from soft rubber or silicone materials meaning it gives a smooth and soft brushing action.
Double-ended
Similar to a regular brush, double-ended models simply feature a brush head at each end, and are usually slightly longer in overall length. The point of these brushes is usually that the heads come in differing large and small sizes. This means you can effectively use the large end to brush your pup’s larger teeth properly and then use the small end to clean smaller teeth without damaging their gums.
360-Degree Heads
Appearing like a kind of chimney sweep brush, 360-degree heads are best for pups who find it difficult or annoying getting their teeth cleaned. By having a fully bristled head, the brush has a better chance of remaining in contact with your dog’s gnashers, even if they writhe around or bite down on the brush!
Triple-Headed
Triple-headed brushes look like three toothbrushes have been joined together, with the bristles all focusing on one single point. The idea behind this is that when it comes into contact with a dog’s tooth, it effectively covers both sides of the tooth, as well as the top or inside of it, offering a full-scale cleaning of the whole fang.
Size Suitability
Make sure you are aware of the size of your brush head or what size dog the toothbrush is suitable for. This is because smaller dogs need smaller brushes and larger dogs need larger brushes. If you’re not sure what size your pup needs, a double-headed brush is a safe purchase as it provides both!
Handle Shape and Length
If you’re not comfortable with putting your hand in your mutt’s mouth, you’ll want to make sure the handle of your brush is suitably long so you can reach their back teeth without issue. It also helps to choose a brush with a featured shape, such as a curve or angling which makes it easier to get at difficult areas such as the backs of the molars.
Bristle Softness
Dog’s have very sensitive gums, and so there’s no way they could survive a good brushing from a human brush. Dog’s require their bristles to be so soft that they need to be even less abrasive than a toddler toothbrush!
