How to Keep Your Dog’s Mouth Clean Here are the best ways to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and eliminate bad breath: Brush your dog’s teeth 2-3 days a week or more using dog toothpaste Sprinkle dog dental powder on your dog’s food at every meal Try a dental water additive made for dogs Ask your vet about prescription dental diets for dogs Give your dog dental treats that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance Schedule regular veterinary dental cleanings Featured Image: iStock.com/LittleCityLifestylePhotography,WRITTEN BYMichelle Diener, DVM Veterinarian I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I obtained by BS degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 and my DVM degree at NCSU in 2006. I have…,Many people believe that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans’ mouths. This belief has been around for a long time, but is there any truth behind it? Find out how clean a dog’s mouth actually is, whether their saliva can cause infections and skin rashes in people, and how to keep your dog from licking you so much. Is Your Dog’s Mouth Cleaner Than Yours? Unfortunately, the answer is no. A dog’s mouth and a human’s mouth both contain billions of bacteria belonging to roughly 700 different species. Although we both have bacteria in our mouths, the bacteria in a dog’s mouth are mostly different species than the bacteria that inhabit a person’s mouth. These bacteria prefer a dog to be the host, and thankfully, they are not harmful to people. However, there are similarities between the mouths of dogs and people. For instance, Porphyromonas is the bacterial family that causes periodontal disease in both dogs and people. The first stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, which means inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is caused by bacteria in the mouth that form dental plaque. Billions of bacteria slowly build up on the surface of the teeth, which eventually leads to bad breath, gum recession, tooth root abscesses, and the destruction of bone around the tooth roots. Early stages of periodontal disease are treatable for both dogs and people with at-home dental care, and just like people, dogs need their teeth professionally cleaned periodically.