I have put my fingers in the hands of numerous dogs whose owners insisted the dog would not allow such an intrusion. Fingers in the mouth are a sure way to maintain dental hygiene in a canine. As a pet massage therapist I have found that getting a dog used to having its teeth brushed can be facilitated by starting with the masseter muscle. This is the roundish muscle right behind the jaw on each side of the face or head. This hard working muscle can be gently massaged with the fingers in a circular motion. When you are comfortable sliding a finger or two inside your dogs mouth, try putting your thumbs back on the inside of that masseter muscle and massage the outside with your fingers. The dog will start to "chew" and this means it feels good. Now, while doing this rub the gums for a few moments at a time. Before long you should be able to massage the teeth and gums preparing you to be able to brush with a finger and some gauze or a brush.
Greens are a great part of dental health. Use parsley, cilatro, spinach and kale in your dogs diet. This is easy for me as I cook for my dogs, but stirring some plain (unsweetened) yogurt in with your dogs food and some finely chopped greens will help bad breath, aid digestion and help to accomplish a plan for preventive care.
