Question About Gum Care/bleeding Gums When Brushing

[fsugrad]

My new year's resolution this year was to improve on my hounds' dental care. I started brushing with a doggy toothpaste from petco but that wasn't really cutting it so I switched to a routine of brushing with petzlife mint gel and following up with the petzlife spray about 4x/week.

I do see an improvement already. Robin has genetically good teeth and has not needed a dental in the 3 yrs I've had him. Toby on the other hand has icky teeth and needs a dental every year. I'm trying to see if by following a good dental routine we can stretch the time between dentals, which are so pricey here in my area.

 

Here's the thing. Toby's teeth are definitely looking better but every time I brush his teeth his gums bleed and the toothbrush is red. I use a soft bristle human toothbrush but it doesn't feel that soft to me. Should I buy something different to brush his teeth with? If so, what?

Should I just keep brushing and accept that his gums will bleed for a while til we've been in this routine a while longer?

Is it kind of like people who don't floss regularly have their gums bleed when they floss, but regular flossers' gums don't bleed?

What do you guys think?

[cleptogrey]

i use a super soft bristle on the pup's teeth, generally my used electric toothbrush head- it's broken in. when gums bleed i generally wipe them gently w/ peroxide and water(which is also good for brushing teeth). i have noticed that the peroxide really helps. i used to use it in the days of my periodontal work but that was 30 years ago. worked wonders for my healing gums. i will chip the tarter off w/ my thumb nail, i get it under the gum and chip. it's easier than a dental tool. i also like using the petzlife spray.

[Guest Vers]

That's a really good resolution to make and keep When Stella came home with really crummy teeth and brushing made her gums bleed, I used the Petzlife, but just used my fingertip to wipe it on her teeth and gums. From everything I've read, the Petzlife still works by saliva spreading the gel around the mouth, and not so much the mechanical action of the toothbrush, and that's what my experience has been with it. I do give a chew every weekend and a dried tripe stick every night, but Stella who had crummy teeth has not needed a dental yet in over two years.

[maryz]

I was told by my vet to use an enzymatic toothpaste on Sherri's teeth. Petrodex makes one she loves in poultry flavor . I also use PetzLife spray once a day and a toddler toothbrush.

I have done her teeth every night since we adopted her almost four years ago and she has only needed one dental in that time.

[Guest Mom2Shiloh]

Bravo has really sensitive gums... prone to chronic gingivitis. I use the Petz Life about 3 times a week; other nights I use the enzymatic toothpaste. In addition, before bed I use something called FidoDent by Animal Apawthecary several times a week (pretty sure I got it on or through the all ubiquitous Amazon). It is Specifically for gingivitis and it really helps a lot!! In addition, I sometimes use a spray bottle with room temperature water just to rinse food particles off the teeth and gums after breakfast.

 

I had a friend who used a cordless WaterPik on a dog with really bad gums and saved their teeth for several years by heading outside with the water pik, goggles and the greyhound after every meal.

 

and, finally, Cathie Lambert recently reported that among the other neat things she's found to do with coconut oil, she's brushing her dogs' teeth with it for the past few weeks with the result that Hope's gums are no longer red or bleeding. I intend to try this as soon as I can get some coconut oil.. Rhode Island can be SO behind times.

[spottydog]

We had some bad gums in this house and I just kept brushing even though the brush was red. Her gums really cleared up - no more blood. I use a dental rinse called "Nolvadent" - just a drop or two - on the bad areas. Don't know if you guys have it down there in the US. You get it at your vet's.

[seeh2o]

My vet and the doggy dentist both recommend CET rinse. I was just at the dentist with Claire yesterday and she said the rinse is really important and will make her job easier as it will loosen the plaque and make it easier for her to remove it. It also makes Claire's gums less red and irritated after just a few days use. I try to rinse her teeth and gums at least twice a day. I buy it on Amazon.

[sweetdogs]

Should I just keep brushing and accept that his gums will bleed for a while til we've been in this routine a while longer?

Is it kind of like people who don't floss regularly have their gums bleed when they floss, but regular flossers' gums don't bleed?

 

Yes, it's the same. However, if his mouth is really bad, you won't be able to get ahead of it by brushing alone. I haven't tried any of the petzlife stuff (both my guys have teeth like Robin's) but for humans anyway, they say it doesn't matter what you brush with but how long. I do use an enzymatic dog paste & I rub biotene on any problem areas afterwards (canines for Conor, carnassials for Keeva).

[Guest BooneTia]

i use a super soft bristle on the pup's teeth, generally my used electric toothbrush head- it's broken in. when gums bleed i generally wipe them gently w/ peroxide and water(which is also good for brushing teeth). i have noticed that the peroxide really helps. i used to use it in the days of my periodontal work but that was 30 years ago. worked wonders for my healing gums. i will chip the tarter off w/ my thumb nail, i get it under the gum and chip. it's easier than a dental tool. i also like using the petzlife spray.

What is the ratio pf peroxide and water, and do I just wipe it on with a cloth to the bleeding areas?

[tbhounds]

Your hound may be a candidate for Biotene Antiseptic Gel.

[cleptogrey]

I NEVER MEASURE THE PEROXIDE/WATER SOLUTION, MOST LIKELY 1/3 PEROXIDE. BUT I DO FIND IT REALLY HELPS, I APPLY AND WIPE GENTLY W/ A PAPER TOWEL.

[Guest BooneTia]

I NEVER MEASURE THE PEROXIDE/WATER SOLUTION, MOST LIKELY 1/3 PEROXIDE. BUT I DO FIND IT REALLY HELPS, I APPLY AND WIPE GENTLY W/ A PAPER TOWEL.

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

[fsugrad]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and input. I have to say that Toby's toothbrush is a bit less red than when I started so I am going to stick with it. By the way, I highly recommend the mint petzlife gel for brushing followed by the petzlife spray. I'd never heard of this stuff til several GT'ers recommended it and it's awesome...so much better than the petco toothpaste I was using.

[stlgrey]

I have just noticed that my older grey of 11, Sierra has been having bleeding gums. These are some great tips. I ordered Biotene antiseptic gel to try first. I also applied some perioxide solution to her gums today. I also use Petzlife gel. I tired the Nutrivet dental rinse and give this a thumbs down (it never did anything).

[tbhounds]

Biotene antiseptic gel- two thumbs up! Good luck!

[WHanson12]

Our Grey girls had been under the care of OSU & one of their dental specialists before our recent move to SC. Molly has the chronic bad gum/teeth issues.They recommended an all natural (no chemicals) water additive called HealthyMouth which is clinically proven to reduce chronic ginigivitis & tartar buildup, along with a good oral hygiene program. Our other Gry, Mae, has great teeth, but also drinks the same medicated H2O.

They love the taste & I do see some improvement.It is on the expensive side though.The product also comes in a gel form (tube) that you apply to problem areas, but in my opinion is cost prohibitive & the gel doesn't always dispense easily from the tube. Read all about it: www.healthymouth.com. For Molly's problem mouth, I've also used a CET spray with Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan) in it--good bacterial disinfecting properties.