How to Make Tooth Brushing a Habit for Your Dog: 5 Gentle Steps

Have you tried brushing your dog's teeth, only to meet resistance and give up? The American Kennel Club (AKC) also says that having their teeth brushed is unnatural for dogs. That is exactly why the shortcut is not to put a toothbrush in right away, but to build up step by step.

The Inucomi editorial team put this article together from materials by US and UK animal organizations and Japanese national and local governments (checked as of November 2026). A table sets out five gradual, reward-based steps and when to move on to the next. By the end, you will know which step to start with tonight and how to keep going on days out.

Aim for daily brushing, and first find a routine you can keep up

Daily brushing is the goal, but the shortcut to a habit is to keep going even when you miss a day (an editors' suggestion). The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says brushing every day is best, and if that is not possible, brushing several times a week still helps.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the UK also says tooth brushing should be kept up as part of a regular grooming routine. In Japan, a Ministry of the Environment pamphlet on senior pets lists brushing, and the Nagano Prefectural Animal Welfare Center also mentions wiping with gauze.

Get a dog toothpaste and a finger brush or a child-sized toothbrush

Start with a toothpaste made for dogs and either a dog finger brush or a child-sized toothbrush. Do not use human toothpaste.

The AKC says human toothpaste contains ingredients such as xylitol and fluoride that could cause dogs significant harm. It suggests trying a few combinations of toothpaste and toothbrush to find what your dog likes best.

Build up in five steps, gradually and with praise

Start by touching around the mouth, and bring in the toothbrush last. Blue Cross recommends taking time to get your dog used to brushing with positive, reward-based training. The table below is the editors' summary of Blue Cross's steps in five stages.

According to Blue Cross, after a couple of weeks you should be able to brush gently without any fuss. Older dogs may take more time to get used to it. Even so, it says it is still possible to train them with patience and positivity.

The AKC recommends adding the inner surfaces only once your dog is calm with the outsides of the upper and lower teeth being brushed. For the bottom teeth, start with the front teeth, then move to the side and back.

Keep each session short and stop while your dog is enjoying it

The trick is to keep each practice short and finish while your dog is still having fun. Blue Cross recommends starting when your dog is relaxed and taking it slowly with short sessions. It also suggests ending on a good note and stopping while your dog is still happy.

Praising and rewarding your dog at each step is what the AKC recommends. It says food is used at first to teach the skill, and you can gradually remove it later. While you brush, cut down on other distractions.

Set a regular time for brushing in your daily routine

Tooth brushing is easier to keep up when you set a regular time for it in your day (an editors' suggestion). According to the AVMA, most dogs accept brushing. Choosing a time when both you and your dog are calm makes it easier to follow Blue Cross's advice to start when your dog is relaxed.

• After the evening walk, once you have wiped the paws and taken a breather
• After dinner, once some time has passed and your dog has settled
• Before bed, while your dog is relaxing in its usual spot

A set time also makes it harder for you to forget (the editors' view). Simply marking the calendar on days you manage gives a sense that the habit is sticking (an editors' suggestion).

On outing days, brush as usual once you are back home

Do not skip brushing on outing days; do it as usual, in the usual place, once you are home (an editors' suggestion). If you follow the AKC's advice to brush where there are few distractions, home is better suited than somewhere you are visiting (the editors' view).

On days with a lot of walking, or when your dog is tired from a new place, it is fine to do only the previous step and keep it short (an editors' suggestion). Even on days you enjoyed a dog menu at a venue, round off the day with the usual brushing in the evening (an editors' suggestion).

When you stay overnight, bring your usual toothpaste and brush so you can follow the same steps while away (an editors' suggestion).

For the rewards you use while practicing, the diagnosis What Is Your Dog's Reward Type? (Beginner) helps you find what suits your dog. You can check how often to brush and why human toothpaste is a problem with the quizzes Dog Food Safety and Care Quiz: Beginner and Food and Care Myths Quiz: Advanced.

Our column on brushing your dog's coat also covers getting your dog used to being handled for grooming. Tonight, start by gently stroking your dog's cheek and praising it.