It’s no secret that dogs love to lick things. They’ll lick their own bodies, other animals, and even humans if given the chance.
But just because dogs enjoy licking doesn’t mean their mouths are clean. In fact, studies have shown that dogs mouths are teeming with bacteria, some of which can be harmful to humans. So should you let your dog lick you?
It’s really up to you. If you’re not comfortable with it, then don’t allow it. But if you don’t mind a little doggy saliva on your skin, then go ahead and let your furry friend give you a lick. Just remember to wash your hands afterwards!
What are the Benefits of a Dog’s Mouth Being Clean?
Maintaining good oral hygiene for dogs and promoting a relatively clean mouth can have several benefits for their overall health and well-being. Here are some potential benefits:
Dental Health
Regular cleaning and maintenance of a dog’s mouth can help prevent dental issues such as plaque buildup, tartar, gum disease, and tooth decay. These problems can lead to pain, discomfort, and even tooth loss. By keeping their mouth clean, you can help promote healthier teeth and gums.
Fresher Breath
Good oral hygiene can help combat bad breath in dogs. Bad breath is often caused by the buildup of bacteria in the mouth, and regular brushing or dental care can help reduce the bacterial load and improve the dog’s breath.
Reduced Risk of Infections
By minimizing the presence of harmful bacteria and pathogens in a dog’s mouth, you can lower the risk of oral infections, which can cause pain, swelling, and other oral health issues. Infections in the mouth can also potentially spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
Improved Overall Health
There is growing evidence suggesting a connection between oral health and overall health in dogs. Poor oral hygiene and untreated dental issues can contribute to systemic health problems, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and respiratory infections. By keeping a dog’s mouth clean, you may help reduce the risk of these potential health complications.
Enhanced Quality of Life
Dogs with healthy mouths are more likely to have comfortable eating experiences, enjoy their meals, and engage in activities that involve chewing toys or treats. Good oral health can contribute to a better quality of life for dogs, preventing pain and discomfort associated with dental problems.
It’s important to note that maintaining a clean mouth is just one aspect of overall canine health care. Regular veterinary check-ups, a balanced diet, exercise, and a safe environment are also crucial for a dog’s well-being.
How Can I Keep My Dog’s Mouth Clean?
One of the best ways to keep your dog’s mouth clean is to brush their teeth regularly. Just like humans, dogs need to have their teeth brushed to remove plaque and tartar build-up.
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth, and tartar is hardened plaque. If not removed, plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems.
The best time to brush your dog’s teeth is after they’ve eaten or had a drink of water. This will help loosen any food debris or plaque that may be stuck on their teeth.
You’ll want to use a soft-bristled toothbrush designed specifically for dogs (never use a human toothbrush on your dog), and do your best to avoid brushing too hard as this could damage their gums.
There are also special canine toothpastes available that are safe for dogs to ingest; these often have a more palatable flavor than human toothpaste so your dog is less likely to put up a fight during brushing time!
In addition to regular brushing, you should also have your dog’s teeth checked by a veterinarian at least once per year. Your vet can professionally clean your dog’s teeth (a process called scaling), which will remove any built-up plaque and tartar that regular brushing couldn’t reach.
They can also look for any signs of oral health problems, such as gum disease or tooth decay, and treat them accordingly.
Why is It Important to Keep My Dog’s Mouth Clean?
It is important to keep your dog’s mouth clean for many reasons. The first reason is that it can help prevent gum disease. Gum disease is a condition where the gums become inflamed and can lead to tooth loss.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean will help reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to the gums. Another reason why it is important to keep your dog’s mouth clean is that it can help prevent bad breath.
Bad breath is caused by bacteria build-up in the mouth, and this can be prevented by regular brushing and cleaning of the teeth.
Finally, keeping your dog’s mouth clean can also help prevent other health problems. For example, if your dog has dental tartar buildup, this can lead to digestive problems as the tartar can irritate the lining of the stomach.
Therefore, by keeping your dog’s mouth clean, you can help avoid these types of health problems.
What are Some Common Problems That Can Occur If My Dog’s Mouth is Not Kept Clean?
If your dog’s mouth is not kept clean, some common problems that can occur are gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Gum disease is caused by plaque buildup on the teeth. This plaque buildup can irritate the gums and cause them to become inflamed.
If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Tooth decay is also caused by plaque buildup on the teeth. This plaque creates a film that covers the teeth and prevents saliva from washing away food particles and bacteria.
The bacteria then eat away at the enamel of the teeth, causing cavities. Bad breath is caused by both gum disease and tooth decay. When food particles and bacteria build up in the mouth, they release an unpleasant odor.
Why Do They Say Dogs’ Mouths are Cleaner Than Humans?
It turns out that there is some truth to this claim. Dogs’ mouths are less likely to contain harmful bacteria than humans’ mouths.
This is because dogs typically have a more alkaline saliva than humans. This means that their mouths are less hospitable to the growth of harmful bacteria.
In addition, dogs typically eat a diet that contains less sugar than the average human diet. Sugar is one of the main food sources for harmful bacteria. So, by eating less sugar, dogs’ mouths are naturally more resistant to bacterial growth.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that dogs’ mouths are completely clean. They can still harbor harmful bacteria, especially if they don’t have good oral hygiene habits. However, overall, their mouths are generally cleaner than ours!
Conclusion
Dogs mouths are not as clean as we might think. A study done by the National Institutes of Health found that dogs have more than twice the amount of germs in their mouths than humans. The study also found that these germs can cause infections in humans, especially if there is a cut or open wound on the skin.
Dogs can also transmit other diseases to humans through their saliva, such as rabies and hepatitis. While most healthy people will not get sick from a dog’s mouth, it is still important to be cautious when around them. Wash your hands after petting a dog, and avoid letting them lick your face or open wounds.
