Dog dental care at home and at the vet

Signs of dental disease in dogs

• Bad breath that persists.
• Yellow or brown tartar on the teeth, red or bleeding gums.
• Dropping food, chewing on one side, or losing interest in hard food or toys.
• Pawing at the mouth, drooling, or facial swelling.
• Loose or missing teeth.

The AVMA notes that periodontal disease is often advanced before it is obvious. A dental check is part of every wellness exam for that reason.

The home routine

• Brush daily, or as close to daily as you can manage, with a toothpaste made for dogs; human toothpaste is not safe for pets.
• Start slowly: taste the paste, then a finger, then a brush on the outer surfaces, where tartar builds fastest.
• Dental chews and diets with the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal can help between brushings but do not replace them.
• Avoid very hard chews such as antlers and bones, which can fracture teeth.

What a professional cleaning involves

A veterinary dental cleaning is done under general anesthesia so every tooth can be scaled and polished above and below the gumline, probed for pockets and x-rayed for problems hidden under the gum. The AVMA explains that anesthesia-free cleaning cannot do this and is cosmetic rather than therapeutic. Extractions, when needed, are done in the same procedure and are the main reason a bill lands above the estimate.

What it costs

CareCredit's 2025 cost study (Synchrony / ASQ360) reports a $388 national average for a dog dental cleaning with a $307 to $702 range. Webvet's July 2026 range is $300 to $900 or more once extractions and x-rays are included. The full breakdown, with sources, is on the dental cleaning cost page.

What to record

• Date and findings of each dental assessment and cleaning, including extractions.
• Dental x-ray reports.
• Post-procedure medications with doses and end dates.
• The next recommended cleaning date, as a reminder.