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My dog's yellow teeth: How serious? Clean them without brushing?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Japanese Spitz | Female | spayed | 2 years and 5 months old | 11 lbs

My dog has yellowish teeth and I wonder how bad it is and what is the best way to clean them without brushing. And I wonder will be her life span affected, cause of bacterias that can damage other organs trough blood stream or its still in so early stage that won't affect it. I include some pic, I know that are not the best focused, but better I can't.

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1 Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on March 4th, 2018

That's quite a bit of tarter buildup, and it would be best to have Joshie examined by a vet to determine if she is a good candidate for a dental cleaning. Dental cleanings often involve having your pet go under anesthesia so that the teeth can be thoroughly cleaned and any damaged or infected teeth removed safely. February was pet dental health month (at least in the US), and many veterinary clinics extend dental discount packages into March, so now is the perfect time to schedule a visit and check it out. At home, brushing is always a good idea, and there are many pet toothpastes available that are palatable and can encourage your pet to get their teeth brushed (never use human toothpaste as it is toxic to pets). You can also spread some on a dental chew or other "scrubby" like chew toy to help clean the teeth. Chews like nylabones, Kongs, etc, that encourage your dog to use their teeth can help. There are also prescription diets available from your vet such as t/d which is designed specifically to improve dental health and clean the teeth while eating. It would be hard to predict lifespan, but if you're working to clean your dog's teeth and keep her healthier, then that is always going to help.

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