My dog won't let me brush her teeth. Are black gums an infection?

Question

Hi! Question about dental care- Sallie refuses to allow us to brush her teeth- we try with Sentry Petrodex and try to get it on her gums with finger and/or brush every other day. Do you recommend brush or finger? Should it be every day? She also has a dental chew regularly- but our current regiment doesnt seem to work- we found some black on her gums- is this an infection?! Any thoughts you have on the picture as well as tips for her dental care would be much appreciated- thank you! Pet's info: Dog | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Female | spayed

Stephanie Echols, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sallie’s teeth in the picture look fantastic! The black you are seeing is just pigment of her gums. Bad teeth have an red gum line or are purple looking compared to the other teeth. For dental care I recommend daily brushing, either with a finger or regular tooth brush. Always use a dog toothpaste as dogs cannot have fluoride. Daily brushing is best and is better than the dental chews. A lot of dental disease is based on genetics, so some dogs are more prone to bad teeth than others. Even with daily brushing, Sallie still may require a professional cleaning every 1-2 years. It is recommended for humans to have twice a year cleanings and we brush our teeth everyday. I would keep up the excellent work and have your vet look at her teeth twice yearly to discuss further monitoring. Kisses to Sallie!

My dog won't let me brush her teeth. Are black gums an infection?

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