Poor dental care can cause plaque to build up over time and can lead to gum disease as well as a host of other physical problems, such as heart, kidney and respiratory disease. Though puppies will lose their teeth by 7 months of age and grow their adult teeth, it is not normal for them to lose their adult teeth. It is important for you to develop healthy habits for your dog that will last.

Regular checkups by a veterinarian are needed to clean and examine the dog's teeth. He can remove excess build-up plaque and teach you how to clean the teeth between visits to promote optimum health.

Dry dog food and dental bones are an easy way to tackle tartar by exercising the teeth and gums. Treats are a good way to naturally scrape the teeth. This alone, however, isn't enough to keep the dog's teeth healthy. Regular brushing is needed between vet visits. Every other day is the recommendation for brushing your dog's teeth. All you need to get started are a soft toothbrush (a child's sized brush works nicely) and toothpaste made especially for dogs. If you start the process when they are young it will become routine for them.