Doggie dental care is important. Just as we humans need to brush our teeth regularly, our canine friends benefit from a regular oral hygiene routine. Some dogs take right to a toothbrush and canine toothpaste, while others balk at having you poke around in their mouths.
Fortunately, there are multiple approaches. If your dog absolutely refuses to cooperate, you can try a supplement like oral probiotics, and some dog toys promote healthy gums. But many canines will accept a less-invasive, good-tasting tooth cleaner like the PAWfect Smile Dental Pen.
Tasty Flavors
The PAWfect Smile Dental Pen has several things going for it. First, it comes in two dog-friendly flavors: peanut butter and vanilla. Second, the pen itself is relatively small and unobtrusive. It will remind you of a felt-tipped marker rather than an oral care device. The unit delivers a drop of the cleaner to your pet's teeth automatically. No messing around with toothpaste on a brush. With normal use, each pen should give you 30 applications.
Not only are the flavors palatable to pooches, but they freshen your dog's breath. I tried this product on multiple test dogs and noticed that effect on all of them.
You can use the pen on dogs of any age, but it's particularly good for adults. The product's manufacturer warns that over 85 percent of canines over age four have some periodontal disease. Your vet can tell you if your pet is in that statistic.
Easy to Use
The pen is small enough to use easily on any size dog. It seemed just as comfortable to my toy-sized test subject as to the larger canines. You just click the pen, which releases the tooth cleaner into its tip. Don't panic if it doesn't work on the very first click. It takes several times to "prime" the pen the very first time you use it.
Once the applicator is ready, lift the dog's lip and gently rub the tip against its gums and teeth. It's a very mess-free process, especially when compared to toothpaste. When using the pen, the instructions recommend paying special attention to the gum line, since that's a hot spot for tartar build-up.
None of the dogs I tried this on had any problem with this procedure. More nervous canines or those who don't like being touched around their mouths might be more of a challenge, although you can use a natural relaxer like Canine Calm to make the process less stressful. For me, the biggest challenge was avoiding the dogs' tongues, as several tried to lick during the cleaning. It seemed to be equally comfortable for both large and small dogs.
Developed By a Dentist
Interestingly, the PAWfect Smile Dental Pen was developed by a human dentist. Dr. Jennifer Jablow's experience includes performing cosmetic dentistry on Ford models and other celebrities. The pen actually contains ingredients that are safe for humans (glycerin, sorbitol, purified water, hydrated silica, sodium bicarbonate, flavoring, coenzyme Q10, xanthan gum, chlorhexidine digluconate, and Vitamin C).
The pens sell for around $15, and the manufacturer's instructions recommend cleaning your dog's teeth every other day. That means a pen will last you around two months if you get 30 applications out of each tube.
I didn't find any real drawback to this product, other than possibly the price. You can get a more inexpensive canine toothbrush and toothpaste, but I like the convenience of the dental pen vs. a brush and the hassle of squeezing on the paste and getting it into your dog's mouth. I also prefer the size of the pen.
Overall, this is an essential product if you're looking for a simple but effect way to maintain your dog's dental health. There are other ways to do it, but the PAWfect Smile Dental Pen simplifies the process so it's painless to do it regularly.
