According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs show signs of oral and dental disease by the age of three. The good news: Labrador Retrievers have far better teeth than many other breeds, particularly toy breeds. The not-so-good news: Your Labrador’s teeth won’t take care of themselves; they still require basic dental care from both you and your veterinarian to remain healthy well into old age.

The easiest way to keep your Lab’s teeth and gums in good shape is to begin a canine dental hygiene program from the get-go. Basically, while your puppy is still agreeable, start brushing his teeth with a finger brush and doggie toothpaste. Use only toothpastes designed for dogs. Human toothpastes have chemicals in them that are harmful if swallowed – which is exactly what your Lab will try to do!

Finger brushes are not perfect, however:

1. They are knobby, made of rubber, and fit over your finger.
2. You will be coating this finger brush with doggie toothpaste that tastes like chicken or beef.
3. Your Labrador loves to chew.
4. Your finger is going to be in his mouth.
5. The whole process resembles a great, new interactive chew toy to your puppy.
6. His teeth are like little, sharp needles and easily penetrate the rubber finger brush.

See the potential for problems here? Actually, it’s not too bad. The first time you use the finger brush, try for a few swipes and then build up to a few back and forth motions on each side. Your goal is to acclimate your Lab to the brushing motion and to keep the tooth and gum line as clean as possible. As your Labrador gets used to the finger brush, you can move to a larger, adult dog brush.

While you’re brushing, be sure to keep an eye out for cavities that are affecting the dog, broken teeth, abscesses, and even tumors. If you spot any of these changes in your dog’s mouth, see your veterinarian immediately.

In addition to daily brushing, your puppy or adult should avoid soft or sticky foods (diets are available that are made just for reducing tartar and calculus) and receive appropriate chewing toys. For additional care, ask your veterinarian if your Labrador might benefit from a daily canine dental wash and/or a gel that can be applied to the surface of your dog’s teeth and gums once a week.

Of course, even with the best dental home care, it’s pretty near impossible to keep a dog’s teeth perfectly clean. Because bacteria is released from diseased gums and teeth into the dog’s bloodstream (and affects internal organs), it’s important to schedule routine dental cleaning with your veterinarian. It’s not inexpensive because the process does require your Labrador to be under general anesthesia; however, if you schedule his cleaning on an annual basis – and you are vigilant in your home cleaning – the costs will be less.