Despite how often you explain to your Beagle the importance of good dental hygiene, a few Beagles are simply very resistant to having their teeth brushed. For these tough cases, you have a few options. Wrap a piece of gauze around your finger and rub down the outsides of your Beagle’s teeth as often as you can, at least weekly. Offer your Beagle dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

You can also buy dental sprays and washes, or even tooth-washing enzyme-based products you can add to your dog’s water. Although brushing is best, these other options are better than no dental care at all, and can also be good adjuncts to brushing.
Now, for the brushing:

1.    Get your Beagle used to having you put things in his mouth. If you have been doing the daily once-over, your Beagle may not mind one bit if you start brushing his teeth. If yours is a little shy, however, begin by letting him lick some of the toothpaste off your finger. Touch his teeth and praise him. Let him sniff the toothbrush, then let him lick some paste off the brush.
2.    When your Beagle is comfortable with the toothbrush, you can start brushing. Do just a few seconds at a time for puppies, so they don’t get bored or start to dislike brushing. Work up to more thorough brushing as your Beagle gets older and used to the process.
3.    To brush, begin at the front. Lift up your Beagle’s lips and gently brush the outsides of his front teeth in a circular motion. That’s usually enough for the first few times.
4.    As your Beagle gets more comfortable with brushing, take a little more time and work the brush around to the sides. Be sure to get to all the back teeth, brushing both upper and lower sets.
5.    Always talk cheerfully to your Beagle as you brush, and praise him lavishly. If your Beagle misbehaves or resists, don’t scold him. Stop and try again later. You don’t want him to associate any negative experiences with brushing.
6.    End each brushing sessions with a dental friendly treat.

Daily tooth brushing can make a big difference in your dog’s veterinary dental needs. Some well brushed dogs never need an expensive professional dental cleaning.  However, even with regular brushing, a few individual dogs still tend to accumulate a lot of plaque on their teeth, which can lead to tooth decay and other serious dental and health problems.

Your veterinarian should check your dog’s teeth every year. If necessary, your dog may need a professional cleaning under a general anesthesia, especially as he gets older. Don’t neglect this important aspect of your Beagle’s veterinary care.

Helpful hint: when dogs eat kibble, the food naturally scrapes off the inner sides of the teeth, so you only need to focus on the outer surfaces you can see when brushing your Beagle’s teeth.

Dental Health for Beagles

You brush your teeth every day to prevent tooth decay, and your Beagle needs daily dental care, too. Dogs suffer from many of the same dental problems humans do, including infections that can enter the bloodstream and affect the major organ systems.

Many veterinary dentists agree that poor dental health could result in serious health problems and even early death. At the very least, regular brushing will reduce the need for expensive dental cleanings as your Beagle ages. Brushing is a very important part of keeping your Beagle healthy.

Any soft toothbrush will work, but brushes made for dogs have longer handles, which can make it easier to reach back teeth. Don’t use a toothpaste made for humans. Dogs shouldn’t swallow these, and you can’t exactly tell your Beagle to spit. Instead, purchase a toothpaste specifically made for dogs. These pastes are flavored with doggy-delicious flavors like chicken or liver, so your Beagle will probably enjoy them.