[NAGDU] tooth paste

[Al Sten-Clanton]

Greetings!


Marj, how did you decide on a 4-ounce container instead of something 
larger?  Was it a matter of how long it would be usable for your dog or 
something else?


What is it about baking soda and coconut oil that makes them good 
toothpast ingredients?  Or, where should I go for that kind of information?


Presently, I buy what I think is a tartar-control toothpast from 
chewy.com.  I buy a couple of tubes when I order the food, partly for 
simplicity and partly to get rid of the shipping cost.  The toothpaste 
is expensive, though, so I'm very interested in what you say.


Best!

Al



On 3/1/22 08:42, Marj Schneider via NAGDU wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I wanted to add my thoughts to this topic because I was using a 
> home-made baking soda tooth paste with Fennel for five years, until 
> she died a year ago.
>
> I chose to make my own after my vet recommended I bring Fennel in for 
> a cleaning in 2016 and I thought, considering the cost of the 
> procedure, that maybe I could improve the condition of her teeth if I 
> were more conscientious about brushing her teeth every day and we 
> could avoid the deep cleaning at the vet.
>
> Considering the cost of dog tooth paste and the ingredients of most, I 
> decided, after researching options, to try making my own instead. I 
> used a 4-ounce plastic container with a lid and made a paste of the 
> baking soda with an ice cube size amount of meat stock for flavor. In 
> Fennel's case I was using beef stock. I added a small amount of 
> coconut oil, less than a quarter teaspoon and just enough water to 
> keep it a thick paste that would stay on the brush.
>
> I kept the container in the fridge and would get it out in the evening 
> as part of our bedtime routines. I brushed her teeth at the same time 
> I did mine. That way I never forgot, and she came to expect it, 
> following me into the bathroom.
>
>
> It was a lot easier to scoop the paste out of the container than 
> squeezing a tube, and with that gentle brushing every day, her teeth 
> got incredibly clean and her breath stayed fresh. I don't know if the 
> enzymes in commercial pastes would do a better job, but this easy 
> alternative cost virtually nothing and was extremely effective. The 
> vet always complemented Fennel on the condition of her teeth.
>
>
> I plan on following this same routine with my next match.
>