Course 12 · Teeth and Mouth · Lesson 4 of 12

How do you brush the outer surfaces of the teeth?

Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026 · About 6 minutes · General information only. This lesson does not diagnose or treat any condition.

Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth by lifting the lips, placing a soft dog brush at a gentle angle to the gum line, and using small circular or short back and forth motions along each tooth, spending most time on the large back teeth where plaque builds most. The outer surfaces matter most because they face the cheeks, collect plaque, and are reachable without opening the mouth wide. The inner surfaces, facing the tongue, are harder to reach and are cleaned less effectively at home; do not force the mouth open to reach them.

How should the brush be held and moved?

Hold the brush with a light grip, as if holding a pen, rather than gripping tightly and pressing hard. Place the bristles where tooth meets gum, at roughly a 45 degree angle, so bristles touch both tooth surface and gum edge. Use gentle circular motions or short strokes, moving along the gum line tooth by tooth, without scrubbing hard or pressing the brush into the gums. Pressure should be light: if the bristles bend flat, the pressure is too much. Work in a consistent order, such as front teeth first, then one side, then the other side, finishing with the back teeth, so no area is missed and the dog learns the sequence. Keep the lips lifted with the other hand, using a finger on the muzzle rather than pulling the lip hard. Pause between sides to reward calm behaviour, and keep the whole brush to one or two minutes. A gentle, systematic brush is more effective than a vigorous brush that misses the gum line and frightens the dog.

Which teeth need most attention, and why?

The large upper back teeth, the carnassial teeth, and the upper canine teeth tend to collect plaque and tartar most visibly, because they are large, have grooves, and sit where saliva and food residue gather. The outer surfaces of the upper teeth generally need more attention than the lower teeth, and the back teeth need more than the front teeth, although all outer surfaces should be brushed. Front teeth are easier to reach and often cleaner, but they should still be brushed briefly, because plaque forms there too. Teeth that are crowded, overlapping or rotated need careful attention along the gum line, but crowding should be noted for a vet, not treated by harder brushing. If a tooth is missing, loose, broken or sore, skip that area and seek veterinary advice, rather than brushing around it.

How long should brushing take, and how much paste should be used?

A full outer surface brush usually takes one to two minutes once the dog is used to it. Puppies and dogs new to brushing may manage only 30 seconds at first, and that is a good start. Use a pea sized amount of dog toothpaste, or the amount directed on the product label, spread on the bristles. More paste does not clean better, and excess paste makes the dog drool and resist. Dogs do not rinse or spit, so paste should be a dog product safe to swallow in the amount used. Do not reapply paste midway through unless the brush is dry and the dog is calm, and do not use paste as a lure to keep the dog still while brushing hard. If the dog licks the paste off the brush before brushing starts, let it taste a small amount first, as in the introduction lesson, then reload the brush and begin.

What mistakes reduce effectiveness or cause harm?

Brushing too hard is the most common mistake, causing gum soreness, bleeding and resistance. Brushing only the tooth tips, missing the gum line, is the second, because plaque at the gum line is what matters most. Opening the mouth wide to brush inner surfaces, holding the jaw shut, or brushing while the dog is stressed all cause harm to trust and can cause injury. Using human toothpaste, a hard brush, or a brush that is too large also reduces effectiveness. Brushing a sore mouth, brushing immediately after a veterinary dental procedure without advice, or trying to scrape tartar with a brush or tool are all outside home care. Another mistake is brushing irregularly but vigorously, on the assumption that a long weekly brush compensates for daily plaque. It does not: plaque reforms daily, so a short daily brush along the gum line is more effective than a long weekly scrub. Consistency, gentleness and gum line focus are the three qualities that make brushing work.

When should you stop and get help?

Stop brushing and contact a vet if gums bleed more than a tiny amount that stops quickly, if bleeding recurs at every brush, if the dog shows pain, flinches at one tooth, or will not allow brushing on one side, if a tooth is loose, broken, discoloured or missing suddenly, or if there is swelling, discharge or a bad smell. A tiny spot of blood when brushing is first introduced can occur with inflamed gums, but it should settle as gums become healthier with regular gentle brushing, and persistent bleeding needs assessment. Do not brush harder to stop bleeding, and do not apply antiseptics to gums. Seek hands on demonstration from a veterinary nurse if hand position, angle or pressure is uncertain, because a short in person demonstration can correct technique quickly. Brushing the outer surfaces well, daily, is the core home skill, and knowing when to skip an area and refer is part of doing it safely.

Light pressure, a gum line angle, small circles and most time on the back teeth make a short daily brush effective, and a sore or bleeding area is always a reason to pause and seek advice.

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