Everyone has heard the old saying that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth. Although this saying is widely heard, is it true?
No, dogs’ mouths are not clean, and they’re no cleaner than humans’ mouths. This saying originates from the fact that dogs have an entirely different ecosystem in their mouths than humans. As a result, the dog’s mouth is clean from the bacteria we find in our mouths, but it is filled with its own unique bacteria that make it dirty. So, dogs’ mouths are not clean.
To learn more about the bacteria lurking inside your furry friend’s mouth, keep reading. This article fully explains why dogs’ mouths are not clean and some things you can do to make their mouths cleaner.
Is My Dog’s Mouth Clean?
Your dog puts practically everything inside its mouth. Because of this fact, you might find it hard to believe that your dog’s mouth is cleaner than yours. If that is where you stand on the matter, you would be right. Your dog’s mouth is not clean.
Just like humans, dogs’ mouths are filled with hundreds of different types of bacteria. In fact, dogs often have more than 600 bacterium types in their mouths. For comparison, humans have 615 types of bacteria in their mouths. This shows that your dog’s mouth is just as dirty as yours.
Why Do Some People Believe That a Dog’s Mouth Is Cleaner Than a Human’s?
If dog mouths are as dirty as humans, why does the saying exist?
To put it simply, dog mouths are cleaner than humans if you only look at the bacteria found in humans’ mouths. Dogs do not have many of the same bacteria in their mouths that are lurking in ours. Instead, dogs have an entirely different ecosystem in their mouths.
What this means is that you will come up short on samples if you are only looking for the bacteria found in our mouths. If you start widening your search to other types of bacteria, you will find that the dog’s mouth has just as many bacteria, although different types.
Furthermore, it’s difficult for dogs and humans to transmit illnesses. Even if your dog is sick, it’s highly unlikely that you will contract the disease and vice versa, though not impossible. This fact has caused many people to assume that dogs are healthier than humans when, in fact, we just can’t transmit diseases to one another.
Tips for Keeping Your Dog’s Mouth Clean
Because your dog’s teeth are dirty, it’s imperative to do what you can to keep its mouth healthy. Just like in humans, oral hygiene is important in dogs. Unfortunately, most dog parents have no idea that oral hygiene is important, which means as many as 80% of dogs have canine periodontal disease as young as 3 years old.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to help keep your dog’s mouth clean. Here are the top three tips to try out:
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
The number one way to keep your dog’s mouth clean is to simply brush their teeth. There are specially made toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs that you can use. This toothpaste tastes good to dogs, and it is free from harmful ingredients often found in human toothpaste.
Dental Chews
You can also purchase dental chews. Dental chews will help clean your dog’s teeth and stimulate blood flow. At the same time, your dog will feel like it is chewing on a tasty treat.
Invest in Professional Cleanings
Veterinarians provide professional teeth cleanings. These professional cleanings will ensure your dog’s teeth are healthy and help to prevent any disease from occurring. Professional cleaning is especially recommended for breeds that suffer from common periodontal diseases, such as Bulldogs and Yorkies, but all dogs will benefit from these cleanings.
Final Thoughts
The next time you hear someone say that your dog’s mouth is cleaner than yours, you can now correct them and tell them that this is simply not true. Although the dog has different bacteria in their mouth, their mouth is just as dirty as yours.
Because of this fact, make sure to keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy. Even though the bacteria are different, periodontal disease is still a serious issue for dogs. Brush your dog’s teeth, invest in dental chews, and get routine cleanings to make sure your dog’s oral health is in top shape.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
