Why mouths get skipped, and what we do about it
Most owners know they should brush their pet's teeth. Most of us also know how that goes: a wriggling dog, a cat who leaves the room, a toothbrush that lives in a drawer. The mouth slides to the bottom of the list because nobody enjoys the struggle.
At Bark & Purr, toothbrushing is something we offer to dogs at grooming visits. It is a few unhurried minutes of brushing, done with the same calm, low-stress handling as the rest of the visit. It can be added to a groom or booked on its own. Dogs in the Den Club get toothbrushing with every visit, and you can see how the club works on our memberships page.
What brushing can do
Brushing helps keep plaque from building up on the teeth in between vet dental visits. Done on a steady schedule, it may also help keep breath a little fresher. It also gets your pet used to having their mouth handled, which can make brushing at home and exams at the vet go more smoothly.
There is a quieter benefit as well. While we brush, we see your pet's teeth, gums and lips up close, a look many owners rarely get. That close look is where noticing starts.
What brushing does not do
Toothbrushing at the groomer is hygiene care. It does not replace your vet's dental exams or cleanings. Brushing cannot remove tartar that has already hardened, it cannot reach below the gumline, and it cannot tell anyone what is happening inside the mouth or under a tooth. Only a veterinarian can examine your pet's mouth properly and decide whether a cleaning is needed.
Please do not read “we brush teeth” as “the teeth are taken care of.” If your pet's mouth has been a worry, start with your vet. We are glad to handle the day-to-day brushing afterward, and to work from whatever plan your vet gives you.
We use the word hygiene on purpose. Dental care in the full sense means exams, imaging and cleanings that only your vet can do. What we do is the everyday tidying that sits alongside that care, not in place of it.
What we notice, and what happens next
We are groomers, so we do not diagnose, and we will never tell you what is causing a problem in a mouth. We tell you what we saw. Things that make a groomer say “this is worth asking your vet about” include a strong smell from the mouth, gums that look red or swollen, a tooth that looks cracked or loose, heavy buildup on the teeth, or a pet who pulls away when we touch one side of the face.
Any one of those is a good reason to book a vet visit rather than wait for the next groom. On visits that include a T.A.I.L.S. Wellness Report, anything we spot goes into the written notes, so you have it on paper to show your vet.
Going at your dog's pace
Most dogs settle into brushing quickly when the routine is calm and predictable. A first try may be short, and that is fine. If your dog is nervous about having their mouth handled, tell us. That is useful information, and your vet is the right person to ask about what to do instead.
Cats are different. Brushing a cat's teeth is hard to do well, so for cats it is an optional paid add-on, offered only when your cat is comfortable with it, and it is never part of a membership. If dental care is a worry for your cat, your vet is the right place to start.
If your pet is new to brushing, going slowly is the whole point. We work at your pet's pace, and calm repetition on a regular schedule is usually easier on a pet than one long session.
For care at home, ask your vet what to use and how often. They know your pet's mouth far better than any of us can from a grooming table.
Related reading
- Dog nail trims and teeth brushing at Bark & Purr
- Why regular dog grooming matters for wellness
- Your cat doesn't hate grooming, they hate stress
- Senior dog grooming
- The Den Club memberships
- All Pet Wellness articles