Brushing your dog’s teeth may not be top on the list of things you’d like to do today. For most people, their pets are a part of their family, but even so, it’s never appealing to stick your hand in your pup’s drooling mouth.

However, Fido needs a good brushing every now and then for the same reasons you do! Twice a day would be a bit much, but here are some important reasons why brushing your dog’s teeth is a good idea.

• To prevent plaque build up
• To check for and prevent gingivitis (gum disease)
• Check for developmental problems in puppies
• Check for trauma (i.e., broken or fractured teeth

How to Brush your Dog’s Teeth

So what is the best way to brave the drool and clean your canine companion’s teeth? You have a few options, and it really just depends on your dog’s attitude and needs.

One option is the finger brush! This is good for a dog who won’t mistake your finger for a chew toy. These rubber caps have bristles on the end and make it easy to move around your dog’s mouth so you can be sure you’re getting the spots you need to reach. It’s also a great way to check your dog’s mouth for injuries, as you’ll feel any broken teeth through the brush.

Another option looks a lot like the toothbrush you use for yourself. These double-ended dog toothbrushes have long handles and strong bristles. While they don’t provide as much control, they do keep you fingers clear of those chompers and allow your dog the opportunity to get used to having his teeth brush. You’ll probably go through these quickly if your dog is a heavy chewer while you’re trying to brush.

While we can’t take care of your dog’s dental needs here at Stratman Family Dentistry, we do know that dental care is important for the whole family; including Buster.

So, hopefully by now you’ve gotten around to taking care of your spring cleaning. Whether you have or not, it’s time to give your bathroom a refresh. Bathrooms are some of the most germ filled places in your home, and it can be difficult to clean around the cups, combs, hair dryers, and floss dispensers. An organized bathroom is much easier to clean.

Step 1: Purge

If your bathroom contains an abundance of 2 year old soap, shampoo, and shaving cream containers, it’s time to purge. The funny thing about bathroom supplies is that you’ll easily end up with multiples of just about everything. That’s because we go through most of it, then switch to the new bottle of shampoo before the old one is gone. Somehow, the old one never makes it to the trash. Get a trash bag and start chunking things in.

Step 2: Compartmentalize

Make a “soap” place and a “brush” place and a “hair styling gadgets” place. Sort your bathroom items by type, then find a spot for them that’s the correct size, and convenient depending on how much you use that object. Don’t put your hair dryer in a tiny drawer because if it’s hard to get it back in, you won’t put it away. The easy-to-reach top drawer of your counter shouldn’t be used for extra soap, but rather for toothpaste, floss, face wash, Q-tips and other things you use daily. Get some baskets and categorize them for the space under your sink.

Step 3: Buy What You Need

I’m sure many of us are guilty of buying things like shampoo because they’re on sale, or this soap because it just smells way better than that tired old soap you’ve been using for the past month. While coupon clipping and stocking up when you’re running low can be more convenient and cost-effective, there is a chance that you’ll overdo it. Only buy things that you need, and go for the medium size pack of toilet paper if you don’t have space to store the mega pack. Even though you aren’t saving quite as much money, you’ll be able to fit all of them in your bathroom cupboard, keeping your bathroom clean and uncluttered.

Step 4: Reorganize

A lot of things happen in a bathroom. Keeping your counters clear and products put away makes getting rid of bacteria a lot easier. Keep some spray or cleaning wipes handy in a cabinet for daily disinfection of countertops. Taking care of the room where you take care of your health is important for your physical well-being.

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