BAD BREATH IS BAD NEWS
4 ways to keep your dog's mouth healthy

3. Buy smart food.
When it comes to helping your dog's mouth, not all foods are created equal.  "Lots of dog foods have sugar, which is something many people don't know," says Jennifer Melton, co-founder of Cloud Star, an all-natural pet-treats and grooming product line.  Cloud Star developed Minty Madness Buddy Biscuits, which are made of natural breath boosters like spirulina, alfalfa and peppermint and are hard enough to scrape plaque off teeth.  But don't be fooled into thinking harder is always better.  "If a bone is hard enough to hammer a nail into the wall, it's too hard," Lavell says.  "Soak it for a few minutes in cool water.  You don't want your dog to get rid of plaque but end up chipping a tooth instead!"  What's a safe thing for your pup to chew on?  His or her tennis ball, which gently scrapes plaque off teeth, especially back molars.

4. Reinforce your efforts.
There are plenty of supplemental oral care products and medicines available that can help keep Buddy'smouth healthy; in fact, the number of these products quadrupled from 2000 to 2004.  From gels you can rub on your dog's gumline to a new dental vaccine for small dogs to drops you can put in your canine's water bowl, the options are staggering.  "We developed natural breath drops from a licorice-extract blend to help dog owners with daily breath maintenance," says Sharon Mueller, founder of Spa Dog Botanicals.  "People love it; it's one of our best sellers."

Before you begein a new oral-healthcare program for your dog, be sure to consult your veterinarian about the best options for your pup and the proper techniques to use.  But whatever you do, don't buy into the myth that your dog's bad breath is nothing to worry about.  "Keeping your dog's mouth healthy is a huge deal, and people are starting to realize that," Lavell says.  "Fifteen years ago, people would laugh at you if they heard you were brushing your dog's teeth.  Now, many families understand that the best way to care for your dog is to prevent problems from occurring in the first place."

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