How do I brush an old dog's teeth if he resists?

Begin by simply letting your dog lick a small amount of dog-safe, flavored toothpaste from your finger for several days, without attempting any actual brushing, to build a positive association with the taste and the process before introducing any brush at all. Once your dog accepts this readily, move to gently touching the teeth and gums with a finger, then a finger brush, before progressing to a full toothbrush over subsequent sessions.

If your dog resists brushing with clear signs of discomfort, such as pulling away sharply, yelping, or pawing at the mouth, rather than simple mild annoyance at the process, this points toward dental pain that brushing may be aggravating rather than a training or habituation issue. Continuing to push brushing in this situation without addressing the underlying pain first tends to make future attempts even harder.

Dental wipes, water additives, and specifically formulated dental chews can provide some benefit while you work gradually on building tolerance for brushing itself, though none of these fully replace the mechanical plaque removal that brushing provides. Treat them as a bridge rather than a permanent substitute for an eventual brushing routine. Keeping every session brief and ending on a calm, positive note, even if progress feels slow, tends to build lasting cooperation more reliably than pushing for a full brush too soon.