Caring for your pets' smile, by David Jones, store manager of Pets at Home Swindon

We all love to have a gleaming set of pearly whites and your pets shouldn’t be an exception. Good dental care is an important part of responsible pet ownership and Pets at Home offer a wide variety of products and advice to help you out.

Keeping pets teeth and gums in good condition ensures they can eat, play and stay fit and healthy throughout their lives. Just like us, cat and dog teeth can generate a build-up of plaque, which left untreated turns to tartar and that can cause much more serious health problems.

Natural chews and specially-designed toys are a great way of keeping your pets teeth healthy and strong. This is especially true for dogs as chewing is part of their natural behaviour, so toys could save your furniture!

Cleaning your pets teeth sounds daunting but if you make it part of your pet’s daily routine, they will quickly get used to it. Using a dog or cat friendly toothbrush and toothpaste is all you need to get started. Cat toothbrushes should have a soft-headed brush, while a rubber bristle toothbrush will be suitable for your dog.

Our in-store specialists will be able to give you some advice on best practice and make sure you're doing everything you can to maintain your pets dental hygiene.