Everyone loves doggie kisses. But puppy breath? Not so much!

No one wants to kiss a stinky mouth. Halitosis, or bad breath, is often caused by bacteria buildup in your puppy’s mouth or gut. Other times it can be a sign of more severe problems.

Sometimes behavior problems can be linked to undetected medical issues. If your dog starts chewing on objects, he could be experiencing pain in his teeth. A trip to the vet may be necessary to find out exactly what the problem is.

The following tips and home remedies will keep your dog’s breath from clearing the room.

Breath Freshening Tips & Tricks

Bad breath is a sign of an unhealthy mouth. For persistent bad breath, your first stop should be your dog’s vet. Halitosis can be a sign of more serious problems in the kidneys, liver, or gastrointestinal tract.

Provide hard chew toys for your pup on a regular basis. This stimulates saliva, which removes food particles from your puppy’s teeth. Don’t cut corners with inexpensive toys. Well-constructed toys may be a little pricey, but they’ll last much longer than cheaper versions. Toss the toys when they start to come apart.

Dental chews are dog treats specially formulated to clean your dog’s mouth. Some are edible. Others are hard toys that shouldn’t be swallowed. They come in several sizes; choose the appropriate one for your pup.

Doggie Dental Hygiene

Introduce oral care to your dog as early as possible. A good brushing routine is imperative to keeping your dog’s teeth healthy and bad breath at bay. After your dog is used to having their teeth brushed, the ritual becomes a great way to show affection to your dog.

If you think brushing isn’t enough, you can create a natural doggie mouthwash to keep bacteria at bay and your dog’s breath extra fresh. Some people use regular mouthwash, but be sure your rinse doesn’t contain xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.

Natural Remedies for Dog Breath

Brown Rice

Digestion plays a big part in your dog’s breath. Brown rice is unrefined, where white rice goes through additional scrubbing processes and synthetic ingredients added. Brown rice is easier on your puppy’s tummy than white rice. Mix it into your dog’s food a couple of times per day.

Yogurt

Mix yogurt with brown rice for an extra digestion boost. In addition to providing extra calcium, adding yogurt a couple of times a day can reduce hydrogen sulfide, a contributor to halitosis. Like many others on this list, yogurt provides benefits in addition to oral health. Probiotics provide additional help to your puppy’s digestion. These also may help with breath if indigestion is a contributing factor.

Coconut Oil

Dog’s love coconut oil. Pet parents love it for the multiple benefits it provides to your pooch’s metabolism, immune system, and digestion. Mix a teaspoon into their food daily for a breath boost. Coconut oil also works for smelly fur, hot spots and cuts.

Carrots

The beta carotene in carrots promotes eye health, but the stimulation of the salivary glands from chewing loosens food particles from the teeth, preventing plaque buildup. Chop a couple of carrots into medium-sized pieces and give to your dogs between meals.

Parsley

The chlorophyll in parsley neutralizes odors. Create a spray by steeping several leaves in boiling water or chop up several leaves and mix it in your furry friend’s food. Your doggie won’t like the taste, so putting it in food may not be the best option.

Lemon

The citrus in lemon prevents oral bacteria and leaves puppy’s mouth clean and fresh. It acts as a natural, safe bleach. A little lemon juice goes a long way. Add a few drops or squeeze a fresh lemon in their drinking water for fresh doggie breath.

It’s never too late to start practicing good dental hygiene with your dog. Be sure to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, and provide plenty of chew toys to break up food particles.

If your dog’s breath is still an issue and your vet has ruled out major health issues, add some natural breath fresheners to your dog’s food or water.