Do You KNOW Where Your Dog’s Mouth Has Been?

Busting the Myth that Your Dog’s Mouth is Cleaner Than Yours

It seems like ever since I was a kid, I’ve heard people say that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than mine. Considering my dog doesn’t have opposable thumbs and is unable to brush his own teeth twice daily – none-the-less floss! – that didn’t seem to ring true to me, so I decided to do a little research.

I’m Not the Only one Questioning the Validity of That Claim!

Type the words “are dogs” into your Google search bar, and the second suggestion that pops up is, indeed, “are dogs mouths cleaner than humans?”

It seems the myth of dogs having cleaner mouths than humans was based on the concept that unless a dog has rabies, if they bite you, there is no bacteria in their mouths that should cause you to have an infection from the bite. This theory, apparently is based on the idea that most disease are species-specific. This Moment of Science Video explores the myth behind the theory that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth.

Dog Mouth vs. Human Mouth

Then, when you take it a step further and consider that dogs are known for eating everything from your trash to dead animals to their own feces, even that particular theory doesn’t quite stick. If a dog has bacteria from feces or a dead animal in its mouth, and that dog bites you, there’s a pretty good chance that the bacteria from that dog’s bite could cause an infection.

If you take into consideration what a dog is willing to eat, it stands to reason that doggy kisses aren’t exactly clean, either. There is a way, however, to make your dog’s breath at least smell kissing fresh.

Probiotics Crowd Out the Bacteria That Make Doggy Breath So Stinky

If your dog’s breath is less-than-kissing-fresh, pet probiotic sprinkles added once daily to your dog’s food may just be the answer. These beneficial bacteria coat your dog’s teeth, gums and tongue to crowd out the bacteria responsible for bad breath that leaves you turning down your doggy’s kisses.