I brush my dogs teeth, Smudge is a lot better about it then Winter is though. With Winter I have to just put some of the stuff that I use on my finger and rub it on her teeth and gums...I don't use toothpaste, I have some but I don't use it. I use this oral care stuff from a company called oxy fresh, it stinks to high heaven but the dogs seem to like it. I also have this three sided toothbrush that I use on Smudge that way it gets the inside the top and the outside of his teeth at once, but I'm gonna have to get a finger brush with Winter because she has some mild tartar build up...but only very mild.