I have an eight year old lab that since she was little I've used a gauze 4x4 wrapped around my fore finger to rub over her teeth. The roughness of the gauze texture cleans off the plaque and kind of massages her gums as I do it. I also have always dipped that gauze in a product called Act I, anti plaque rinse, bubble gum flavor for kids made by Johnson and Johnson. The original bottle lasted me 7.5 years and her teeth are great says the vet. So easy, the dog loves it, and I don't struggle using the toothbrush and her breath smells like bubblegum. Hope this helps.