{"id":668,"date":"2026-04-20T09:19:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/?p=668"},"modified":"2026-04-24T09:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T09:21:41","slug":"is-your-dogs-mouth-really-cleaner-than-your-own","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/is-your-dogs-mouth-really-cleaner-than-your-own\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Dog\u2019s Mouth Really Cleaner Than Your Own?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AdobeStock_170844315__1777022445_71052-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Man petting his dog\" class=\"wp-image-669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AdobeStock_170844315__1777022445_71052-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AdobeStock_170844315__1777022445_71052-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AdobeStock_170844315__1777022445_71052.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>After a long day, there may be nothing better than heading home and being greeted by your furry friend. They may scratch on your leg, begging to be picked up, and unleash an attack of kisses! You might reciprocate and give them a big smooch on their head. However, you might&#8217;ve heard someone say a dog&#8217;s mouth is cleaner than a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/general-dentistry.html\">human\u2019s smile<\/a>, but is this really true? Here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, Is My Dog\u2019s Mouth Cleaner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You might imagine that what makes an oral cavity be seen as clean or dirty depends on the bacteria living inside it. A dog has over 600 different types of germs, while humans have over 615. This might seem like one is healthier than the other, but this isn&#8217;t the case!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental problems can still affect both parties, so it\u2019s important to make sure you do your part in preventing any issues. For instance, Porphyromonas (a bacterial family) can cause gum disease for both humans and dogs, but P. gingivalis affects you, while P. gulae affects your furry friend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I Still Give My Dog Kisses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since gum-inflaming bacteria found in both species\u2019 mouths are in the same family, you might wonder whether you should worry about getting a disease from kissing your pet. The good news is that there isn\u2019t really anything to worry about. Most of the bacteria found in a dog\u2019s mouth won\u2019t cause problems for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, there are some exceptions! If your furry one has a raw diet, then you may be at a higher risk of salmonella. The same goes for if they tend to raid litter boxes as well. In all, giving them a smooch isn&#8217;t any less risky than kissing a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can I Keep My and My Dog&#8217;s Smile Healthy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what, oral hygiene is crucial for you and your companion. You should be brushing, flossing, and having routine visits with your dentist. That way, you can get rid of plaque that causes problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also be scrubbing your dog\u2019s teeth and getting them checked out by a professional to ensure there aren&#8217;t any issues developing. You will have to have your appointments twice yearly, while your furry friend may be able to get by once a year, but every time they are groomed can be helpful as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dog\u2019s mouth isn\u2019t really cleaner than your own, but it\u2019s important to take care of both. That way, you can feel confident knowing both smiles are in great shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/about-us.html\">Family Dental Center of East Texas<\/a>, you benefit from the skilled leadership of Dr. Youngblood and Dr. Martinez. We are dedicated to helping the Center community get the stronger teeth and gums they deserve with preventive care. By having routine visits, we can spot any red flags early and give you the effective treatment you need. If you are due for your next checkup and cleaning, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/contact-us.html\">schedule an appointment<\/a> or call our office at <strong>(936) 427-9070.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a long day, there may be nothing better than heading home and being greeted by your furry friend. They may scratch on your leg, begging to be picked up, and unleash an attack of kisses! You might reciprocate and give them a big smooch on their head. However, you might&#8217;ve heard someone say a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is Your Dog\u2019s Mouth Really Cleaner Than Your Own? - Family Dental Center of East Texas Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You might&#039;ve heard a rumor that a dog&#039;s mouth is cleaner than a human&#039;s, so here&#039;s what you need to know to find out the truth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.centerdds.com\/blog\/is-your-dogs-mouth-really-cleaner-than-your-own\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Your Dog\u2019s Mouth Really Cleaner Than Your Own? 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