Most people have heard the myth that a dog’s mouth is much cleaner than a human’s. Although this is surprising, it’s also one of the reasons why so many pet parents encourage kisses from their canine companions. Is a dog’s mouth really cleaner than a human’s?

This is one myth that definitely isn’t true. It probably started because when dogs lick their own wounds, they rarely get infected. However, the reason for this isn’t because a dog’s mouth is so clean. It’s because licking the wound clears away dead skin tissue.

Instead, a dog’s mouth is full of bacteria. After all, dogs regularly put their mouths on all kinds of horrendously dirty things! Add to that the fact that dog’s don’t brush their teeth like we do, and the truth is that their mouth is much dirtier than ours.

To learn more, visit with your veterinarian Minnetonka, MN.