BRUSHING DOG’S TEETH WITH ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES A Personal Experience My first experience with tooth care was to keep our show Westie dog’s teeth clean and free of plaque by scraping with a dental scaler; I knew no better. I now know much better through research and I practice daily preventive care with toothbrushing to avoid periodontal disease. In advanced periodontal disease, when plaque and tartar have built up on the teeth and below the gumline, bacteria can get into the bloodstream and adversely affect the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart.