Are Dogs' mouths cleaner than humans'?
By GACathyMac
@GACathyMac (32)
United States
March 22, 2007 3:56pm CST
I've always heard the old saying, "A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's." Is this really true or is it a myth or old wives tale?
I'm wondering this because all dogs lick their private parts, some dogs eat their own feces or another animal's feces, some drink out of toilets, and some dogs like to eat trash out of trash cans. Humans don't do this - at least I hope not!
What do you think? What have you heard? Do you agree with the statement that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's?
GACathyMac
5 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Mar 07
OMG that is so freakin' funny! I'll have to remember to use that one on my BIL. He truly thinks dogs mouths are cleaner than humans. LMAO!!!
@myworld_and_you (1223)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
I've never heard of that saying before. Literally speaking, I don't think that's true. How can they be that clean when dogs don't even brush their teeth? lol. Well, i think the old folks have a deeper meaning to that say. But I just couldn't figure out what. lol :)
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I heard of this a few years ago, but I think it's an old wives tale. I just don't see how a dogs mouth could be cleaner than a human, even if the dog did get it's teeth brushed twice a day. With all the nasty habits that a dog has, the only way it could possibly happen is if humans had those same gross habits that dogs do. Just my opinion.
@MKpack22 (307)
• United States
24 Mar 07
yea i dont think that is true. they do not clean thier mouths and while most dog food is supposed to freshen breath i know my dog eats his own poop so i dont think his food fixes that. my dog also has incredibly bad smelling yawns, i mean so bad you have to leave the room. i think that is definately not ture
@Galena (9110)
•
24 Mar 07
in the way that it matters, this is true.
I once had a dog bite to the face, and was told by the maxillofacial surgeon, as he was cutting off the ragged bits and sewing it back, that...
A dogs bite contains less harmful bacteria than a cat or human bite.
he said cat bites were dirtier than dog bites, and human bites the worst of all.
I mean from human saliva you could contract HIV or Hepatitis, or Herpes.
even if dogs have been licking their bums, their saliva doesn't contain as many bacteria or viruses as a human bite.
and with a human bite, those are the sort of bacteria and viruses that are harmful to humans.
