Dental Disease

All pets will develop dental disease. Humans are instructed to brush and floss their teeth twice daily and still need to have their teeth cleaned every 6 months. Pets never floss their teeth, and rely on their owners to brush. It is not feasible to expect to brush your pet’s teeth twice daily. If you brush them once daily, great! You are making enormous strides to keep your pet healthy. However, even if you brush them twice weekly, you are making a huge difference.Halitosis develops when tartar builds up on the teeth. Bacteria grows under the tartar and causes the gums to recede. Gingivitis is inevitable and will cause pain and bleeding. Bacteria will enter the blood stream and lodge in the heart and kidneys and cause disease. Eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out or become abscessed- both of which are quite painful for your pet.Thankfully, there are abundant products that can extend the time between dental cleanings. If you can brush your pet’s teeth without getting bit, please do so as often as you can. Use a children’s toothbrush or the finger brushes marketed for veterinary use. Do not use human toothpaste-use warm water or a veterinary formulation. There are also rawhides that are impregnated with antibacterial substances, water additives that help keep tartar at bay, and mouth rinses that are helpful in removing food off of your pet’s teeth. Any of these products are instrumental at keeping your pet’s mouthhealthy.Dental cleanings are still a necessity. How often and when to start will vary. Generally, smaller dogs (Yorkies, Pomeranians, Poodles) will need to have dentals starting around 3 years of age and every 6-12 months. Larger dogs may be able to wait until they are approximately 5 years old and then yearly. Feeding a canned diet and not performing any dental preventatives above will shorten the time in between dentals and may cause your pet to need a dental earlier in their life. Anesthesia is required to perform the dental prophylaxis correctly. Every surface area of each tooth is cleaned and polished, including the area closest to the tongue. The gum line is probed to assess the presence of pockets or abscesses and radiographs are performed to assess the need for extractions. Do not be alarmed if your veterinarian recommends a tooth be extracted-it is common and can save your pet a lot of discomfort. Extractions are usually only recommended if the root is diseased or if the tooth is already loose.Halitosis can also be caused by oral masses such as melanomas or squamous cell carcinomas. If you see any tissue that seems out of place in your pet’s mouth or you notice blood staining on rawhides, visit your vet immediately. Kidney disease and diabetes can also cause bad breath. It is always a good idea to visit your veterinarian if your pet exhibits bad breath. Most likely, only a good teeth cleaning will be necessary.