Whether your pet is young or old, having a healthy mouth and teeth are important to overall health and well being. It is never too soon to start caring for your pet's teeth and mouth. Getting your puppy or kitten accustomed to having its teeth checked and mouth touched is an important first step in making home dental care an effortless routine. Most pets will start accumulating dental calculus within the first few years of life. Certain breeds tend to have bigger issues with periodontal disease and tooth loss than others. Why is this? Some of it can be hereditary. Malaligned or crowded teeth can certainly predispose your pet to food and hair getting caught between teeth. Diet can also play a role.
Prevention of dental disease is so much better than trying to deal with periodontal disease and tooth loss. Some pets will develop dental issues despite our best efforts. Genetics and underlying health conditions can undermine even the most dedicated pet owner's efforts.
What is best for your beloved furry friend? Each pet must be addressed according to their individual needs and issues. Ideally, brushing teeth daily is a good way to start (Sounds familiar doesn't it?). Just like with people, regular brushing if done properly is an effective way to manually remove food and to minimize debris and bacteria from building up on teeth at the gumline.There are a number of different size toothbrushes and toothpastes available. Realistically, some dogs and many cats are not real keen on this approach especially if you start the brushing routine as an adult. Thankfully, there are other alternatives available. There are prescription as well as OTC dental dogs foods available that can help with dental health. These are probably good options for dogs or cats that really have an aversion to having their mouth touched. These diets are generally regular adult diets, so pets with certain health issues may not be able utilize them. There are also many dental chews available that have proven efficacy through clinical trials. With either the dental diets or chews, it is important to make sure your pet is actually chewing them. For those pets that gulp kibble down whole or break a dental chew in half and swallow the rest whole, these products are functionally not able to do the job for which they were designed.
What else can be used? Dental chew toys, rawhides and bones can all help, but bones are notorious for breaking upper premolars with dogs that are vigorous chewers. My pets enjoy rawhides, but they can be a choking hazard and typically only address the back teeth and not the canine teeth or incisors. So, other options available include an
additive to drinking water and dental sprays or gels. These products may contain chlorhexidine, zinc gluconate and for cases with periodontal disease stannous fluoride. There are a few more natural alternatives available and products that have gone through clinical trials to prove efficacy. They can be found at the VOHC.org website (Veterinary Oral Health Council).
For some pets ( especially as they get older), dental cleanings under general anesthesia are needed. Once periodontal disease sets in, most pets will require repeat cleanings and tooth extractions as the disease process progresses. Extracting premolars and molars disrupts a pet's ability to chew normally so the remaining teeth are at greater risk for tartar build up. Some damaged teeth can be saved with root canals or crowns, but this usually requires a visit to a certified veterinary dentist.
Being proactive with your pet's dental health is a great way to help keep your pet healthier and happier. By observing your pet's mouth regularly, you may also catch any abnormalities sooner. In the long term, both you and your pet share the benefits!