Dental Health

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Dental Care is very important for your pet's health. 

 Proper oral hygiene ensures the cleanliness, health, and stability of your pet's teeth.  Dental disease is very common in dogs and cats, especially with age.  Regular home teeth brushing is the way to go. Combined with regular veterinary dental care, you can kiss bad breath, tooth loss, and infection good-bye!

 

What causes dental disease?
A thin film of protein from saliva, food particles, and dead cells forms on your pet's teeth and gums.  If this layer thickens and sticks around for long enough, it becomes the perfect environment for bacteria! This bacterial plaque buildup can lead to gingivitis, or inflamed gums, and infection.  
Gingivitis can then lead to periodontitis, an inflammationof the deeper tissues surrounding the teeth.  Just like with us, these infections can spread to the rest of the body!


Here are the ABC's of Dental Health Care:

Always check your pet's mouth.
Some of the signs that your pet may be experiencing mouth or tooth pain may include:
*Blood-tinged drooling                                    *Difficulty eating/reluctance to eat
*Swelling/Rednessof gums                            *Tipping/tilting the head when eating
*Refusing to eat hard foods                             *Change in mouth odor

Brush those teeth.
Getting dogs and cats used to having their teeth brushed should ideally be started when they are young. But there are ways to make it fun if you have an adult dog or cat!  Be sure to use toothbrushes and toothpastes made especially for pets.  Human toothpaste contains fluoride,which can be toxic in large amounts.  Choose a pet toothpaste your pet likes, they come in different flavors!  Use the toothpaste as a reward or treat for several days so your pet accepts the toothpaste as something good.  Once they like it, use your index finger to simulate the brushing motion of a toothbrush while still praising them.  Then move onto a soft-bristled pet toothbrush!
Be gentle when brushing. Be sure to reach inside and out of all teeth!  This should be done 2-3 times a week.

Check-ups with the Veterinarian.
By the time dogs and cats are three years old, 70% of them show signs of gum disease.  Too much bacteria in the mouth not only results in bad breath, but it can lead to gum disease.  Just like people, the infection can also spread to the rest of the body.

A professional dental cleaning may be needed to eliminate excessive plaque build-up or to extract infected teeth.  This procedure is done under anesthesia and your pet goes home later that same day.  We routinely do dental cleanings, just ask us about it!