Is Dental Health Important?

Like us, our pets need regular dental care to keep their teeth in the best possible condition. The amount of plaque which forms on a pet’s teeth is determined by genetic predisposition even more than diet. Some breeds and certain individuals are especially prone to early periodontal disease, but all pets develop dental tartar eventually.

Plaque is made of food debris and bacteria, and if not cleaned off in this soft stage, will harden into dental tartar and calculus. Calculus is like cement, holding bacteria against the teeth, leading to an infection of the gums called gingivitis. As gingivitis worsens, it can result in infection of the periodontal ligament (structure which holds the tooth in place) and surrounding bone. Left unchecked, this leads to tooth loss, a painful and potentially debilitating condition for your pet.

Dental homecare can significantly slow the accumulation of tartar and may decrease the frequency and severity of dental cleanings. Small breed dogs and Greyhounds are at particular risk for dental disease, making homecare especially important for them.

How do I take care of my pets teeth?

There are multiple approaches to providing dental homecare. For pets at high risk for dental disease, more than one strategy can be used.

Brushing:

Finger brushes, pet specific tooth brushes or children’s soft bristled brushes can be used with enzymatic toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not recommended. Pet’s teeth need to be brushed 1-2 times daily to maximize the benefit. If they are not brushed at least 3 times per week the pet derives little benefit from brushing. Using enzymatic toothpaste as a treat and then gradually increasing your pet’s comfort level with having a tooth brush or your fingers in their mouth can help train them to accept regular brushing. Giving a treat after brushing (such as a chew or their regular meal) can also help reinforce the behavior.

OraVetTM Gel (Merial):

This product can be used either after a cleaning or as soon as your pet’s adult teeth are completely erupted. It forms an ionic sealant at the gum level which helps significantly decrease tartar accumulation. This product only needs to be used once weekly, but will be most effective when combined with regular brushing.

Dental chews:

In order for a chew to be effective, your pet needs to work on it for at least 5-10 minutes. Although not as effective as brushing, it can help decrease bacteria in the mouth and clean the teeth somewhat. Hard plastic chew toys should be avoided as they can cause tooth damage. Caution must be used with rawhides and bones as both can lead to intestinal obstructions and other GI problems if not chewed completely.

Prescription DietR T/DR (Hill’s):

This is a special diet made by Hills Science DietR pet food company. It can be fed as a main diet or as an after-meal treat. The structure of the kibble is a hard mesh that cleans teeth as it is chewed. This is the ONLY diet which has been scientifically shown to help reduce dental build-up. Contrary to popular belief, dry kibble and canned diets are equal in that regard. The diets which are most damaging to teeth are the soft, ground-beef type patties because they are high in sugars which contribute to dental disease.

Water Additives and Oral Rinses (by Virbac Animal Health):

Two products which have been shown to help oral health in dogs are AquaDentTM water additive and C.E.T. oral rinse. The water additive has a dilute antibacterial ingredient called xylitol which decreases the amount of bacteria in the mouth as the dog drinks water. The oral rinse is applied directly on the gum line using a point and squeeze bottle. Many owners report an improvement in their pet’s breath when using one of these products. ***Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs in large quantities, such as the concentration found in sugarless chewing gums. However, at the dilution in this product it has tested safe for dogs and cats.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Once plaque hardens into tartar and calculus, a professional dental cleaning (prophylaxis) is required to remove the accumulation. The procedure includes a thorough scaling of the crown (tooth above the gum line), sub gingival curettage (cleaning under the gum), and polishing. Dental prophylaxis is a routine procedure requiring general anesthesia in pets. On average, a pet should have a cleaning once a year, though the rate of build-up of tartar and calculus varies from patient to patient.

Pets who have not had regular dental care will lose teeth naturally as the periodontal ligament is lost, but this process results in discomfort with chewing and risks spreading infection to liver, kidneys, heart valves and lung tissue. Tiny abscesses in these organs contribute to early organ failure in dogs and cats. For that reason, once a periodontal ligament is infected, the pet benefits from tooth extraction. After the surrounding gum tissue heals, the mouth is more comfortable and the risk of spreading infection is gone.

During a professional dental cleaning, the veterinarian will probe the periodontal pocket around each tooth and will extract teeth which cannot be saved in order to remove infection. Teeth with more than one root require surgical extractions. Dental radiographs evaluate the health of areas between the roots where some abscesses form, undetectable from the outside. The earlier a diseased tooth is removed, the less damage done to surrounding bone tissue and spread to internal organs is reduced.

Pets needing extractions and pets with severe gum disease will go home on oral antibiotics. Veterinarians usually give an injection the day of the procedure or start the oral antibiotics three days before the procedure when extractions are anticipated.

Dental health care is a relatively new area of focus in veterinary medicine. After vaccines, parasite control and good nutrition (including weight control), it is the most powerful step we can take to keep our pets healthier and happier for longer.

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