Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems.

Why Dental Care Is Important?

As a pet parent, you certainly want your furry kid to have a healthy mouth. Below are five reasons why good dental care is so critical to your pet’s overall health:

1. Preventing bad breath. If a whiff of your pet’s breath makes you want to pass out, it’s time for some good dental care. When your pet has a healthy mouth and healthy teeth, bad breath won’t be a problem.
2. Preventing worsening dental disease. It can be difficult to prevent it from developing in the first place. However, good pet dental care can prevent dental disease from becoming severe, necessitating more intensive and invasive dental treatment.
3. Preventing tooth loss. When the structures supporting a pet’s teeth become damaged or infected, the teeth loosen and fall out. Good dental care will ensure that those teeth-supporting structures stay healthy and keep the teeth in place.
4. Preventing oral pain. Dental disease, especially when it’s severe, can be quite painful for pets. Keeping their teeth and gums healthy will help prevent oral pain.
5. Preventing organ damage. Bacteria in the plaque can enter the bloodstream and spread to the heart, kidneys and liver. This can damage organs and make your pet quite sick.

Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian, as part of their overall annual health exam, for early signs of problems and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Have your pet’s teeth checked sooner if you observe any of the following problems:

•  Bad breath
•  Broken or loose teeth
•  Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
•  Teeth that are discoloured or covered in tartar
•  Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
•  Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
•  Pain in or around the mouth
•  Bleeding from the mouth
•  Swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth

Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behaviour should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.

Causes of pet dental problems

•  Broken teeth and roots
•  Periodontal disease
•  Abscesses or infected teeth
•  Cysts or tumours in the mouth
•  Malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth and bite

Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats – by the time your pet is 3 years old, he or she will very likely have some early evidence of periodontal disease, which will worsen as your pet grows older if effective preventive measures aren’t taken. Early detection and treatment are critical, because advanced periodontal disease can cause severe problems and pain for your pet. Periodontal disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth. Other health problems found in association with periodontal disease include kidney, liver, and heart valve changes. It starts with plaque, which contains bacteria and food particles, that builds up on the teeth, this then gradually hardens into tartar. Tartar above the gumline can often easily be seen and removed, but plaque and tartar below the gumline is damaging and sets the stage for infection and damage to the jawbone and the tissues that connect the tooth to the jawbone.

The treatment of dental disease

The process begins with an oral exam of your pet’s mouth by a veterinarian. Radiographs (x-rays) may be needed to evaluate the health of the jaw and the tooth roots below the gumline. Because most dental disease occurs below the gumline, where you can’t see it, a thorough dental cleaning and evaluation are performed under anaesthesia. Dental cleaning includes scaling (to remove dental plaque and tartar) and polishing, similar to the process used on your own teeth during your regular dental cleanings. Sadly, if the treatment is left too late and the dental disease process is advanced then there is often not much that can be done to save some of the teeth and extractions may be necessary in order to effectively relieve pain and infection.

How often should my pet have their teeth cleaned?

Our furry kids should have their teeth cleaned on a regular basis as part of their overall healthcare routine. The frequency of dental cleanings will depend largely on your individual pet’s needs, age, breed and overall health. In general, most pets will need a dental cleaning at least once every year or two, though some may require more frequent cleanings. If your pet has a history of dental problems or tooth decay, they may need to have their teeth cleaned more often, while pets with healthy teeth and gums may only need occasional cleanings.

Why does veterinary dentistry require anaesthesia?

When you go to the dentist, you know that what’s being done is meant to help you and keep your mouth healthy. Your dentist uses techniques to minimize pain and discomfort and can ask you how you are feeling, so you accept the procedures and do your best to keep still. Your pet does not understand the benefit of dental procedures, and he or she reacts by moving, trying to escape, or even biting.

Anaesthesia makes it possible to perform the dental procedures with less stress and pain for your pet. In addition, anaesthesia allows for a better cleaning because your pet is not moving around and risking injury from the dental equipment. If radiographs (x-rays) are needed, your pet needs to be very still in order to get good images, and this is unlikely without heavy sedation or anaesthesia. Although anaesthesia will always have risks, it’s safer now than ever and continues to improve so that the risks are very low and are far outweighed by the benefits. Most pets can go home the same day of the procedure, although they might seem a little groggy for the rest of the day.

What can I do at home for my pet’s oral health?

Prevention of the most common oral disease in pets consists of frequent removal of the dental plaque and tartar that forms on teeth. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings, and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian. Daily brushing is best, but it’s not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective and is certainly better than nothing. Most dogs accept brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant. Patience and training are important, and the best method is a slow and gradual habituation to the procedure.

If brushing is impossible, there are several dental treats/chews and prescription dental diets which can help reduce the formation of plaque and tartar. However, there are many pet products marketed with claims that they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. Talk with your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental-specific diets you’re considering for your pet, or ask your veterinarian for their recommendation.