February is National Pet Dental Health Month —
Do I really need to brush my pet’s teeth? Well, the answer varies depending on your pet
and breed, but, in most cases, the answer is yes.
One of the main indicators of your pet needing oral care is
bad breath. Many people may think that
all pet breath is bad, but when you are a pet owner, you notice when there is a
distinct change in your pet’s breath.
Bad breath stems from food particles that get trapped within the gum
tissue or sit along the animal’s teeth.
Bacteria thrive on this debris and that is where bad breath begins. Us humans, of course, can easily brush and
floss food debris away, but when we aren’t providing any type of oral health
care for our pets, this can cause problems, and not just bad breath.
Once bacteria sits on your pet’s teeth and gums, it forms
plaque which then hardens and turns into tartar. This can create pocketing in the gum tissue,
which leads to inflammation and gum disease.
Dogs are 5 times more likely to get gum disease than humans due to the
alkaline nature of their mouth and the fact that, basically, they don’t have
opposable thumbs to use a toothbrush.
Gum disease is reversible with oral health care, but, once bone loss
sets in, that can’t be corrected and generally teeth will loosen and need to be
removed. Even with just gum disease,
animals can have a hard time eating their food, so with the issue of losing
teeth, that will also increase the chance of your pet having a harder time not
only eating their food but also digesting it due to larger pieces being
swallowed.
What do you need to do to help your pet out with their oral
health? You can start by buying treats
and toys that are designed to help control plaque and tartar (please make sure
treats are made in the USA due to the large issue of health problems with
treats from overseas causing illness and death). Make sure you monitor your pet with certain
treats like Greenies ® so that your pet doesn’t swallow too large of a piece.
Toys and treats are a start, but most likely, this is not going to get the job
done completely.
If you are taking your pet to a veterinarian, it is part of
the examination to check your pet’s teeth.
Your vet can give you a heads up on the health of your pet’s mouth. If your pet’s dental health is to the point
of needing a cleaning, (yup, that’s what I said, a cleaning for your pet) it’s
not a bad idea to do it. It is somewhat
costly due to the fact that your pet has to be put under anesthesia to do
it. I have had several of my pets teeth
cleaned, and it made a huge difference in the quality of their breath.
The easiest way to prevent bad breath and plaque is to start
brushing your pet’s teeth. Start at a
young age to get them used to it. There
are finger brushes that you put on the end of your finger with little nubs to
rub along the pet’s teeth. Please make
sure that if you are using toothpaste, that it is one specifically designated
for animals. Do not use toothpaste made
for humans due to the fluoride content.
There are toothbrushes designed for animals also. The earlier you can start getting your pet
used to having their teeth brushed, the easier it will be. This can potentially prevent oral health issues
or at least slow them down.
If you are experiencing bad breath issues with your pet or
are noticing that they have bleeding gums when chewing toys, not wanting to eat
food or are favoring one side of their mouth, have your vet check it out. Problems caught earlier can save money in the
long run.
Now, let’s talk about your flossing…….
Information
compiled from Healthy Pet Magazine, WebMD and Staff at Szmanda Dental Center
©
Szmanda Dental Center, S.C. 2013
