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Home care for your pet’s teeth
February is Veterinary Oral Health month! We are often asked in appointments about the best ways to keep teeth
healthy. The following are some of our typical recommendations.
1.
Tooth-Brushing is the gold standard
Just like us, the best way to clean our pet's teeth is with a toothbrush. This keeps teeth clean and healthy by
scrubbing off the bacteria (plaque) that can harden to create tartar and cause oral infection.
Human baby tooth brushes can be used for dogs and cone-shaped interdental brushes are a good fit for cats’ small
mouths. Brush in side to side or circular motions and work on one area of your pet's mouth at a time, lifting their lip
as necessary. The part of the tooth that touches the cheek, particularly along the gumline, is the most prone to plaque
and tartar. It can be difficult to clean the inner surfaces of the teeth and if your pet resists don’t force the issue, only
a small amount of tartar accumulates there. Brush a minimum of 2-3 times per week, or daily if you’re feeling
ambitious!
Toothpaste is not necessary, but flavoured pet-friendly pastes can make the experience more enjoyable for some
animals. Always avoid human toothpaste as the fluoride can make your pet's sick if they swallow it.
2.
Treats and food options for dental care
Some pets can be resistant to tooth brushing, particularly if you are starting late in their life. If brushing is
impossible then dental treats can help to slow the accumulation of plaque and tartar. The majority of these treats
work by scraping plaque and tartar from the teeth as the pet chews. Because of this, they tend only to clean the teeth
used for chewing at the back of the mouth. The teeth at the front of the mouth will often still accumulate debris with
this method.
For pets prone to dental problems, dental diets are also available. The kibbles are very large which encourages your
pet to chew thoroughly and similarly scrapes plaque and tartar from the teeth. In addition, some diets include
ingredients thought to slow the transformation of plaque into tartar.
If you are on the market for a good dental treat or food it can be helpful to look for the VOHC seal. The VOHC, or
Veterinary Oral Health Council, is a certification committee. To obtain the seal companies must prove through
clinical studies that their treats/foods slow plaque and tartar accumulation when compared to untreated animals.
3.
Water Additives
If tooth brushing and treats are off the table or you are looking for something to use in addition to these methods
there are water additives on the market as well. The jury is still out on whether the majority of these work, but one
called Healthy Mouth has received the VOHC seal. This is thought to work by reducing the amount of plaque on the
teeth when it is added to their drinking water on a regular basis.
4.
Bad bones!
Avoid toys and treats that are hard or abrasive and can wear down or break teeth. We see many fractured teeth from
aggressive chewers who don’t know their limits with hard objects. A general rule is that if you cannot bend or break
the treat with your hands you should avoid giving it to your pet. Common culprits include antlers, smoked bones,
hard pressed rawhides and hard nylon bones.
Painful tooth fracture caused by an antler chew toy
Top 4 dental diseases in small animals
Oral disease is now the number one health problem diagnosed by veterinarians. Here are some of the most common
issues we see in clinic.
1. Periodontal Disease:
Periodontal disease is by far the most common dental problem in companion animals. This is because the disease
shows no obvious symptoms until it reaches a very late stage. Periodontal disease is caused by tartar building up in
large amounts underneath the gums. When this happens the tartar separates the gums from the teeth and forms
"pockets" that harbour bacteria. These bacteria go on to form more tartar further below the gumline and the cycle
continues.
Periodontal disease can be painful and eventually leads to loose teeth, abscesses, or bone loss. In very severe cases
bacteria may enter the bloodstream to cause body wide infections. The most common signs pet owners notice are
bad breath, loose teeth, swelling of the face, or poor appetite. Often the disease is quite advanced at this point.
Severe periodontal disease in 9 year old dog.
2. Feline tooth resorption:
Tooth resorption is a phenomenon specific to cats and despite many years of study it is still unclear why some cats
develop this disease. Tooth resorption occurs when the body begins to eat away at the protective enamel coating of
the tooth. This process continues all the way through the tooth until the root becomes exposed. Those of you with
sensitive teeth have experienced 'root pain', root exposure is an amplified form of this type of pain. Cats with this
disease often have multiple teeth affected and can continue to develop new lesions over time. The current treatment
for this condition is to remove the painful tooth for the pet's comfort.
Signs of tooth resorption in cats can include a decreased appetite or reluctance to chew solid foods, drooling, hiding
or other changes in behaviour. Often we can diagnose this condition just by looking at the tooth. However they can
sometimes be hidden if there is a lot of tartar on the teeth or periodontal disease is present.
3. Tooth Fractures:
Broken teeth are seen most commonly in dogs who are aggressive chewers. Hard dental treats can break teeth but
dental fractures are also seen in dogs who play with sticks, rocks or chew on kennel bars. Signs of dental fractures
include drooling, reluctance to eat or acting 'off'. The treatment for this condition is often removal of the tooth. If
preferred, some teeth may be saved if referred early to a veterinary dentist.
Sometimes owners are not aware that their pet has broken a tooth. When broken teeth are left in the root will
eventually die. This leaves a small hole in the tooth where the root used to be. This can make it possible for bacteria
to travel into the tooth root and cause infections or abscesses. Old fractured teeth can often show up as tooth
abscesses many years down the road.
4. Tooth Abscesses:
Speaking of abscesses, this is an extremely common sight in small animal practice. Abscesses often appear very
suddenly as a swelling just below the eye, although they can appear almost anywhere along the jaws depending on
which tooth is affected. They are most commonly seen when a tooth has been broken, but severe periodontal disease
can also be a cause due to the poor attachment between the gums and tooth.
Abscesses can be treated with oral antibiotics initially but removal of the affected tooth is strongly recommended. If
the tooth is left in, repeated abscess formation in the same area is common.
Dental care at the office
At your pet's annual physical exam, we will examine the teeth and mouth (if our patients are willing!). Thorough
dental exams can identify potential problems such as plaque and tartar build-up, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and
fractured or abscessed teeth. These exams also help to catch oral disease early so that we can prevent larger
problems in the future.
Dental Cleaning by Your Veterinarian: If your dog's teeth develop a significant amount of tartar, we will often
recommend a professional cleaning. Removing tartar from teeth in a timely manner will prevent periodontal disease,
or if it is already present, it can slow the progression. A routine dental cleaning consists of:
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Anesthetizing your pet.
Flushing the mouth with a solution to kill bacteria.
Cleaning the teeth with handheld and ultrasonic scalers to remove tartar from above and below the gumline.
Polishing the teeth to remove microscopic scratches that can harbour bacteria.
Inspecting each tooth and the gum around it for any signs of disease.
Flushing the mouth, again, with an antibacterial solution.
Removing any dead or unsalvageable teeth if warranted
Home dental care as well as breed/genetics play a role in how prone your pets teeth are to developing tartar and
other diseases. Most pets, on average, end up undergoing a professional cleaning 3-4 times in their lifetime but this
can vary between individuals.
If you have questions or concerns about your pet's teeth feel free to contact us and we will do our best to help!