Download At Home Dental Care - Southside Place Animal Hospital

Southside Place Animal Hospital
6902 Stella Link
Houston, Texas 77025
713-349-0718
PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE AT HOME
Try to imagine what your mouth would feel like if you never brushed or cleaned your
teeth in any way. Many pets go for years without any dental care. Fortunately cats and
dogs have predominately conical or pyramid shaped teeth and developing cavities is not a
common problem. However has your pets breath been difficult to be around lately? That
bad breath is usually a sign that the gums and maybe even the teeth are not as healthy as
they should be.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. This is usually the first sign of dental problems.
As plaque (which is made up of bacteria) and tartar (a mineral substance that precipitates
on the plaque matrix) accumulate on the teeth and along the gum line the gums become
inflamed and irritated and uncomfortable. This stage of dental disease is completely
reversible since no permanent damage has been done to the enamel or supporting
structure of the teeth. A routine dental cleaning will return the teeth and gums to health.
Periodontitis is inflammation and damage to the supporting structures of the teeth. With
time, pockets of bacteria and pus begin to accumulate below the gum and result in
damage to the structures that keep the tooth in place. The bacteria can get into the bones
of the jaw and cause weakening of the jaw, bone infection and bone fracture. Bacteria can
also get into circulation and result in heart, lung, kidney and liver infection. Some of this
damage is permanent. A dental cleaning is absolutely necessary at this time and
antibiotics administered both before and after the dental cleaning. If the deep areas of the
teeth are badly infected antibiotics may be needed for up to four weeks after the dental. A
dental cleaning when there is periodontitis present may include subgingival cleaning
(root plaining), and sometimes cleaning and irrigation and closing subgingival pus
pockets or tooth removal if they cannot be saved. Any tooth that can be saved will be
saved.
Our goal is to hopefully prevent these problems from ever developing by teaching our
clients how to care for the teeth in some way at home.
HOME CARE
In an ideal world we care for our pets teeth three times a day. Just like we are to suppose
to do for our own teeth. Set your goals slightly lower and do some sort of dental care for
your pet once a day. The best time is in the evening right before bed. This means that the
mouth is clean and relative free of bacteria and plaque through the night.
Brushing. The most effective way of preventing dental disease in your pet is to brush
the teeth every day. Use CET toothpaste or some other pet tooth paste. Pets will not spit
out the paste. If human toothpaste is used and the pet swallows it he or she will vomit.
Start slowly. Handle the mouth and lips at first. Do this for only a minute or so at first
verbally praising and petting often. Next try wiping your finger along the sides of the
teeth. Use the Poultry flavored toothpaste (CET) on your finger since pets seem to think
this is a treat. DO NOT fight with your pet. It may take several weeks before you can use
a brush or soft moistened cloth in the mouth. The sides of the teeth should be brushed in a
slow circular motion. A very soft toothbrush (a pet toothbrush or a babies tooth brush) or
a small soft moistened cloth (an old wash cloth cut in quarters) can be used with paste to
effectively clean the teeth. It needs to be fun for everyone or everyone will quit. Children
and teenagers often enjoy having the responsibility and skill of brushing their pet’s teeth.
What about cats? A very good question. Cats can be a problem. With patience’s most can
be taught to think of brushing (especially if you are using a poultry or tuna flavored
paste) as a treat. But some cats and some dogs will never put up with it.
Chew Treats. Another way of caring for your pet’s teeth at home that is not as effective
but is much less labor intensive is the use of chew treats. These need to be something the
pet will chew at for at least five minutes. Avoid milk bone like products since they are
high in sugar and can promote bacterial growth. They are usually not much harder than
regular food. Hooves and bones and pressed molded rawhide chews are too hard and can
result in cracked or broken teeth. Pigs ears are very soft, loaded with fat and bacteria, do
not help teeth and can cause gastrointestinal upset. A relative thin flat rawhide chew
usually results in the dog lying down and spending several minutes to hours chewing.
Contrary to popular myth dogs do not commonly swallow big hunks of chews. If your
dog is one of these you probably already know it. CET makes a rawhide chew that is
treated with chlorahedine which substantially slows the growth of bacteria in the mouth
and improves breath. There is also a chew for cats.
Rinses. There are many products that can be used to rinse the mouth and remove debree
and kill superficial bacteria. Because this does not involve any mechanical removal of
plaque this is the lease effective way of preventing dental disease.
Foods. Many foods claim to promote dental health. They do. Again this is helpful but
because no mechanical cleaning is going on this may not prevent disease.
Just as with humans there some pets who will have dental problems despite your best
efforts. Certain breeds and certain mouth conformations are prone to more problems.
Some dogs will never have any problems no matter what they eat. But most pets should
have some home care if they hope to avoid frequent dentistries and tooth loss.
Please do not feel that you have to do something. If all you can do is toss a chew once per
day or you can only brush on the week-ends that’s great. If home dental care is not
something you can do that is OK. Our goal is to give you the information and teaching so
you know how to care for your pet’s teeth.
If you have any questions or would like us to review your home care please let us know.