When you are told that your pet needs dental health care, do you wonder where you should start, or what is necessary? Since most pets begin to show dental disease signs by age 3, implementing a dental care plan as soon as possible is essential for preserving oral health. Our team explains the importance of at-home and professional dental care for your pet’s oral health, and how a two-pronged dental care plan can keep their mouth pain-free and their smile sparkling.

Caring for your pet’s dental health at home

You wouldn’t visit your dentist and expect them to remove six month’s worth of plaque and tartar, right? The same applies to your pet. Rather than relying on annual dental cleanings to tackle your pet’s tartar, you should battle dental disease daily with the following products:

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste — A soft-bristled toothbrush and pet-friendly toothpaste are your best weapons for waging war on oral bacteria. Pet toothpaste comes in tantalizing flavors that make toothbrushing much easier, since the paste is its own reward.
  • Treats and chews — Tasty treats and chews serve as special snacks and entertainment for your pet, and also promote good oral health. Avoid chews that are too hard (e.g.,  bones, hooves, antlers), and stick to dental products your pet can chew and digest without a problem.
  • Prescription diets — Prescription dental health diets are typically formulated with larger kibble pieces that remain intact when chewed. Food pieces in standard dry diets crumble when chewed, but the kibble pieces in dental diets scrape away plaque and tartar as the tooth sinks into each piece. Dental diets may also contain bacteria-fighting ingredients to remove plaque and freshen breath.
  • Food and water additives — You can add powders and liquids that contain enzymatic and antibacterial ingredients designed to destroy bacteria and prevent plaque formation to your pet’s food and water.
  • Oral sprays and wipes — Oral sprays and wipes have the same action as food and water additives and can be applied directly to your pet’s teeth, which ensures the products are used effectively rather than wasted in a half-eaten meal or a dumped water dish.

In a perfect world, you’d have the time to brush your pet’s teeth daily. But, if that’s not possible, strive for three toothbrushing sessions a week. On your “off” days, use approved dental products to help minimize bacterial growth and plaque and tartar buildup.

Caring for your pet’s dental health at a veterinary hospital

Taking care of your pet’s oral health at home minimizes dental disease, but professional dental care is also essential for cats and dogs. The two main veterinary dental services are:

  • Oral exams — Comprehensive oral exams should be performed every 6 to 12 months and are crucial for spotting hidden problems you may miss at home. To perform a thorough oral exam, sedation or anesthesia is needed. In many cases, we can quickly look inside your pet’s mouth and determine if they will need professional dental care in the near future. Then, we will perform a thorough exam when your pet undergoes their dental procedure under anesthesia, combining both services into one anesthetic event.
  • Professional dental cleanings — Called comprehensive oral health assessment and treatments (COHATs), veterinary professional dental cleanings include much more than simple tartar scaling and polishing. After your pet has been placed under general anesthesia, we examine all oral tissues and structures, including the gingiva, tongue, mouth roof, and teeth. We probe for infection pockets, resorptive lesions, loose teeth, and evidence of pain or disease. We take full-mouth dental X-rays, focusing closely on any problem areas seen in the exam. Dental X-rays help us diagnose periodontal problems that lie hidden underneath the gum tissue, and we will create an appropriate treatment plan for those problems, which may involve extractions. Next, we move onto the cleaning portion, scaling away plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line, and polishing the enamel smooth to create a plaque-resistant surface. We end the procedure by extracting diseased teeth, if necessary, and applying a fluoride treatment. 

Combined, professional and at-home dental care create a comprehensive dental disease prevention plan. Stick to the plan, and you will keep your four-legged friend’s smile in great shape, and their breath kissably fresh.

Good dental health is incredibly important for your pet’s health, comfort, and happiness. Let our Sixes Animal Hospital at BridgeMill team take care of your furry pal’s oral health with a professional dental cleaning. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.