Essential Pet Dental Care Tips for a Healthy Smile

Section 1: The Importance of Pet Dental Care

Every day, you ensure your pet receives the right nutrition, spends quality time exercising, and gets regular health checkups at the vet. You're a responsible pet owner, no doubt. But have you given a thought to the dental care of your furry friend?

Just like humans, pets can suffer from dental issues. By simply scheduling regular dental checkups at the vet and maintaining good athome dental care habits, you can prevent numerous dental problems for your beloved pet.

Section 2: Signs of Pet Dental Disease

The early signs of dental disease in pets include plaque buildup on the teeth, inflamed gums known as gingivitis. If your pet has bad breath, swollen or bleeding gums, these could be symptoms of gingivitis.

Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis or inflammation of surrounding tissues. If left untreated, periodontitis can cause tooth loss and impact the health of the heart and kidneys. Pets with periodontitis may experience pain while eating, leading to a decrease in appetite and weight loss.

It's often difficult for pet owners to accurately diagnose dental issues at home. Therefore, it's essential to bring your pet to the vet for a dental examination.

Section 3: Pet Dental Cleaning and Exams

Firstly, the veterinarian will examine your pet's teeth and assess their dental health. Before the cleaning, blood tests or other checks are performed to ensure your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia. Since general anesthesia is required for dental cleaning and treatment, it's crucial to ensure your pet's overall wellbeing.

During the cleaning, the vet will carefully inspect your pet's mouth for any abnormalities, such as broken or missing teeth, ulcers, or tumors. A periodontal probe is used to check the condition of the periodontal pockets, which are the initial source of gum disease.

The vet will use an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments to remove tartar and plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, the gum line, and between the teeth. After cleaning, the teeth are polished to prevent tartar formation and reduce the risk of postoperative infection. Your pet will receive fluoride treatment to strengthen existing teeth and reduce sensitivity around the roots.

The vet may take Xrays to evaluate your pet's oral health. In cases of severe infection or missing teeth, these may need to be extracted during the procedure.

Section 4: Who Cleans My Pet's Teeth?

When you visit the dentist, dental hygienists clean your teeth. Similarly, for pets, trained veterinary technicians or veterinarians can help clean your pet's teeth. After the cleaning, the vet will reexamine your pet's mouth and teeth, much like a human medical checkup.

In some cases, if the vet finds issues with the root canal or crown, they may refer your pet to a veterinary dentist, a specialist with advanced training and experience in treating these issues.

While groomers may also help brush your pet's teeth, only veterinarians should perform dental cleaning. Untrained individuals can only remove large tartar deposits by scraping, which may damage the tooth's surface and not address the main issue – periodontal health. Such cleaning may give the false impression that the tooth problem has been resolved.

Section 5: How to Care for Your Pet's Teeth at Home

Dental care involves more than just regular vet checkups; athome care is equally important. Imagine if you only brushed your teeth once or twice a month – your mouth would be quite smelly!

Start by letting your pet get accustomed to the toothpaste, then slowly introduce brushing. Reward your pet immediately after the brushing is complete.

You can try using a softbristled toothbrush, like those designed for infants, or consult your vet for petspecific brushes and toothpaste.

If your pet seems nervous or resistant to brushing, apply their favorite scent to your hand and simulate the brushing motion. This will help your pet gradually accept the brushing routine.

Once your pet is comfortable with brushing, use petspecific toothpaste and brushes. Never use human toothpaste, as it can irritate their stomach and cause vomiting in dogs and cats.

Start brushing from the incisors, then the canines and molars. Pay close attention to the crevices where food particles can get trapped. Brush your pet's teeth at least every other day to ensure a healthy oral environment and strong teeth!

Tip: For more information on how to brush your pet's teeth, read How to Brush Your Dog or Cat's Teeth.