Dental care

Introduction

Most people are very aware of their own teeth. We know about plaque

control, cavity prevention and the social evils of bad breath. Most people

also visit their dentist regularly. Despite this awareness of human

dentistry, many pet owners do not realize their animals are subject to the

same problems.

Why care for your pet’s teeth?

For the same reason you care for your own. The most common disease in

pet animals is periodontal disease. They are also subject to broken teeth,

orthodontic problems and even cavities. All of these problems will affect

your animal’s mouth, obviously, but can also lead to the infections that

introduce bacteria into other parts of the body. In other words, bad teeth

can lead to a sick animal. Evidence continues to mount that chronic

infection or inflammation in any part of the body can have serious negative

impact on systemic health.

Do cats and dogs feel pain like us?

Many owners tell us that they did not notice any change in their animal’s

behaviour, so they assumed they were fine. This isn’t surprising. Our pets

are ultimately descended from wild animals. It does a wild animal no good

to advertise the fact that it is sick, or to stop eating because its teeth hurt.

Most animals simply adopt a stoic attitude to chronic pain. But if you’ve

ever had a chronic tooth ache, you know the meaning of pain. Studies

have shown that dogs and cats have pain thresholds that are almost

identical to humans.

What can you do about your pet’s oral or dental health?

Plenty. The first step is to look in your pet’s mouth, on a regular basis. If

the gums appear red or inflamed, if there’s a foul odour, if you see pus at

the gum line or broken teeth – see your veterinarian right away. He or she

will assess the problem and formulate a treatment plan.

The longer term solution is to look after your pet’s teeth with regular

brushing and checking – just like you do with your own.

  Guidelines for home dental care

Dental homecare is preventative maintenance. It can not correct a

problem once one has developed. Moreover, if there is a painful condition

in the mouth, brushing will be very unpleasant for the animal and we do

not want that. Therefore, a homecare program should only be started after

a very thorough oral evaluation to ensure that there are no problems that

need treatment prior to starting brushing.

The goal with a homecare program is to be brushing your pet’s teeth on a

daily basis to remove plaque before it becomes firmly attached to the tooth

surface and before it mineralizes to become tartar. Plaque will form on a

clean tooth within hours and can start to form tartar within a few days.

Therefore brushing daily will be far more effective than doing it two or

three times a week. Doing it less than every other day actually provides no

benefit.

When starting a homecare program, it is important to start slowly, letting

your pet get use to each new phase before moving to the next. By

introducing the program in small, easy to accept steps, and by including

lots of positive reinforcement, most pets will come to truly enjoy having

their teeth brushed. This is neither a contest nor a race. Take it as slowly

as necessary to avoid upsetting your pet, because once they decide they

do not like what you are doing, it will take a long time to overcome that.

Here are eight steps you can take to help maintain your pet’s dental

health.

Start by handling the muzzle and tickling your pet’s teeth. Get them used to your hands in their mouth by rubbing their gums with your fingers.

Now you’re ready to try brushing the outside of their front  teeth. Toothpaste is not strictly required – the brushing does

most of the cleaning.

Step 1

When to start? As soon as possible. Eight to 12 weeks old is best. Pets

don’t need maintenance this young, but by brushing the baby teeth they

will become familiar with the routine when the permanent teeth erupt. It is

a good idea to stop brushing while your pet is losing its baby teeth as the

mouth will be a bit sore and your poking around with the brush will cause

more pain. Once all the permanent teeth are in you can pick up where you

left off.

Step 2

The first step is to work with your pet’s mouth. With a little patience your

pet will soon accept your attention. Make it fun for both of you. Use a lot

of love and especially praise to gain their confidence. Try to have your

practice sessions at the same time each day so your pet gets into a

routine. Late in the evening often works well, as everyone involved is

generally in a quiet mood then. If your pet is highly motivated by food, try

just before dinner with the meal acting as a reward for co-operating.

Step 3

Start by handling the muzzle and tickling the lips and soon you will be able

to rub the teeth and gums with your finger. Put a few drops of water,

flavoured with garlic or garlic salt for dogs and tuna juice for cats, in the

mouth daily. They will soon look forward to this treat.

Step 4

Next, use a washcloth or piece of pantyhose, wrapped around the end of

your finger and flavoured as above, to gently rub the teeth. Start with the

front teeth and gradually work towards the back teeth.

Step 5

Finally, use a soft toothbrush to brush the teeth. There are several

veterinary brushes available and many human brushes are well suited to

animal use as well. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth and

brush back and forth or from gum to tip. Brushing the tongue side of the

teeth is less critical. Use the garlic water or tuna juice. Make it a game.

Step 6

There is an ever growing selection of veterinary tooth washes, pastes and

gels. We can help you select the one best suited to your situation. Some

of these products may increase the effectiveness of your home-care

When your pet is really comfortable, you’ll

be able to brush the outsides of their back

teeth as well.

And don’t forget a little reward for your

pet after every dental care session.

(Thanks to Molly for consenting to model

for these photos.)

program but remember, it’s the brushing that does most of the

cleaning. In fact, many veterinary home care products currently on

the market have no valid research to show that they are of any

benefit.

Brushing daily has been shown to be far more effective than three times a

week and is easier to remember than every other day. Human tooth paste

is to be avoided as it will cause stomach upset if swallowed. Baking soda,

with its very high sodium content can be dangerous to older patients.

Hydrogen peroxide can be too harsh for the gums and must not be

swallowed.

Step 7

It helps to give mildly abrasive foods and toys such as dry kibble, raw hide

strips and dense rubber chew-toys.

Step 8

By following a consistent program of home-care, you will greatly improve

you pet’s dental health. This will mean fewer professional cleanings, less

tooth loss and a happier, healthier pet. However, please remember that there is no substitute for professional veterinary care. We must work as a team to ensure a long and happy life for your pet.