When pet owners think about oral health, many fail to consider their furry pal’s dental care needs until a problem occurs. But, proactive oral care can prevent significant, painful infection from developing in your four-legged friend. Our Stanton Pet Hospital team shares key tips on caring for your pet’s oral health at home and in our hospital.

Why your pet needs regular dental care

Many pet owners mistakenly believe their pet’s normal breath has an odor, but only a faint scent of dog or cat food is normal—an unpleasant odor is not. A pet’s bad breath is one of the first signs of dental disease, which is typically accompanied by gingivitis (i.e., gum inflammation) and plaque and tartar accumulation. Plaque is a sticky substance composed of bacteria, saliva, and food particles that forms on your pet’s teeth only hours after eating. The plaque mineralizes and hardens into cement-like tartar that is virtually impossible to remove without professional dental scaling. 

The process continues in this way:

  • Plaque and tartar infiltrate your pet’s mouth and sneak below the gumline.
  • Bacteria attack the teeth’s supporting structures, causing pain and infection.
  • Teeth may become loose or missing, or develop tooth-root abscesses and other periodontal problems.
  • Oral bacteria leach into the bloodstream and damage various organs, such as the heart, kidney, and liver. 

Regular dental care reduces the oral bacterial population and keeps the gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues strong and healthy, which can mitigate potential dental health problems.

Your pet’s at-home dental care

As your pet’s constant companion, you bear the most responsibility for the bulk of their oral health. Ideally, you should care for your furry pal’s teeth and gums every day, as you do your own. Keep your pet’s mouth healthy with:

  • Regular toothbrushing — Daily toothbrushing is the best way to keep plaque and tartar at bay, because plaque begins accumulating on your pet’s teeth only hours after a meal. We understand that life gets busy and you may miss a day or two, but quickly scrubbing your pet’s teeth every day should be your goal.
  • Dental health products — To bolster toothbrushing, add dental health products to your pet’s daily regimen. Food and water additives contain special enzymes that battle oral bacteria, while rinses and wipes can help remove plaque and reduce bacteria.
  • Appropriate chews — The proper chews and treats can go a long way toward preserving your pet’s oral health. Choose durable plush or rubbery chews and stay away from bones, antlers, and rock-hard plastic. Your pet may be a powerful chewer, but “indestructible” toys can easily damage teeth and cause enamel erosion and fractures. Treats and chews accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council are also great options for keeping your pet’s mouth healthy.

How your veterinarian cares for your pet’s oral health

Your daily dental care efforts tackle the bacteria and plaque above your pet’s gumline, but only a professional cleaning can eradicate tough tartar and disease hidden below the gums, where 60% of the tooth’s structure lies.

When your pet visits Stanton Pet Hospital, our team cares for their oral health by performing:

  • Regular oral exams — An oral exam is part of your pet’s regular physical exam. Depending on how amenable your furry pal is to strangers peering inside their mouth, we will check for gingivitis, tartar, loose or missing teeth, fractured teeth, gingival recession, infection and pus, oral ulcers or masses, and other periodontal problems. If your pet is not eating well, drooling, or pawing at their face, they likely need us to address a dental issue, which may require sedation or anesthesia for a full examination and treatment.
  • Comprehensive dental cleanings — Your pet’s dental cleaning process is similar to the cleaning that your own dentist performs, with the addition of general anesthesia. Since your pet won’t sit still and say “Ah,” we anesthetize them to induce unconsciousness and eliminate fear and pain. Once your pet is anesthetized, we can conduct a thorough oral exam, probing for problems like gingival recession or infection pockets, and devise a treatment plan. Then, we remove plaque and tartar with hand tools and an ultrasonic scaler, which allow us to eradicate bacteria above and below the gumline. Next, we polish the enamel smooth, minimizing rough spots on the teeth to help prevent bacteria from grabbing on any rough spots left by the scaler. We may extract diseased or damaged teeth, or refer you to a veterinary dentist for advanced treatment. 

Keep your pet’s pearly whites shiny and healthy by scheduling their regular veterinary oral health care exam. Give our Stanton Pet Hospital team a call to set up your furry pal’s next oral exam and dental cleaning. We can also demonstrate successful at-home toothbrushing for your pet if you would like help.