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.