Effective dental hygiene and why it matters

Good Dental Hygiene is Vital

Like us, pets can suffer the effects of poor oral hygiene. The good news is that an effective oral health regime will extend the life of a pet and there’s a raft of products designed to help owners and groomers achieve this:

The adverse effects of periodontal disease are due in part to the toxins the bacteria secrete and the damage these toxins cause to delicate kidney, cardiac, and brain tissue. In addition, many veterinarians believe that actual bacterial colonies can spread via the circulation and set up housekeeping within the animal’s tissues, commonly in the heart valve areas, kidneys and liver. Far better than extracting teeth, performing gingival flaps, filling erosions or doing root canal procedures, would be to prevent the health damaging periodontal disease in the first place.

Since most dogs presented with advanced periodontitis are older canines, owner concern regarding the safety of dental procedures always seems to be an impediment to performing dental procedures, especially since anaesthesia is an important aspect of a thorough dental cleaning. But it is important to consider the benefits of the treatment offset against what is generally a low risk of using anaesthetic on an older dog.

Preventing the onset of health damaging periodontal disease is the best scenario.

Prevention

One of the best ways to insure optimum oral health is to provide the dog with a well-balanced, meat-based dog food. Meat assists in keeping the mouth environment healthy. Actively encouraging the dog to utilize chew treats that require some “exercising” of the teeth, such as is provided by

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compressed rawhide chewies, hard rubber or nylon chew toys, can assist in keeping the mouth structures vital. Brushing the dog’s teeth can be a big help, too, but needs to be done almost daily.

One study in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, December, 1996, reported “Tooth-brushing every other day did not maintain clinically healthy gingiva in dogs. The daily addition of a dental hygiene chew to a regimen of tooth brushing every other day reduced the gingivitis scores and reduced the accumulation of dental deposits (plaque, calculus and stain). Daily tooth-brushing should be the recommendation to the dog owner irrespective of dietary regimen.”

Newer dental care products that include antiseptic impregnated chewies, canine appropriate tooth brushes, and even flavoured tooth pastes to “reward” the dog for allowing the brushing, are available online and in pet supply stores or veterinary surgeries. Also important are routine oral hygiene visits where under light anesthesia the patient can undergo ultrasonic teeth cleaning, close inspection of teeth and gingiva, and assessment of overall oral health.

Addressing problems when they are minor and preventing the health damaging effects of bacterial contamination and systemic toxin release are immeasurably beneficial to the dog’s long-term health status.

Dr Jan Bellows DVM, neatly sums up the need for optimum oral health throughout a dog’s life, “When a client asks me how long their puppy will live, I usually respond 15-17 years if you brush their teeth daily … 11-13 years if you don’t.”

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Is brushing a dog’s teeth stressful to you and the dog?

Gum disease is a bigger problem in dogs than in humans as dogs have more alkaline in their mouth and they don’t get their teeth brushed every day.

If gum disease takes hold it can be painful and lead to more serious problems. Signs to look out for: Difficulty picking up food Bleeding or red gums Loose teeth Blood in saliva Strange noises when eating Pawing at mouth Dribbling And of course, bad breath.

If gum disease is left untreated the dog may need veterinary intervention which would require putting the dog to sleep and as most pet insurance doesn’t cover dental treatment you can be presented with very hefty vet bill.

Fresh Breath by TropiClean is a range of ‘no brush formula’ products, all of which are incredibly easy to apply and more importantly are brushless!

TropiClean dental items work naturally, not enzymatically where active natural ingredients help break down plaque and tartar and promote fresh breath.

The Dental Health Solution now carries the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) Seal of Acceptance for Plaque control and the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council Quality Seal.

These are added to your dog or cat water and with their unique combination of ingredients provide up to 12 hours of fresh breath and defend against the new formation of plaque and tartar. Available in a range of solution helping with hip, joint and digestive ailments.

The Fresh Breath Oral Gels come in a range of flavours with a unique combination of ingredients to help remove plaque and tartar.

The dental wipes like the above are a safe way to remove the plaque and tartar.

Cat and Puppy versions available in most products.

Start your dental routine with your puppy so that it becomes a normal part of their everyday life. Products have a three year shelf life so are ideal for groomers to stock.