About Dental Health

It is worthwhile to protect your pet’s dental health early on, as it will be far less expensive and uncomfortable than waiting until they are suffering from periodontal disease. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Many pets acquire some sort of periodontal disease by the time they are three years old, a statistic that is only made more shocking when one realizes that this disease is completely preventable. The disease begins when bacteria in the mouth combine with leftover food particles and form plaque on the surface of the teeth. It only takes a few days for minerals in the saliva to bond with the plaque and form hard tartar.  In most cases, pet owners can only detect their pet’s periodontal disease by their bad breath, painful chewing or tooth loss, but by the time these symptoms are detected the pet may have already had dangerous bacteria from under the gums travel through their bloodstream to their heart, kidneys or liver.

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Some pet owners seek to prevent the development of periodontal disease in their pet by performing daily tooth brushing and perhaps even giving their pet special dental chews. This can definitely be helpful, but a professional dental cleaning is required in order to remove all the plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth.
 
Your pet most likely needs a dental cleaning if they are suffering from redness or bleeding along their gum line, bad breath, drooling, difficulty chewing, loose or missing teeth or pawing at their mouth. Professional dental cleanings for pets require that they be under anesthesia, as they are unable to understand what is occurring and why it is good for them.  The veterinarian will remove plaque and tartar from their teeth and under their gums, polish the enamel of their teeth and assess their health of their tongue, gums, lips and teeth. They may also recommend x-rays, application of fluoride, removal or repair of fractured or infected teeth and other necessary services. ​

What is Dental Cleaning?

RAPS Animal Hospital is dedicated to the preventive healthcare of your animal. Preventive healthcare (alternately known as preventive medicine or prophylaxis) consists of measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment.

During a dental cleaning (also sometimes called a prophylaxis), plaque and tartar are removed from a pet’s teeth, and the health of the entire mouth (tongue, gums, lips, and teeth) is assessed. A thorough dental cleaning can be accomplished only while the pet is under general anesthesia. Anesthesia keeps your pet free of pain during the dental procedure and allows your veterinarian to fully inspect the teeth and remove tartar from under the gums.

​How Do I Know if My Pet Needs a Dental Cleaning?
Regular inspection of your pet’s mouth is important to catch dental disease in the early stages. Tartar may appear as a brownish-gold buildup on the teeth, close to the gumline. Redness or bleeding along the gumline may indicate gingivitis. Other signs of dental disease include:

• Bad breath
• Drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Difficulty chewing
• Loose or missing teeth

If you notice any of these signs in your pet, schedule an appointment with RAPS Animal Hospital as soon as possible.

What Are the Benefits of a Dental Cleaning?
A professional dental cleaning removes not only the visible plaque and tartar on the teeth surfaces but also the bacteria under the gums. This eliminates potential sources of infection to the mouth and other organs and protects your pet from pain and tooth loss.

​What Can I Do to Keep My Pet’s Teeth Clean?
Once a dental cleaning has been performed, you can take a number of steps at home to keep your pet’s teeth clean and lengthen the intervals between dental cleanings.

Our veterinarian may recommend a plaque prevention product — a substance that you apply to your pet’s teeth and gums on a weekly basis. The product adheres to the teeth surface to create a barrier that prevents plaque from forming.

Just as in people, daily brushing can help remove food particles from between your pet’s teeth. You can use a child’s toothbrush or purchase a finger brush from your veterinarian. Human toothpastes should be avoided because they contain ingredients that should not be swallowed by your pet. Your dog or cat may like the taste of pet toothpaste, which is available in flavors such as chicken, seafood, and malt.

Several dental diets and treats can also help keep plaque and tartar to a minimum. The diets tend to have larger kibbles to provide abrasive action against the tooth surface when chewed. Or they may contain ingredients that help prevent tartar mineralization. Ask our veterinarian which diets or treats are appropriate for your pet.

Conclusion

A professional veterinary dental cleaning is the only way to remove tartar from the teeth and under the gum tissue to protect your pet’s health. With a professional dental cleaning and follow-up care, gingivitis is reversible. Periodontal disease is not reversible, but diligent at-home dental care and regular veterinary cleanings can slow down the progression of the condition.

RAPS Animal Hospital is here to assist you.

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