Dental care means brushing your pet’s teeth!

Just like in humans, food gets stuck in the teeth of cats and dogs, bacteria in the mouth feed on the food and forms plaque. If that plaque isn’t brushed off, it becomes hard or mineralized, which then forms tartar. If you really want to prevent dental disease, you NEED to brush your pet’s teeth. If the tartar isn’t removed, it creates a rough surface that makes it easier for food to become stuck. And that’s when the body’s reaction kicks in, leading to issues like gingivitis, gum inflammation, soft tissue damage, infection, abscesses, and even bone loss.

Dental disease is no small issue

Pets that don’t get proper dental care and suffer from dental disease are in loads of pain. It might take a long time for you to notice it because they don’t show pain the way you do. The pain can become so bad that your pet stops eating altogether. Sadly, dental disease is generally picked up late once it has advanced, and then there’s little that can be done to relieve or cure it. To make matters worse, research has also indicated a strong link between dental disease and heart problems.

Prevention is always the best cure

Your goal is to prevent the buildup of plaque because tartar is impossible to remove without a dental scale and polish, which often calls for anaesthetic. Although it might not always be easy to brush your pet’s teeth, it’s much easier to get into the habit if you start as early as possible during the puppy or kitten phase.

You really want to use a good quality pet toothbrush suitable for your pet’s breed as well as pet toothpaste. Focus on the teeth at the back of the mouth since that’s where the food often gets stuck.

Remember: Never use human toothpaste for your pet. It contains fluoride that can be highly toxic.

What if my pet is not okay with getting his teeth cleaned?

If you’re starting this journey at a later stage of your pet’s life, you’ll have to deal with a lot of fussiness. Some pets simply won’t allow you to brush their teeth if it’s not something they grew up with. You might want to consider dental treats and dental toys, which are designed to help prevent plaque buildup as your pet chews on them.

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