February is Pet Dental Health Month

February is Pet Dental Health Month and it’s a perfect time to see how you’re doing with your pet’s own dental health. This annual event helps bring awareness to the importance of caring for your dog’s pearly whites.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), it’s estimated that by the age of two 80 percent of dogs (and 70 percent of cats) have some form of periodontal disease, which has been linked to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and other life threatening disorders. During Pet Dental Health Month, we encourage all pet owners to take steps to control plaque on their pet’s teeth and visit their veterinarian for dental checkups.

Here are some easy, simple tips to help with your dog’s dental health:

Home Check Up

Once a week, check your pets’ breath.  Normal doggie-breath might not be exactly flowery fresh, but if his breath has a foul, offensive odor, it’s a good idea to take him to your vet for a checkup. Another part of home check up is to lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. The gums should be pink, not white or red and his teeth should be clean, without any brownish tartar. Take a closer look and see if there is any swelling of the gums, visible cysts or any loose teeth. These would all be good reasons to have your pooch checked out by your vet.

Tooth Brushing

Bacteria and plaque caused by food can cause build-up on your dog’s teeth, which can then harden into tartar, possibly cause gingivitis, receding gums and even tooth loss. You can fight off these dental problems with regular – preferably daily – teeth cleanings, of course!

Use a toothbrush made especially for dogs or a use a clean piece of soft gauze wrapped around your finger. Brush your pet’s teeth using dog toothpaste (many come in poultry or beef flavors that they’ll enjoy) or you can make a paste out of baking soda and water. Don’t use human toothpaste, as human toothpaste is not designed to be swallowed and most likely will upset your dog’s stomach. There are also pet dental “finger” mitts that are convenient and easy to use as well.  It might take some time for your dog to get used to it, but once he realizes the beef flavored toothpaste really does taste good, he’ll start to look forward to his daily dental hygiene sessions. Many vet hospitals are participating with specials this month, so contact them about where to find canine tooth brushing kits.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Your vet may recommend having your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned, and most likely use anesthesia for the cleaning and will also request dental radiographs (X-rays). Your vet will then be able to fully assess your dog’s oral health, check bone level around the teeth, scrape the build-up of plaque from all over the gum line areas, and polishing the teeth for a sparkling finish.  Your vet will also be able to determine a tooth’s periodontal disease status and what treatment beyond cleaning is necessary. (such as periodontal surgery or extraction)

Common Dental Problems in Dogs

Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection; regular tooth-brushings can help prevent this.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums usually caused by plaque, tartar and bacteria above and below the gum line. Symptoms include red, swollen gums, possible bleeding and bad breath. See your vet for teeth cleaning and oral examination.

Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge. See your vet for cleaning and oral exam.

Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.

Tooth fractures can occur when dogs chew hard substances such as rocks or hard chew toys.

The best thing you can do to help prevent dental problems is to provide your dog with kibble and firm chew toys to help reduce plaque, along with regular tooth brushing and regular dental visits. Also try our supplement for dogs Breath-A-Chews, which contains all natural ingredients including mint and chlorophyll, to help reduce plaque and decrease tarter formation. For more information please visit http://www.sweetwaternutrition.com.