February is National Pet Dental Month and reminds us of the importance of pet dental health. Did you know that dental disease is the number one pet health issue? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 80% of dogs over the age of three have dental disease. What can you do to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy?

First, how does dental disease develop and why does it matter anyway? After a meal, food particles combine with saliva and bacteria to form plaque. If plaque isn’t removed, it mineralizes and becomes tartar. Tartar promotes bacterial infections below the gums, leading to gum recession, tooth loss and painful tooth root infections. Bacteria can even enter the blood stream and spread to distant organs, like the kidney, liver and heart.

Prevention
As in other aspects of medicine, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep your pet’s teeth healthy by keeping them clean. Start by brushing your pet’s teeth. Yes, you read that correctly. Brush your pet’s teeth on a regular basis, ideally daily, but at least a few times a week. Imagine what would happen to your teeth, and your breath, if you didn’t brush your teeth every day. So why would it be any different for our pets? Just make sure you use a toothbrush and toothpaste made specifically for pets. Pet toothpaste even comes in flavors your pet can’t resist, like chicken, beef, and seafood and it doesn’t have to be rinsed out.

While nothing beats regular brushing, oral rinses, dental diets, and dental treats can help reduce the bacteria and plaque that lead to tartar formation. Wellness ® WHIMZEES® Natural Dental Treats are uniquely textured to help remove plaque from your pet’s teeth, freshen breath and promote heathy gums. Wellness® WHIMZEES® Brushzees® Natural Dental Treats for dogs have received the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance for helping control both plaque and tartar. Just in time for Pet Dental Health Month, Wellness® WHIMZEES® launched the brand’s first-ever dental treats for cats. Wellness® WHIMZEES® Natural Dental Treats for cats are designed to address plaque, tartar, gums, and freshen breath. They have a porous texture that helps remove plaque when a cat’s teeth sink into the dental chew. Dental treats are an easy and enjoyable way to help keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy in between veterinary visits and brushing. They are also a great stress-free option for pets that will not tolerate brushing.

Treatment
If your pet already has dental disease a complete dental cleaning is necessary. This involves an evaluation of the oral cavity and cleaning not only the surface of the teeth, but getting under the gumline where the majority of bacteria and tartar are found. After the teeth are cleaned, they are polished to smooth the roughened surfaces that were created by the cleaning. Without polishing, these rough surfaces allow bacteria and plaque to adhere easily and accelerates the recurrence of dental disease. Next an antibacterial solution is flushed below the gumline to remove any debris that has collected after the scaling and polishing. Lastly the entire mouth is checked again and dental x-rays may be used to assess the extent of the dental disease and the need for tooth extractions or additional work.

Regular Check-ups
Even if you brush your pet’s teeth and give them dental treats, your pet still needs to have their teeth checked at least once a year by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will determine if your pet has dental disease and needs a professional cleaning or any additional treatment. In between veterinary visits get in the habit of checking your pet’s mouth. If you notice that your pet has red swollen gums, discolored teeth, tartar or any masses or is drooling or not eating normally be sure to contact your veterinarian right away.

To quote Dr. Seuss, “They sure are handy when you smile. So, keep your teeth around awhile”. The same is true for our pets. Brush their teeth, give them healthy dental treats and take them to the veterinarian for annual check-ups and professional cleanings as needed. By following these simple steps, your pet’s pearly whites will stay clean and healthy.

Click here for more information about dental disease and dental cleanings in pets.

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