Periodontal (gum) disease is one the most common conditions seen in pets today. Just as plaque and tartar can build up on your teeth, so it does on your pet's. When not removed, calculus forms, causing gums to recede. Bacteria fills the pockets caused by the recession and attacks both the teeth and bone. Bacteria also enters the bloodstream and can lead to heart, liver and kidney disease.
Should excessive tartar and plaque build on your pet's teeth, we recommend a dental cleaning. Done under general anesthesia, we use the same procedure your dentist does to clean your teeth. The teeth are scraped to remove built up tartar and plaque and calculus deposits are chipped away. An ultrasonic tool is then used to remove the last bits of build up and the teeth are polished. Polishing helps to remove the pits in the enamel where bacteria can collect. If necessary, diseased teeth may be removed.
Before a dental cleaning
After a dental cleaning
You can slow down this build-up of tartar on your pet's teeth by getting into a regular routine of caring for your pet's teeth, much as you do your own.
We suggest the following:
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Brush your pet's teeth at least 4 times per week with a specially formulated pet toothpaste. Do not use baking soda or human tooth paste as it could irritate your pet's intestinal tract.
- Use a product to keep the plaque soft and easy to remove. It is called Maxi-guard® and is available in our office.
- Provide treats, food and toys which are formulated to help scrape tartar from the teeth, such asHill's® Prescription Diet T/D, CET Enzymatic Chews® and Nylabone® dental products. We suggest feeding a dry food to pets with dental build up problems.
We stress continuance of the home care routine after a dental cleaning to keep plaque in check.