Dog Dental Care: What Your Pet Needs
Dog dental care is often overlooked, possibly because dogs are not as prone to cavities as humans are. Yet, despite the common belief that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s, tartar and plaque accumulation and gingivitis can occur in dogs.
And foul breath and yellow teeth aren’t the only issues to be concerned about. Like human dental issues, canine dental disorders can lead to life-threatening infections and heart, liver, and kidney damage.
Furthermore, dental extractions to remove teeth beyond repair can cost anything from $10 per tooth for a primary extraction to over $1,000 for a molar root canal. Preventive steps are the best way to save your budget and your beloved dog the trouble!
Here’s how to provide canine dental care that your puppy needs to live a longer life.
Table of Contents
- How Does a Healthy Dog Mouth Look Like?
- Taking Care of Your Dog’s Oral Health
- Oral Diseases You Should Know About
- Signs Your Dog Is Experiencing Oral Disease
- Dental Diets for Dogs
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Dental Care for Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Dental Care for Dogs here.
How Does a Healthy Dog Mouth Look Like?
It’s critical to understand what a healthy canine oral cavity looks like so you can recognize when something is wrong. Like people’s, dogs’ teeth and mouths must be cared for to live a long and healthy life.
It may surprise you to learn that dogs have more teeth than humans. Dogs have a total of 42 teeth. Each of these teeth should be clean, plaque-free, and tartar-free. Teeth that are jagged or damaged in any manner should be avoided.
However, you shouldn’t only gaze at the teeth. You must examine the whole mouth. Dogs should have a moist tongue with no bumps or cuts. The gums should be salmon pink as well.
Some dog breeds have black or black and pink gums, which should be noted. There’s no need to be concerned if your dog’s gums have always been black.
Taking Care of Your Dog’s Oral Health
We brush and floss regularly to maintain our mouths clean. Dogs, however, lack this skill. As a result, it is our job to guarantee that the dental health of our canines is in good functioning condition. Here are some helpful hints for keeping your dog’s mouth in good condition.
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Brushing your dog’s teeth is the most fundamental thing you can do to keep his mouth healthy. There are toothbrushes and kinds of toothpaste designed specifically for dogs on the market. These tools will help reduce the number of germs in pets’ mouths. At least once a day, brush your dog’s teeth.
Take it slowly if you’ve never cleaned your dog’s teeth before. Many dogs are opposed to having their muzzles handled. Brushing their teeth, for example, might be a dreaded task. Begin by getting your dog acclimated to you touching their mouth, particularly their teeth and gums.
Introduce your dogs to the toothbrush once they’ve become used to it. Allow them to smell it to ensure that it is not something to be afraid of. After they’ve become used to it, you may start putting the toothbrush in their mouth and cleaning their teeth.
You must elevate your dog’s lips to wash their teeth. Begin with the front teeth and proceed backward. Pay special attention to the tooth’s outer surface. Because human toothpaste can make dogs sick, please be careful you use only dog toothpaste.
Get a Routine Cleaning with Your Vet
Humans should visit their dentist every six months for routine cleaning. Your dog’s teeth should also be cleaned at your veterinarian’s clinic regularly. Cleaning your dog’s mouth only once a year is recommended.
Your dog will be put under anesthetic for the standard cleaning. The puppy’s mouth will subsequently be cleaned entirely, including beneath the gums, by the veterinarian. The vet may take X-rays of the dog’s mouth to ensure no problems.
Use Teeth Cleaning Toys and Treats
You may acquire your dog toys and treats that are mainly intended to eliminate plaque and tartar from their mouth in addition to brushing their teeth yourself or by a professional. This is a terrific technique to keep your dog’s mouth clean without them even recognizing it.
There are a variety of toys and treats on the market with points and fissures designed to scratch dogs’ teeth. This scraping action does not harm the teeth, but it does aid in removing plaque and build-up from around them.
Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet
It is critical for your dog’s dental and overall health to offer him a nutritious diet. A balanced diet will ensure that your dog gets all of the nutrients he requires to stay healthy and happy. It also provides the dog teeth care and their correct operation.
If your dog has a specific dental problem, there are diets on the market designed to address it. Dry dog meals are specifically formulated to reduce tartar and plaque for dogs with plaque accumulation.
Talk to your veterinarian if you think a specific type of dental care dog food would help your pet’s dental problems.
Pay Attention
Finally, the most important thing you can do to maintain your dog’s mouth healthily and the pet dental care is just to pay attention. For many years, most oral disorders might go undetected. You should be able to notice changes in your dog’s mouth sooner rather than later if you keep a close check on the health.
Give your dog’s mouth a thorough check at least once a month. We advise you to do this while brushing your dog’s teeth because you and your dog are already in an uncomfortable posture.
Oral Diseases You Should Know About
Although pets are less likely to acquire cavities than humans, they can suffer from many of the same dental issues.
Bad Breath
Halitosis, or foul breath, is dogs’ most prevalent problem. When it comes to your pet’s dental health, bad breath is usually the first clue that something is wrong. This foul odor comes when germs become lodged in your dog’s mouth. These bacteria can then become infected, resulting in a more revolting smell.
Regular brushing might help with foul breath in some circumstances. If you suspect a more severe problem, such as an illness or sickness, you should call your veterinarian right once.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis can also affect dogs. Gingivitis is when the gums become inflamed due to heavy plaque build-up on the teeth. Regular dental cleanings might help you reverse gingivitis. Contact your veterinarian if your dog’s teeth become worse or if the gums begin to bleed or change color.
Cysts and Tumors
Lumps in dogs’ jaws are a common occurrence. Most of these lumps will be unimportant, but a few might be. Cysts and tumors are potentially dangerous bumps. It’s critical to see your veterinarian right away to have them biopsied and, if necessary, removed.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a severe condition. It’s a disease that affects the gums and teeth. The possible side effects are swelling, discomfort, tooth loss, trouble swallowing, and nasal discharge.
If your dog exhibits symptoms of periodontal diseases, such as yellow teeth, inflamed gums, or trouble eating, take your pet to the doctor. If periodontal disease is discovered, your veterinarian will recommend a treatment strategy.
Proliferating Gum Disease
Bull Terriers and Boxers are prone to increasing gum disease. It occurs when the dog’s gums overgrow the teeth. This can result in infections, which are frequently treated with medications.
Signs Your Dog Is Experiencing Oral Disease
You must know what to look for while inspecting your dog’s mouth. Knowing how to recognize dental illness in dogs might make the procedure easier and provide good puppy dental care. Here are the most prevalent indications of oral disease in dogs.
Breath
Bad breath is the first indicator that your dog suffers from a dental illness. It might be due to the food your puppy ate, but it could also be a result of an infection. If the odor persists even after brushing the dog’s teeth, there is most certainly a much more severe problem.
Color of Teeth and Gums
Another clue that your dog is suffering from dental illness is the color of his teeth and gums. Something is amiss if your dog’s teeth are yellow or brown. Gums that are very red, bleeding, or discolored also indicate an oral problem at hand.
Gums
You should also consider the size and form of your gums in addition to their color. Something is aggravating your dog’s gums if they are inflamed and swollen. This is especially true if the inflammation is causing the dog’s gums to bleed or preventing your puppy from eating.
Growths
Finally, growths inside your dog’s mouth clearly indicate that something isn’t right. This applies to lumps and bumps as well. Some processes are harmless, while others may reveal the presence of life-threatening disorders.
Dental Diets for Dogs
There are several reasons to use a dental diet, but plaque and tartar are two of the most important. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of dental bacteria, food debris, and proteins found in saliva that adheres to the teeth’s surface.
It hardens into calculus (tartar), and additional plaque builds up on top of it. This accumulation on the tooth hangs over the gum line, creating a pocket where germs and food debris can collect. This causes gum inflammation and infection (gingivitis), which can progress to inflammation and infection of other tissues around the teeth.
Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can result in severe tooth loss due to damage to the tissues that support them.
Dental diets are low in protein and calcium, which prevent plaque and tartar from mineralizing. Increased fiber keeps the kibble together for longer, cleaning the tooth’s surface, and the size of the kibble (unique to dogs) engulfs the teeth before splitting, allowing the fibers to clean the tooth’s surface. That is how you can provide natural dental care for dogs.
The dental diets contain unique components to fulfill your dog’s dental and nutritional requirements:
- During chewing, the texture and form of the kibble generate a moderate abrasive impact on the teeth;
- The action of sodium polyphosphate, which binds with calcium in saliva and makes it unavailable for tartar development, helps minimize tooth plaque and tartar.
The kibbles’ unique form aids in the mechanical removal of tooth plaque and tartar. When your dog eats his meal, the abrasive texture of the kibble gently removes plaque and tartar from each tooth.
These diets are intended to be consumed daily and reduce plaque and tartar production by more than 60 percent compared to traditional diets. In addition to being very delicious, the kibble contains unique nutrients improving dog oral care and helping clean all teeth, not just the ones necessary for chewing.
The Takeaway
It is essential to look after your dog’s oral health if you want it to live a happy and healthy life. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth is a great start, but you should also take him to a professional cleaning once a year and provide him the proper treats, food, snacks, and toys to keep his mouth healthy. If the build-up is severe enough, many dogs will require anesthesia to clean their teeth and gums.
Although brushing your dog’s teeth might be challenging, it is well worth the effort. Your dog may initially oppose you, but with enough time and tenderness, your dog will learn that there is nothing to be afraid of. Keep your dog’s mouth clean, and you’ll both be pleased.
Nutrition Strength Dental Care for Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Dental Care for Dogs here.
Dental Care for Dogs, Daily Supplement for Healthy Dog Gums and Teeth with Organic Kelp, Strawberry Leaf, Pumpkin Seed for Dog Mouth and Teeth Cleaning are tasty chewable tablets, which are specially formulated with ingredients that promote healthy teeth, gums, fresh breath and fight plaque for dogs of all ages.
A complete formula for dogs of all ages to support their teeth and gums, our delicious dog dental chews contain a special blend of high-quality ingredients to promote dog dental care by:
- Supplying vitamins and minerals needed to break down the film covering the teeth and gums.
- Softening accumulated plaque and tartar until after a few weeks’ use it falls off by itself or you can brush it off with a toothbrush.
- Maintaining healthy dog gums and freshening their breath.
- Promoting microbial balance in the mouth.
- Reducing future plaque and tartar build-up, boosting the immune system and improving digestion.
Dog teeth cleaning is essential for preventing plaque and tartar build-up and keeping your pet’s teeth in good condition and our premium dog oral care supplement makes it simple and fun.
Used daily, our dental treats for dogs promote healthy dog gums and teeth, to assist your pet’s long-term active and healthy lifestyle.
Image source: Wikimedia / Brambleberries Photography.
