Dental Care for Dogs: Mount Pleasant’s Guide

By the time dogs are three years old, 80 to 90% of them will have developed some form of dental disease. These diseases can cause constant pain and discomfort if left untreated. Fortunately, periodic dental cleanings and a consistent tooth-brushing routine can keep your dog’s teeth in good shape. The three most common dental issues that dogs have to deal with: gingivitis, periodontitis, and endodontic disease

3 Common Dental Issues That Affect Dogs

1. Gingivitis

Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup on your dog’s teeth. Bacteria from the plaque starts accumulating beneath the gum line, causing inflammation, swollen gums, and constant pain. Severe cases may require tooth extraction to resolve, making preventative care important to stop your pet from contracting gingivitis in the first place.

2. Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a more severe form of gingivitis. Failure to treat gingivitis will lead to the spread of the bacterial infection deeper into the gums and soft tissue, causing periodontitis. This can lead to bone loss around the tooth root, causing it to loosen and eventually fall out. Apart from causing tooth loss, bacterial infections from periodontitis can progress to other parts of the dog's body.

3. Endodontic Disease

Endodontic disease refers to any type of direct tooth injury. Biting hard objects, aggressive play, and physical injury can all cause a dog's tooth to become fractured. Endodontic disease can cause severe pain, although dogs will most likely try to hide it. Owners may notice sensitive areas that their dog doesn't want touched, and x-rays can be performed on their pets to identify affected teeth. It is also possible for advanced cases to expose pulp tissue, or to cause dental fistulas (draining tracts), resulting in the need for tooth extractions or root canal procedures.

What Are Some Signs Of Dental Disease?

Dogs are experts at concealing pain, so it's usually difficult for owners to tell when their dog is suffering from dental disease. To detect dental disease in its early stages, we recommend checking on your pet's oral health frequently. Look out for these symptoms:

• Bad breath
• Red and swollen gums
• Tartar buildup
• Bleeding along gum line
• Excessive drooling
• Pawing at mouth
• Difficulty picking up food and eating

Why is Dental Care Important For My Dog?

In order to take good care of your dog, dental care is necessary to prevent diseases and infections that could cause them pain and discomfort.

1. Preventing pain and discomfort: Infected gums and teeth can cause significant pain and inflammation. This can negatively affect your dog’s daily life, and you may notice lethargy and poorer appetite as a result.
2. Preventing tooth loss: Dental issues may weaken the structures supporting your dog’s teeth, causing them to loosen and fall out. Keeping their gums and teeth healthy is key to prevent this.
3. Preventing bad breath: Dental issues can cause your dog’s mouth to have a noticeably bad smell. With regular brushing, this smell can be reduced or eliminated.
4. Preventing organ damage: Bacteria from dental diseases can enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver. This spread of bacteria, called bacteremia, can damage organs and make dogs seriously ill.
5. Preventing worsening dental disease: Many dogs develop dental issues from a young age, and it can be challenging to completely prevent this. However, dental care can prevent dental disease from becoming severe and causing problems throughout the body.

How Can I Keep My Pet’s Teeth Clean at Home?

Brushing your dog's teeth daily is the best approach to caring for your dog's oral health. Make sure to use pet-approved toothpaste and never human toothpaste. Regular brushing reduces the amount of plaque that forms on their teeth, helping to prevent dental diseases such as gingivitis and maintain oral hygiene. Dogs must often be trained to accept regular brushing, as it can be uncomfortable or confusing for them at first, so, it can be helpful to come up with a training routine.

However, brushing can only get rid of surface plaque. A toothbrush cannot reach below the gum line or remove hardened tartar. This makes routine professional cleanings at a qualified veterinarian necessary. Dogs should have their teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year on average.

What is the Professional Dental Cleaning Process Like?

Before dental cleaning: Before the process begins, our veterinarians conduct bloodwork to ensure that your dog can be safely anaesthesised. Once this checkup and anaesthesia is done, our veterinarian can perform a thorough check of their teeth. They look out for abnormalities within the mouth, signs of gum bleeding, and periodontal pockets.

During dental cleaning (scaling): The next step is to clean tartar above and below the gum line using handheld tools and ultrasonic scalers, removing bacterial buildup and lowering the likelihood of periodontal disease.

During dental cleaning (polishing): After scaling, the dentist will polish the tooth enamel to smoothen out microscopic scratches and grooves, in order to prevent damage and reduce future build-up of plaque.

Can My Dog’s Dental Treatment Be Done Without Anaesthesia?

No, professional pet dental care cannot be done without anaesthesia. Anaesthesia-free dental cleaning will make the procedure much more stressful for your dog. Teeth scaling entails inserting sharp, vibrating, and noisy devices into the mouth, and most dogs cannot understand the need to remain entirely still while this is happening. If your dog struggles during the procedure, they may be injured. Your vet will also be unable to reach the teeth in the deeper sections of your dog's mouth without sedation.

Dental work for pets should only be carried out by trained veterinarians to avoid injury, infection and tooth fractures.

How Often Should I Bring My Dog for a Professional Dental Cleaning?

In general, pets should have their teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year. The frequency of cleanings may vary depending on their age, breed, pre-existing health conditions, eating habits, and home dental care.