Your pet depends on his teeth to eat and chew properly and routine oral health care is the key to maintaining good teeth and gums.  Dental disease is the number one disease of companion animals and over 90% of dogs and cats will have some degree of dental disease by the time they are 3 years old. The constant buildup of plaque and bacteria will lead to tartar formation and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). In turn, tartar and gingivitis lead to loose, painful teeth and halitosis (bad breath). Bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream and can lead to infections of the liver, kidneys and heart valves.
Because of these serious complications of dental disease, we at the Dwight-Pine Bluff-Lakewood Hospital encourage regular dental care for your pet.  This care includes periodic professional cleanings as well as home dental care and dietary recommendations.

The first step towards good dental health is the dental exam.  All puppies and kittens should have routine dental exams as their adult teeth are erupting to assure there are no problems.  Once the adult teeth are in, they should be examined at least once a year and as your pet gets into it's older years (after about 7 years of age) we recommend dental exams at least twice a year.  This exam will allow us to evaluate your pet's dental health and recommend any appropriate treatments.  If your pet already has dental disease, we will recommend a professional cleaning.  If your pet does not currently have dental health problems, we will recommend a home dental health program that will help you to prevent or delay the development of dental disease.

If your pet has tartar or calculus buildup, gingivitis, halitosis, or loose teeth, it is time to have a professional cleaning performed.  This procedure is very similar to the cleanings you may have experienced at your own dentist.  We evaluate all of your pets teeth and their surrounding gums for any problems above or below the gum line.  We then use hand instruments to break free any dental calculus and clean the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler.  We then polish the teeth to help prevent new bacteria from adhering to your pet's teeth.  This procedure does require a general anesthetic to be performed properly (see our page on anesthesia for further information).   Your pet will be able to go home the same day the procedure is performed.   Antibiotics will be prescribed for your pet to prevent bacterial infection from the bacteria in the mouth.  With older pets, we will occasionally recommend "pulse therapy" with antibiotics - we will prescribe a 10 to 14 day course of antibiotics every three months to help reduce the bacteria which cause damage to the gums.  After a professional cleaning is performed, we encourage you to keep up good dental health through home dental care.

Home dental care is the most important part of maintaining your pet's dental health.   Brushing your pet's teeth is the best way to prevent tartar buildup and maintain healthy gums.  Before you can brush your pet's teeth, you should first get your pet used to having it's head and mouth handled.  We encourage you to handle the head and mouth as often as you can (be sure to praise your pet while doing this).   Lift up your pet's lips, look at his teeth, rub his gums gently and praise him often.
Once your pet is willing to let you work with her mouth, you can begin brushing the teeth. We recommend that you gradually work up to a toothbrush. Start with something soft such as part of a washcloth, a cotton applicator, or your finger.  If you hurt the gums, your pet will not be very tolerant of the brushing. As she gets used to the brushing, you can work your way up to a finger brush, or a medium-bristled children's toothbrush.
What about toothpaste?  We strongly recommend that you use a product made specifically for animals. Human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed and digested, so it may lead to gastrointestinal upset in your dog. There is toothpaste made specifically for dogs as well as oral cleansing rinses that are safe.

There are certain types of food that can help maintain good dental health.  In general, hard treats (such as Bonz) do not help your pet’s teeth at all - they are chewed so quickly they don't have a chance to help the teeth.  Substances that your pet chews for extended periods will help the teeth more.   Examples include rawhide chews and nylabones.  There are also rawhide chews with dentrifice on them which help the teeth (C.E.T. Chews).  Do not leave your dog unsupervised with chews, however, as dogs occasionally gag on the small pieces.

Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d is designed specifically to reduce and delay tartar buildup in pets. This diet is an excellent addition to your pet’s dental care as well as his overall nutrition.  Remember though, no foods or chews will help the dental health of the incisors or canine teeth, as they are not used in chewing.  There is no substitute for hands-on dental care with your pet.

www.petdental.com is an excellent site with a great deal of information on dental care in pets.  This site is sponsored by the AVMA, the American Veterinary Dental Society and Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc.