Have you looked at your pet’s mouth today? Say cheese!”

In today’s society… many classify pets as members of the family and some even consider their pets as children. In light of this, of all the family members, it’s probably not hard to guess who has the worst dental hygiene: pets. Unfortunately, our pets cannot brush or floss their teeth. The result of this going years without brushing can cause gum disease, bad breath, and even tooth loss. It is estimated that 85% of pets have dental disease by the age of 3 years. This should not be surprising as there is little physical difference between a cat or dog tooth and a human tooth. It’s a good idea to get comfortable opening your pet’s mouth and looking inside. Lift the lip and look at the teeth, especially the back teeth. If your pet has a lot of tartar and bad breath, it’s time for a professional dental cleaning.

Home dental care of the tooth is never perfect and periodically adequate tartar removal and adequate polishing and disinfection of the tooth surface must be done. A professional dental cleaning done at a vet’s office is similar to what a person would get at their dentist’s office. After your pet has had a professional cleaning, it’s important to institute a strict home dental care regimen within a week of the cleaning. Here are some guidelines for the do’s and don’ts of home dental care:

• DO NOT use human toothpaste on your pet. Human toothpaste contains lathering agents (people like to see foam when they brush their teeth) which should not be swallowed in quantity.
• USE animal toothpaste (comes in a variety of flavors) and swallowing is expected.
• DO use finger toothbrushes on cats and small dogs weighing less than 30 pounds.
• DO use canine and feline toothbrushes for larger dogs (over 30 pounds) because your brush fits in a pet’s mouth and they are easier to manipulate in the mouth than a human toothbrush.
• Brush your pet’s teeth every day. This helps control existing gingivitis. However, studies have shown that brushing at least three times a week is adequate for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
• DO NOT attempt to clean the inside surface of your pet’s teeth. Natural saliva cleans this surface on its own.
• DO NOT consider home dental care as an alternative to a full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease.

Some animals are shy and do not tolerate tooth brushing well. In this case, dental rinses, dental treats and dental diets are some alternatives to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. Animals with sensitive gums may not tolerate brushing, but are more amenable to disinfection, dental wipes, or pads. These products will clean away plaque deposits if they are on the tooth surface and although they do not have the ability to remove food particles from the gum socket, they are probably best after brushing and, like brushing, these products are best used every day.

In closing, remember that dental hygiene is just as important as nutrition and exercise. What you do at home can really make a difference in keeping your pet healthy. Follow your vet’s recommendations, ask a trained vet tech about techniques to make brushing at home easier for you and your pet, and keep smiling.