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Brush Up on Dental Care
by Laura Barmore
Dental care is a little known yet
absolutely necessary component of caring for your dog. Dogs use their
mouths not only to eat and drink, but also to communicate, groom,
play, and socialize. A healthy mouth is vital for adequate performance
of all these roles. However, dogs, like people, aren’t invincible to
dental and gum disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental
Society, eighty percent of all dogs show signs of periodontal (gum)
disease by the age of three. Periodontal disease is one of the most
common conditions seen by veterinarians today. Too often we overlook
the need for dental care for our dogs, which is a shame, because good
dental care can add as much as five years to your dog’s life.
The problem begins
when plaque and tartar are allowed to build up on your dog’s teeth.
Plaque harbors the bacteria, which can infect gum tissue and the roots
of teeth. Tartar, or calculus, forms when minerals from saliva cause
plaque on the teeth to harden. If plaque and the resulting calculus
are left to accumulate on the teeth, bacteria quickly multiply and
invade the gums around the teeth, causing an inflammation known as
gingivitis. This inflammation of the gums can spread to the bone
around the teeth, leading to bone loss or periodontal disease. Without
adequate bony support, teeth may become loose, or even fall out. Dogs
that can’t chew well also risk nutritional problems. They won’t live
as long, perform as well, look as good, or be as happy. In severe
cases of dental disease, bacteria from the mouth can get into the
bloodstream, leading to kidney, liver or cardiac problems.
Unfortunately, many times our four-legged companions suffer in
silence, since they do not have a way to complain about their dental
pain. Also, many owners are not aware of the signs or treatment of gum
and dental disease.
Here are some signs
and symptoms of potential gum and dental disease:
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Persistent bad
breath
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Sensitivity around
the mouth
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Loss of appetite
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Pawing at the mouth
or face
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Plaque (often not
visible unless stained)
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Bleeding, inflamed,
or receded gums
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Tartar
(creamy-brown, hard material)
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Loose or missing
teeth
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Difficulty eating
and chewing food
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Drooling, sneezing
or eye tearing
The Progression of Gingivitis to
Periodontal Disease
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Mild Gingivitis -
Margin of
attached gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Plaque
covers teeth. Treatment can reverse condition.
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Moderate Gingivitis -
Entire attached
gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Mouth is painful and
odor begins to be noticeable. Professional
treatment and home dental care can prevent this from becoming
irreversible.
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Severe Gingivitis -
Cherry red and
bleeding attached gingiva (gum). Gingiva is becoming
destroyed by infection and calculus (tartar).
Sore mouth affects the dog’s eating and behavior. Bad
breath is present. Beginning of periodontal disease.
May become irreversible.
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Periodontal Disease -
Chronic bacterial
infection is destroying the gum, tooth, and bone. Bacteria is spreading throughout the bloodstream and may
damage the kidneys, liver and heart.
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Caring for your Lab’s teeth
The first step is to
determine your dog’s current state of mouth cleanliness. If you’re
lucky, your examination of your dog’s teeth will reveal nothing but
strong, white teeth surrounded by tight, pink gums. If that is the
case, keep doing whatever you are doing for your Lab. However, if you
can’t stand the smell to get close enough to look, you want to start
right away with an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough
cleaning. Veterinarians often find that chronically ill dogs quickly
improve after professional dental cleaning and resolution of oral
infections. Routine periodontal treatment performed by a veterinarian
includes ultrasonic scaling, subgingival manual scaling, and
polishing. All of this cleaning will require your Lab to be put under
anesthesia. A good way to remember to schedule a dental exam is to
combine it with your dog’s annual booster vaccinations.
Equally important to
annual dental exams is home dental care, such as brushing your dog’s
teeth, or when brushing is not practical, some veterinarians may
recommend an antibacterial oral rinse or gel, that can help slow
accumulation of dental plaque. But have your veterinarian check for
and take care of dental problems before beginning at-home brushing, so
you don’t brush a painful mouth. If it hurts, your dog will probably
resist.
Since toothbrushing
is considered the most effective method of removing plaque, most
veterinarians recommend an oral hygiene program that starts early in a
dog’s life, at least by 5 or 6 months of age, when the puppy’s
permanent teeth come in. However, older dogs are never too old for
toothbrushing. In fact, the older your dogs gets, the more important
it is to keep plaque and tartar from accumulating. Whether you are
starting with your puppy or introducing an older dog to daily oral
hygiene, remember that this should be fun for you and your dog.
Where to Begin
Brushing your dog’s
teeth is easy and doesn’t take much time. To begin with, select a
convenient time when you and your Lab are both relaxed. Keep each
session short and positive and be sure to praise your dog throughout
the process. After each session, reward your dog with an appropriate
treat and lots of praise.
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For the first few
days, simply hold your dog as you normally do when petting him. Do not
overly restrain him. Gently stroke the outside of your dog’s cheeks
with your finger for a minute or two. After your dog has become
comfortable with this activity, dip a finger into beef bouillon and
gently rub along the gums and teeth. Focusing on the gum line, start
at the front of the mouth, then move to the back upper and lower teeth
and gum areas. (Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth, 20 on the top and
22 on the bottom.)
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Once
your dog is okay with a little bit of touching, gradually introduce
gauze over your finger, (you can also dip into beef bouillon) and rub
the teeth and gums in a circular fashion. Do this for one to two weeks
until your dog is familiar with having his gums and teeth rubbed.
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Place
a small amount of pet toothpaste on your finger and let your dog
sample the flavor. Pet toothpastes generally have a poultry, malt, or
other flavor that your dog will like. Get your dog used to the
flavor and consistency of the toothpaste. Let your dog lick some off
your finger and then apply some to his gumline with your finger.
After a few sessions, your dog should actually look forward to this
and you can move on. Use only veterinary toothpaste, not baking soda
or human toothpaste. Human toothpaste foams and contains fluoride,
which can cause an upset stomach. Your dog can safely swallow
meat-flavored veterinary toothpaste.
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Next, introduce your
dog to an animal toothbrush, fingerbrush, or a soft human toothbrush.
Your dog needs to get used to the bristles on the brush, so let him
lick some toothpaste off the brush so he gets used to the texture.
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Now
that your dog is used to the toothbrush and toothpaste, you are ready
to start brushing. Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush.
Gently raise your dog’s upper lip and place the brush against an upper
canine tooth (the large ones in the front of the mouth). These are the
easiest teeth for you to start with. With a slow circular motion,
gently brush only that tooth and the adjoining gumline. The bristles
should be held at a 45 degree angle to the tooth surface. Each day
gradually increase the number of teeth brushed, but go slowly. Do not
go beyond your dog’s point of comfort. Build up to approximately 30
seconds of brushing per side. Remember, after each session, reward
your pet with a treat and lots of praise.
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Be patient, proceed
slowly and gently. Use plenty of petting and praise. Soon, both you
and your Lab will look forward to the time you spend together during
this important health care procedure.
Certainly, the more
often you brush the better. Aim for daily dental care for your Lab,
just as you aim for daily dental care for yourself. The hardest thing
about home dental care is just getting started. Once you have done it
a while, it will become part of your daily routine. If you cannot
brush daily, brushing every other day will remove the plaque before it
has time to mineralize. This will still have a positive effect on your
dog’s oral health.
Diet
Diet can be a major
factor in the development of plaque and tartar. Avoid feeding dogs
table scraps, soft, sticky foods, or sweet treats because they can
increase the build up of plaque and tartar, and can contribute to
subsequent periodontal disease. Dry food, biscuits, and newly
formulated abrasive diets can be helpful in removing plaque above the
gumline. In addition, providing your dog with specially treated dental
chews is often a good alternative for those days when you do not
brush. However, only toothbrushing can remove plaque and food debris
below the gumline. It is below the gumline where disease causing
bacteria flourish, resulting in irritation, inflammation and
infection. Remember to provide fresh water daily. Bacteria can build
up inside bowls containing water more than two days old.
 Toys
Plaque Attacker
dental toys as pictured here, are helpful in the mechanical removal of
plaque. Avoid chew toys of natural bone or cow hoof since these items
are too hard and can create excessive teeth wear or fractures.
Looking for a Doggie Dentist?
To locate a
veterinary dentist in your area, contact the American Veterinary
Dental Society at (800)-332-2837(AVDS). It has more than 1,000 active
members worldwide.
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