Last month was National Pet Dental Health Month, and in fact, one of the most common problems we see as veterinarians is dental disease. If you’re wondering how your own pets might fare with a look under the hood, take a quick peek yourself. Like us, all cats and dogs get tartar and gingivitis. Unlike us, their tartar quickly turns to calculus, something as hard as concrete in a very short time.

One of the most important parts of your pet’s health exam is the mouth. Unless their teeth are brushed regularly, they can quickly look (and smell) terrible. One of the most challenging things I can say to a client is, “What do you think we start brushing these things?” And then I see the look on Mrs. Smith’s face. A look of despair and hopelessness, as if I had just asked her to play Rachmaninoff in front of a crowd of thousands.  At the Parthenon.

Then the kicker – to help our animals maintain a healthy mouth, we recommend brushing those teeth at least every other day. Cats and small dogs are particularly prone to periodontal disease, which causes deep pockets of infection around the teeth, weakening their attachments. And eventually, the teeth fall out. It’s amazing how quickly our pets can lose their teeth. Cats can also get cavities, which are painful and can lead to broken teeth. 

Identifying & Preventing Dental Problems
So how do you know your pets have dental problems? If she’s eating, she’s fine, right? Not necessarily. It’s amazing how much discomfort animals will tolerate when it comes to food. Rarely will a dog or cat stop eating because of dental disease, even a broken tooth. Sometimes these signs are obvious: bad breath, hardened plaque and even tooth loss.

These are the things we can see.

What we can’t see is the stress bad teeth put on the immune system. With dental problems, the immune system is busy dealing with the infection and inflammation under the gums and is less able to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, cancers and other serious threats. Studies have shown that people with dental disease have higher incidences of heart, liver and kidney disease. Animals too.

So it’s all about brushing. Let’s go back to that oral examination. Cats and dogs have plaque, the film which forms on the teeth and in pockets under the gum line. In the first 24 to 48 hours, it’s easily removed with a brush. After that, it begins to harden and turn into tartar, which can’t be brushed off. If there is visible tartar, there is most likely infection under the gums, too. And unfortunately, the only way to get rid of it is to have your vet do a proper cleaning.

A few years ago, we saw the advent of the first “non-anesthetic” dental cleanings. Not so much here on the Hill, but certainly around the rest of country. These would be done be certain groomers, touted as safer than having anesthesia and going to your vet. They quickly became illegal because, for one thing, they caused harm by damaging the protective enamel of the teeth. And they didn’t clean the teeth! You can’t simply chip that tartar off and call it a day. You’ve got to get under the gums, clean, rinse and polish. And how many animals will sit quietly while someone is chipping tartar from their teeth?

In fact, we feel lucky if we can get the briefest of glimpses of our patients’ mouths, never mind spend an hour cleaning their teeth with them awake and struggling. And that’s how long it takes – a proper dental cleaning takes time, at least twice the time it can take to spay a big dog, for instance. And if your vet is doing x-rays, which he should, it can take even more time. Since patience isn’t really part of our pets’ repertoires, dental work requires anesthesia. But today, anesthetics are so advanced that the risks for healthy animals are considerably lower than the risk of dental disease.  

Brushing Technique
So how do you brush those teeth? For one thing, if they are clean already, start now! The most important part of brushing is the brush. Remember it takes only 48 hours for plaque to harden into tartar, so you need to brush at least every other day to be effective. Use a soft tooth brush specifically made for pets and special toothpaste for them as well. These pastes have an enzyme in them to break down plaque. And they can be swallowed by your pet. And believe me, they will be.

Brushing alone is the most important part, though the toothpaste helps. Most dogs and cats will allow a brief (one minute or less) brushing without too much objection. Start slowly! For some animals the first session might be just a quick swipe followed by a treat. You can work up from there. It’s those outside surfaces where most of the tartar forms, so don’t try to brush the inside surfaces of the teeth unless your pet is unusually cooperative. And you don’t have to be a dental hygienist to do this well. Any brushing will help. And the more often you do it, the more your dog or cat will get used to it and hopefully even like it. And remember to give them a treat afterwards.

Most dogs eventually even enjoy tooth brushing. Cats … well, let’s just say they’re a little more resistant. Still, it’s quite possible to do this effectively for both species. And the benefits, both the visible and invisible, will be incalculable.