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February is Dental Health Month! KEY POINTS: Dental home care is the #1 way to prevent dental disease! Dental disease is THE MOST COMMON DISEASE of our pets and US! There are some great current products to help prevent dental disease in your pet! REGULAR COMPLETE DENTAL CLEANINGS ARE NECESSARY PERIODICALLY. Imagine if you never brushed your teeth for 6 months, or a year. How about if you did not brush for 5 years? Needless to say, you would have bad breath and your teeth would be covered with plaque build up and tartar. Many pet owners realize they should brush their pets teeth, but don’t think of it in this way. The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends a complete dental cleaning every 6 months, like your dentist requests of you even with twice daily brushing! While dental disease is nothing new in veterinary medicine, many owners are surprised when their veterinarian suggests a dental prophylaxis procedure (preventative scaling and polishing the teeth). However, the most common disease of dogs, cats, and humans is peridontal disease, or inflammation of the structures around the tooth (gingiva, ligaments, and bone). Dental health has been championed as an important reason for our long and healthy lives. Luckily peridontal disease is, for the most part, preventable with a regular dental program. The program varies with the particular animal and with age, but all encompass the same basic components. The most important part is home dental care. One of the best methods of prevention is regular brushing starting at a young age. Brushes formulated for pets can be purchased or a soft pediatric toothbrush can be used. Daily brushing in a circular motion is best, but with busy schedules, every other day treatment still helps. If your pet is resistant to brushing, try using a cotton swab or your finger covered with gauze to apply the toothpaste to the teeth. Toothpaste should contain chlorohexidine or zinc ascorbate, not flouride. Liver, chicken, and malt flavorings are in most pet toothpastes and many pets eventually enjoy the process because of the taste. If the pet is unable to tolerate brushing at all, there are mouth rinses, and sprays available. One of our most popular choices is a tasteless solution that goes in the pet’s water supply. These products are meant to be longer acting and work to break down the plaque. Dental treats can also help. Many are made with an enzymatic dentrifice to help break down plaque. Finally, regular dental cleanings under anesthesia are necessary for maintaining oral health. The frequency of this procedure varies with the animal. Your veterinarian can grade the severity of plaque formation and may suggest rechecks to help catch problems early. A dental prophylaxis procedure, is done under general anesthesia by a veterinary technician to efficiently and completely remove the plaque buildup. The technician and veterinarian also checks for tooth and gum abnormalities that need to be addressed (ie loose teeth, masses, etc). The severity of the peridontal disease is assessed and recorded to provide recommendations for future treatment. In addition, dental x-rays can be taken of teeth that may be diseased below the gumline and need specific attention or removal. If peridontal disease is present, an antibiotic may be dispensed prior to and/or after the procedure to combat the release of bacterial reactions due to the disruption of the plaques.Peridontal disease is certainly not the only disease or condition of the oral cavity. During regular exams and dental procedures the veterinarian and technician can assess your pet’s oral health and help you prevent or treat peridontal disease and other conditions. Your pet will thank you for it! Dr. Amanda Olson, Dr. Sue Stiff, and Dr. Marsha Councill
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