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Dogs and cats can develop a build-up of tartar, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing your pets’ teeth once a day is the best option for good oral hygiene. We will be happy to demonstrate how to undertake this for the best results. Other ways to care for your pet’s oral health include dental diets, food or water additives which help prevent bad breath and plaque build-up.
Dogs and cats can be very good at hiding signs of oral pain and dental disease. Some pets with severe dental disease, including root exposure, severe gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and tooth root infections, will continue to eat, showing only subtle signs that something is wrong.
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Visible tartar build-up on teeth
- Red or inflamed gums (gingivitis)
- Discoloured teeth
- Drooling
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Slowness or reluctance to eat
- Chewing on one side of the mouth
- Dropping food from the mouth when eating
- Swelling around the mouth (from potential tooth root abscesses)
The best way to maintain healthy teeth is to brush your pets’ teeth daily. This is easiest to start when your pet is younger but can be introduced at any age. It can also be beneficial to have a descale and polish performed regularly to clean the teeth thoroughly. This is similar to the treatment we would receive from a dental hygienist, although under anaesthetic.
Food and saliva that is left behind on the teeth will form plaque on the tooth. Plaque is soft and can be removed by brushing or using alternative dental products. If not removed, the plaque will harden forming tartar, which is difficult to remove without dentistry intervention.
If tartar is not removed, bacteria will spread below the gumline, causing red sore gums. This is called gingivitis and periodontitis, which in turn can lead to loose teeth, infection of the tooth root and jawbone infections.
Cats also get another form of dental disease known as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs). The cause is unknown, but 75% of cats are thought to be affected. It is particularly common in cats over five years but can occur at any age.
In these lesions, part of the tooth is eaten away by the tooth itself, forming a small hole in the enamel close to the gum line. These lesions are very painful for cats and can lead to tooth fractures as they weaken the teeth. They require extraction to resolve.