We all know how important dental hygiene is. Washing your teeth at least two times a day is essential for keeping your mouth healthy and preventing certain diseases and problems from occurring. Issues such as cavities or gum disease seem to be the most mild ones, yet they are annoying enough and you need to fix them quickly (if you haven’t prevented them from happening in the first place). Why? If you stop them from progressing you will also stop them causing a lot bigger and more serious health conditions.
But are we the only species that needs to get their teeth cleaned? The answer is simple – we’re not. As a matter of fact, your best friend also needs to wash their teeth at least on a weekly basis. We’re talking about your furry friend: your dog!
Oral hygiene is something that’s been discussed thoroughly and that almost everyone is familiar with. Everything we’ve mentioned about the importance of keeping your dental hygiene on a high level is also the case with your dog’s dental health. This, on the contrary, isn’t something everyone is familiar with (although they should be).
One of the most common problems that dogs have when it comes to their teeth, are gum problems or periodontal disease. Not only is this condition unpleasant: their gums might hurt, they can have bad breath (which is unpleasant for their owners) but in the worst and untreated cases, they could have their teeth falling out, bone structure and tissues damaged and even their internal organs affected ( since bacteria spreads through your bloodstream).
The unpopular thing about periodontal problems in dogs is the fact that the plaque that is building on their teeth is also building under their gums, which is something you can’t see with your bare eyes. As a result, if you don’t pay attention to the very process of cleaning their teeth regularly, you may end up not noticing that your dog is in pain and that he was experiencing even more serious health issues.
If you love your pet (and you most certainly do), this is one of the worst things you can do for them. Imagine not brushing your teeth for 5 days in a row. Now imagine not washing them for months or even years. Then imagine having a burning pain in your gums and not being able to chew properly or avoiding eating because you’re in pain. Finally, imagine losing your teeth and still being in great pain. This isn’t something you want for your dog either, isn’t it?
Research shows that dogs are even more likely to get periodontal disease compared to humans. That’s why we, as their best friends, need to take care of this. You have several options: you can purposefully purchase toys that are made for cleaning dog’s teeth and massaging their gums. You can pick a cleaning treat from a huge variety of dog treats that are available on the market, and you can let your dog chew them every two or 3 days. You can also purchase a dog toothpaste and a toothbrush and wash their teeth at least once a week if not more often. Finally, you can take your dog to the vet and he can clean their teeth in total anaesthesia. Visit this website to find out more.
Although this may seem like you have a lot of options to choose from, people usually pick the ones that seem easiest. This is usually buying cleaning toys, since some dogs don’t like to eat treats with cleaning effects.
On the contrary, brushing your dog’s teeth seems like the most complicated option of them all. Teaching your dog to let you brush his teeth seems like a mission impossible for many people. Your dog might let you brush his teeth from time to time, but it is a long process of adjusting and teaching your dog how to let you do this. Some people simply don’t have the time and patience for this and some dogs will simply never allow you to get near teeth with a toothbrush.
This is why it seems like taking your dog to the vet’s office is the most convenient option (combined with cleaning toys and treats of course). Professional teeth cleaning for your dog will allow the veterinarian to clean all the plaque, even the one you can see – that’s under and below your pet’s gum line. The hidden plaque is the most dangerous for your pet’s health, and that’s why these deep cleanings are so crucial.
How often you should take your dog to receive professional cleaning from the vet depends on many factors. First of all, the size and the breed of your dog. Secondly, their habits and lifestyle as well as their preferences when it comes to food (type of diet they have), toys they play with and treats. Finally, it depends on you: whether you’re cleaning your dog’s teeth or not; and if you do – how many times per week you do it. Generally speaking, your dog should meet his vet for a teeth cleaning at least once a year, but this can vary depending on the above mentioned factors. Sometimes your dog will need to go to the vet’s twice a year and sometimes you can skip professional teeth cleaning for 2 years.
In each case, it’s your job to pay attention to your dog’s oral health and try to notice the first signs of any problems such as redness of your pet’s gums, bad health or a change in their behaviour. Finally, keep in mind that you can prevent oral diseases until your dog is up to 4 years old, after which you won’t have that option. Meaning that in the first few years of their life, it’s good to pay extra attention and put more effort in taking care of their teeth, because it will help them stay healthy and happy throughout their whole lifetime. At the same time, it’s much easier for you to prevent disease than to treat it. It’s also less expensive. Sounds like a win-win to us!
