Daily Toothbrushing Isn't Just for People: Why Oral Health Matters for Your Pets

Written by Dr. Bradley Quest , DVM??

Many pet parents find themselves asking the question: why does my pet’s breath smell so bad? We all want to be close to our pets. They give us companionship and loyalty, and let’s face it, they are sometimes our very best friends. But sometimes, the smell from their mouth can be so bad that we can’t stand to be too close to them. By that time, there is usually a serious problem in their mouths.?

Many of our furry friends have oral health problems that may not be addressed. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that by the age of three, the majority of dogs and cats will have some kind of oral health condition that needs to be treated. Some of these problems may be less severe, such as mild plaque and tartar accumulation, but others could be as serious as advanced periodontal disease and even tooth loss. The good news is that most of these conditions are preventable.?

You may be asking yourself, how do these problems develop? The answer is really pretty simple. Like in people, if pets don’t have plaque removed from the surface of their teeth, it can begin to spread below the gumline. Here, the bacteria that live in the plaque can cause problems with gum health and eventually start to destroy the supporting structures of the teeth. This leads to gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and eventually to periodontitis (inflammation of the supporting tooth structures). This can be very painful, and a pet with severe gingivitis or periodontal disease may have trouble eating, drool excessively, have extensive halitosis (bad breath), and could even have internal organ problems such as kidney, liver, or heart disease.?

Plaque is composed of a biofilm of bacteria and food particles. If not removed on a regular basis, it can also harden with minerals contained in the saliva to form tartar (calculus). This is the yellow-to-brown-colored staining commonly seen on pets’ teeth. As it accumulates, tartar can also irritate the gums and contribute to gingivitis, halitosis, and a painful mouth. These problems can be compounded for smaller pets, such as small breed dogs, because there may be more crowding of teeth in their smaller mouths, making it easier for plaque and tartar to accumulate.?

Plaque and tartar can be removed from the tooth’s surface, and gingivitis can be treated, but periodontitis is an irreversible condition. So, what can be done to prevent these things from happening in the first place? The best way to prevent oral disease is to have a complete oral exam and dental cleaning done by your veterinarian at least once a year. In addition, at-home oral health care is equally important. Remember: just like with our oral health, daily plaque removal is key to your pet’s oral health, too.?

The best way to do this is by brushing your pet’s teeth daily.? This can be difficult, but with patience and by starting to brush your pet’s teeth when they are young, most pets will better accept this after each session. Some tips on pet tooth brushing are to start by using a warm and damp washcloth. You can move the washcloth slowly up and down and move from tooth to tooth to prepare your pet for using an actual toothbrush. Once your pet accepts the washcloth, you can begin by using a toothbrush specifically made for pets.??

Most pet toothbrushes have very soft bristles, and some fit on your finger for ease of use. After your pet accepts the toothbrush, you can use a small amount of pet-specific toothpaste. It is not recommended to use human toothpaste, as many contain ingredients not suitable for pets. Start brushing gently at the gumline using an oval motion of about 10 revolutions per tooth. Be sure when you are done brushing your pet’s teeth that you reward them with praise or even a healthy treat.?

This leads us to other ways to help your pet’s oral health daily. Mechanical action dental chews and treats are also a good way to help reduce plaque and tartar accumulation. These products work because as the pet chews into the product the texture is such that it helps scrap the plaque off the surface of the pet’s teeth.? And who doesn’t love to bond with their pet by giving them a tasty treat, right??

Be sure to use a dental chew or treat that has a flexible, chewy texture and isn’t too hard, because too-hard chews may become a tooth fracture risk for your pet. When choosing a dental treat or chew, a good resource to use is the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) list. The VOHC functions similarly to how the American Dental Association works to approve human oral health products. If companies complete independent dental testing to show that their products are effective and submit them to VOHC, their product may be awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance. If a product has the VOHC Seal of Acceptance, you can be assured that it does what it claims to do for your pet’s oral health.?

Other products can be effective as well. There are specifically developed pet dental diets that have a texture such that when a pet bites into the special dental kibble, it doesn’t immediately break, but the pet’s tooth can penetrate the kibble, which can help scrub plaque and tartar off the surface of the pet’s teeth. There are also water and food additives that contain active ingredients that can help reduce plaque and/or tartar accumulation as well. As with dental chew and treats, the VOHC website can be a good resource to search for products such as diets and food and water additives that have been proven to work to help pets’ oral health.?

BSM Partners has experts in product development for all kinds of companion animal oral health products. We also have the experience to help a brand conduct clinical efficacy testing with a product, and can support a wide range of claims substantiation for dental as well as other animal health products.?

About the Author?

Dr. Bradley Quest DVM, is the Principal Veterinarian at BSM Partners. He has practiced clinical veterinary medicine, developed and tested hundreds of pet food and health products, performs extensive animal health research, and helps navigate pet food ingredient approval for clients.?

This article was originally published on BSM Partners' website here.?