Pet dental care

Mouth problems progress quietly

Dogs and cats rarely show that their teeth hurt. Hunger wins over pain, so they keep eating, and owners assume all is well because the appetite has not changed. Every day a thin film of food residue and bacteria called plaque forms on the teeth, and when it reacts with minerals in saliva it hardens into tartar. Once tartar pushes under the gum line, the gums swell and recede, and over time the bone that holds the teeth can be damaged until teeth loosen or fall out. What happens below the gums matters more than the yellow crust you can see.

Starting young makes it easier

Puppies and kittens lose their baby teeth, and the adult set is usually in place by around six months of age. Getting them used to having their mouth touched at this stage makes lifelong care far easier. Small dogs sometimes keep a baby tooth next to the adult one, and food trapped between the two causes trouble, so check the mouth when teething ends and talk to your vet if a baby tooth remains. Adult animals are not too old to learn either. Most accept brushing if you take the steps slowly.

Building a brushing habit

Pushing a toothbrush in on day one only creates resistance. Work through the steps below a few minutes a day, and move on only when your pet is relaxed. Spending several days or even a week on one step is fine. Ending each session with praise or a favorite game turns brushing into something to look forward to.

• Stroke the lips and cheeks with your finger
• Let your pet taste pet toothpaste from your fingertip
• Rub the outer gums and teeth with your finger
• Switch to gauze or a finger brush and repeat
• Brush the outer surfaces with a small, soft toothbrush

How to brush

Hold the brush at an angle where the teeth meet the gums and move it gently in small circles. Tartar collects most on the cheek side, especially on the upper canines and the large back teeth behind them, so start there. The tongue sweeps the inner surfaces to some extent, so brushing only the outer surfaces is enough at first. Keep sessions short but frequent. Plaque starts hardening within days, so daily brushing is best, and a few times a week done consistently beats a long session now and then. Human toothpaste can contain ingredients pets should not swallow, so always use a product made for pets.

Cats need a gentler approach

Many cats dislike having their mouth opened at all. Restraining them and forcing it makes them dodge your hand next time. Instead, slip a finger along the cheek when your cat comes over and rubs against you, and keep it brief. Cats are fairly prone to a condition in which teeth are gradually eaten away near the gum line, and from the outside it may look like nothing more than slightly red or puffy gums. If your cat drools, shakes its head while eating, or swallows kibble without chewing, have it checked.

Choosing chews and toys

Dental chews and dental diets are only aids to brushing, not substitutes. Anything too hard can actually fracture teeth. Be careful with items so hard that your fingernail leaves no mark at all, as well as animal bones, antlers and hard plastic toys. A chew should be too big to swallow whole and should be taken away once it wears down. Treats contain calories, so count them within the daily food allowance.

• Firm enough that a fingernail dents it slightly
• Too large to swallow whole
• Supervise while your pet chews
• Throw it away once it gets small

Mouth signs that need a vet

If you notice any of the changes below, do not try to fix them with brushing; book a visit. Hardened tartar will not brush off, and proper treatment below the gum line is usually done at the clinic under anesthesia with cleaning and an examination. Whether and when to anesthetize is decided with your vet based on age and health.

• Breath that has suddenly become much worse
• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Chewing on one side or dropping food
• Pawing at the mouth or pulling away when the face is touched
• A broken or loose tooth

Cautions

Do not try to scrape visible tartar off at home. You can injure the gums, and the tartar below the gum line stays put. If the gums bleed a little during brushing, there may already be inflammation, so get a checkup before pressing on. This article is general information and does not replace a diagnosis. Always consult your vet about the state of your pet's mouth, how to care for it, and when a dental cleaning is needed.