Teeth cleaning is important to your dog\u2019s overall health, just like yours. Learn what you can do to keep your dog\u2019s teeth clean and help prevent dental disease \u2026 as well as avoid the need for veterinary teeth cleaning under anesthesia. <\/p>\n
The main reason dogs need to have their teeth cleaned by a veterinarian is when plaque and tartar accumulate that can lead to periodontal disease. But you can avoid this by being proactive and keeping your dog\u2019s teeth clean at home. <\/p>\n
Diet, supplements and at-home dental care are all important ways to keep your dog\u2019s teeth clean and healthy. Just like the gut, your dog\u2019s mouth has a microbiome that needs to have a good balance of good vs bad bacteria to be healthy. And a healthy microbiome starts with diet.<\/p>\n
Dogs fed a species-appropriate raw, wholesome diet almost always have healthy mouths. Chewing on muscle meat and gnawing on raw meaty bones promotes good bacteria and enzymes that help prevent tartar from building up. Plus, chewing on bones keeps your dog entertained, and strengthens his jaw, neck and shoulder muscles as well\/ Provide your dog with plenty of bones to keep him happily chewing and cleaning his own teeth in the process! Knuckle bones and neck bones are great choices to support your dog\u2019s oral health.<\/p>\n
Dry kibble diets, on the other hand, are often the culprit when it comes to poor oral health. That\u2019s because kibble is full of starch, which, when digested by the bacteria in your dog\u2019s mouth, creates acids that wear away at the enamel on the teeth. And even though kibble manufacturers tell you crunchy kibble cleans your dog\u2019s teeth, that\u2019s not true. The starches in kibble break down into sugars that create inflammation in the body. <\/p>\n
Foods that are high in starch cause an imbalance in your dog\u2019s microbiome, and lead to poor overall health and accumulation of tartar and plaque. Eventually this can cause periodontal disease with gum inflammation plus tooth decay, as well as inflamed ligaments, and even bone issues.<\/p>\n
Here are a few other ways to keep the plaque off your dog\u2019s teeth.<\/p>\n
Adding probiotics and prebiotic supplements is good for dog oral health because it helps promote a healthy bacterial environment in your dog\u2019s digestive tract, including the mouth. There\u2019s now a great deal of research into the use of pre and probiotics for oral health. A 2011 review found several studies \u201chighlighted the potential of probiotics in combination with prebiotics for improving oral health.\u201d (1)<\/p>\n
Chronic oxidative stress may be linked with periodontal disease. A 2019 study found that people with periodontal disease has a decreased ability to control damage caused by oxidative stress (2). So be sure to feed your dog plenty of antioxidant-rich fresh foods or a supplement that\u2019s high in antioxidants.<\/p>\n
Omega-3 fatty acids help manage inflammation and support periodontal tissues (as well as brain, joint and heart health). Adding a good omega-3 supplement to your dog\u2019s food can bring many benefits. Avoid fish oil if you can. While it\u2019s a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, it\u2019s very unstable and can easily turn rancid. And it\u2019s non-susstainable and harmful to the ocean environment. <\/p>\n
The best age to start routine dental care at home is \u2026 as young as possible! The earlier you get your dog used to having his teeth looked at as well as familiar with dog toothpaste and toothbrush, the easier it will be do it over the long term.<\/p>\n
Check the inside of your dog\u2019s mouth regularly \u2013 at least once a week. The sooner you catch an issue, the easier it will be to solve. Don\u2019t wait for plaque and tartar to build up.<\/p>\n
Be proactive about gently brushing your dog\u2019s teeth every day. Start very slowly with a tiny bit of brushing daily (just a few seconds to start) and build up gradually until you\u2019re able to brush thoroughly without your dog fussing. Holistic veterinarian Dr Jodie Gruenstern DVM CVA recommends daily brushing before bed to remove food particles and plaque. She says \u201cyou don\u2019t need to pry your dog\u2019s jaws open. Just push the lips up and apply the toothpaste to your dog\u2019s teeth and gums.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of buying commercial dog toothpaste that may have chemical ingredients, look for a tooth powder or dog toothpaste with all natural ingredients like baking soda, essential oils or herbs. Here\u2019s a recipe for a DIY home made dog toothpaste from veterinarian Dr Katie Kangas DVM.<\/p>\n
Mix all ingredients until smooth and use toothbrush or gauze wrapped around finger to brush your dog\u2019s teeth daily. <\/p>\n
You can buy products to add to your dog\u2019s water bowl that can help loosen or minimize plaque. A good formula is one that has prebiotics that help strengthen the \u201cgood\u201d bacteria in your dog\u2019s mouth. Always use filtered or spring water for your dog to avoid harmful chemicals. <\/p>\n
If you follow the above steps, your dog\u2019s teeth and gums should stay healthy for many years. But if he does develop periodontal disease, you need to know what it is and signs to watch for. <\/p>\n
Dog periodontal disease means there\u2019s inflammation and possibly infection of the gums and other tissues surrounding the teeth. Early stage disease is called gingivitis. This is very common in dogs and is not just a problem for the mouth. If left unchecked, more advanced periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, as well as chronic inflammation throughout the body, which can cause other serious health problems for your dog (3).<\/p>\n
Small dogs are much more likely to develop dental disease. That means if you have a toy breed, you should pay even closer ttention to his diet and home dental care. You\u2019ll read about how a natural diet can help your dog\u2019s teeth a bit later. <\/p>\n
Here are some signs your dog may have a dental problem \u2026 <\/p>\n
If you see any of these signs, it\u2019s best to take your dog to a veterinary dental specialist.<\/strong> Just as you wouldn\u2019t go to your doctor to have your teeth checked, you shouldn\u2019t assume your regular vet is able to do a thorough check of your dog\u2019s teeth. Specialists are highly trained in dog dental procedures and they\u2019re better qualified to do a thorough oral exam and x-rays needed, as well as any follow up procedures your dog may need. <\/p>\n Many vets recommend regular dental cleanings under anesthesia. But that\u2019s because most of the dogs they see have plaque and tartar build-up because they eat kibble. So following the steps above should help your dog avoid professional cleanings. If your dog does develop problems, there is another choice before opting for a full cleaning under anesthesia. <\/p>\n It\u2019s worth looking for a specialist who does anesthesia-free dental cleaning. Do your research to find a good provider and ask for references. There are some highly skilled practitioners who\u2019ll do a thorough job of examining and cleaning your dog\u2019s teeth .<\/p>\n Some veterinarians say that anesthesia-free cleanings aren\u2019t able to do as thorough a job as the full procedure under anesthesia. They may not be able to get deep enough under the gum line, or the inside surfaces of the teeth. But if you catch problems early, anesthesia-free procedures can help a lot. Obviously, if your dog needs an extraction or other more complex treatment, he\u2019ll need to be anesthetized. <\/p>\n If you decide to go ahead with this procedure, your vet should do a pre-anesthesia exam and blood work to make sure your dog is healthy enough.<\/p>\n With your dog under anesthesia, your vet will look for gum bleeding and periodontal pockets where food can accumulate. She\u2019ll clean and polish your dog\u2019s teeth to remove the tartar and plaque. She\u2019ll also do a thorough mouth exam to detect any problems, such as slab fractures or loose teeth. <\/p>\n Ask your vet to contact you before going ahead with any other treatment they think is necessary .. such as extracting teeth.<\/em> <\/p>\n Any time your dog goes under anesthesia, there\u2019s a risk of complications. This is especially true for senior dogs, small dogs or dogs with health issues that may make anesthesia more risky. So do make sure your vet does the appropriate pre-anesthesia testing as mentioned above. <\/p>\n The safest approach is to make sure you keep your dog\u2019s mouth healthy in the first place. Otherwise, a full dental cleaning under anesthesia is risk you may want to avoid unless your dog needs an extraction or other more complicated dental treatment. <\/p>\n So \u2026remember to regularly brush your dog\u2019s teeth, check his teeth and gums, and feed a fresh, whole food, raw diet to prevent oral issues so that you can avoid risky and expensive teeth cleaning.<\/p>\n 1. Reddy, R.S. et al. Bacteria in oral health-probiotics and prebiotics a review. International Journal of Biological & Medical Research<\/em>. 2011; 2(4): 1226-1233.<\/p>\n 2. Gharbi, A. et al. Biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers in Tunisian patients with periodontal disease.BMC Oral Health<\/em>. 2019; 19(225).<\/p>\n 3. McFadden T, Marretta SM. Consequences of Untreated Periodontal Disease in Dogs and Cats. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry. 2013;30(4):266-275. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n ,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Teeth cleaning is important to your dog\u2019s overall health, just like yours. 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Anesthesia-Free Dentistry For Dogs<\/h3>\n
Dog Teeth Cleaning Under Anesthesia<\/h3>\n
Are Dog Dental Cleanings Safe?<\/h3>\n
References<\/span><\/summary>\n