Why Should You Learn How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth is important for a long list of reasons. It can help your dog’s teeth stay whiter and freshen your dog’s breath. But there are more serious benefits to learning how to brush your dog’s teeth. Eight out of ten dogs end up having dental disease after they turn 3 years old. Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and periodontal disease are common health challenges for many dogs, but are more commonly seen in smaller breeds. They can lead to serious infection, oral pain, bad breath, and tooth loss. The good news is that with the right care, you may be able to slow down or stop the development of dental disease. Why should pet parents care about this? Because when left untreated, dental disease can spread. This can cause infection in your pet’s mouth, blood, or even their vital organs.
Taking the initiative to brush your dog’s teeth can help prevent these kinds of infections from harming your furry friend. Not only this, but it can also have a positive impact on other areas of your dog’s health as well.
What Causes Poor Dental Health in Dogs?
In dogs, gum disease develops similarly to the way it does in humans. Trouble begins when food particles and bacteria cause plaque to form on a dog’s teeth. The plaque sticks to the surface of their teeth and this buildup will eventually harden and turn into tartar; both of which can irritate a dog’s gums and lead to gingivitis (red and inflamed gums).
What Makes Dental Disease so Dangerous?
Gingivitis and, when left untreated, can cause a great deal of harm to a dog. Over time this can progress to deeper infections below the gumline that lead to infection, loose teeth, pain, and eventually tooth loss.
In severe cases, dental disease can lead to other health problems like heart, kidney, liver disease, and even bone decay and fracture of the jaw bones and sinuses. Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth can help prevent some of these serious situations from happening, making it extremely important to their oral and overall health.
How to Tell if Your Dog Might Have Dental Problems:
If you are a pet parent who has not learned how to brush your dog’s teeth before now, then you should check for some of the telltale signs of dental disease in canines. If your dog is showing any of these signs, you should seek the attention of a veterinarian to have your pet examined for a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT).
