You brush your teeth everyday, and it is an important part of maintaining dental health and hygiene. Unfortunately, many people forget that their canine companions need dental care as well. Many people don’t even know that their dogs can be affected by poor dental hygiene, even though they smell their dogs bad breath and see that their tooth health is declining; but it is just as important to your dog’s overall health that they maintain healthy oral hygiene. Dental hygiene is as important, if not more to your dog’s overall health as nutrition, an exercise routine and regular grooming so make sure to pay attention to your dog’s oral hygiene.

Make sure to monitor your dog’s overall health, because catching teeth problems early will help avoid severe dental issues such as periodontal disease. The easiest way to keep track of your dog’s teeth is to look at them on a daily basis and be aware of any big signs that may indicate a dental problem. To inspect your dog’s teeth yourself, lift the lips all around the mouth, looking at the front and back teeth as closely as possible. Your veterinarian will also take a look at your dog’s teeth during routine examinations, so make sure you visit your vet every 6-12 months for wellness check-ups and ask about their dental health. Contact your vet if you have any concerns regarding your furry friends dental health and if any problems arise.

Here are a few things to look for when inspecting your dog’s mouth:

Halitosis (bad breath), Reluctance to chew or crying when chewing, Increased salivation, puffy gums, bleeding gums, tartar, missing or loose teeth and any other mouth abnormalities.

Not only can dental issues cause pain and a great deal of discomfort to your favorite pooch, but the bacteria not only cause disease in the mouth; they can also affect other parts of the body, like the heart and kidneys. The most important thing to do is address dental disease as soon as it is detected no matter how minor the issue may seem, but one of the key components in maintaining impeccable oral hygiene in dogs is to prevent disease before it even occurs!

There are several steps you can take to prevent dental trouble in your canine companion, so it is important to start a dental care routine as early as possible in your dog’s life.

One of the simplest steps to keeping your pup’s pearly whites shining is to brush their teeth. Start when your dog is a puppy so he or she gets used to the feeling of having his teeth brushed. Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth that typically fall out by about six months of age. By this time, your dog should be on a regular tooth brushing routine. But it is important to make sure that they use doggie toothpaste, as regular human toothpaste can be harmful to them.

There needs to be a dental routine in place, so if you aren’t able to brush their teeth at the most effective time of every 24 to 48 hours. Not all doggie dental products are equally effective, so ask your vet for recommendations.

The most important step to make sure your pet frequently visits your trusted veterinarian, and keep up with routine vet exams. In addition, it may be helpful to have a professional dental cleaning every now and then, but not too frequently as it requires general anesthesia.

Be sure to take care of your dog’s dental health at home. Contact us today for more tips, or to schedule an appointment!