Brush Up on Pet Home Dental Care

When our pets are happy, they purr, rub, wriggle, wag, and bark, but they cannot manage to smile for us. Smile or no, if you are not paying attention to your pet’s teeth every day, you are neglecting one of the most critical contributors to her overall well-being—home dental care. Want to extend that lifetime of purrs and wags? It is as easy as daily brushing.

The best weapon in the fight against pet periodontal disease is actually a very simple tool: a toothbrush. Some pet owners giggle, groan, or roll their eyes when their veterinarian tells them they should be brushing their pet’s teeth. The idea of sticking a bristled brush into the mouth of a dog or cat does seem kind of comical—or like a huge hassle. And daily? Who has time?

“Imagine how much plaque would build up on your own teeth if you did not brush them for 3 or 4 years,” says Dr. John Lewis, a board-certified veterinary dentist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia. “If left untreated, dental disease can lead to tooth loss.” Eventually, the buildup of bacteria in the mouth can spread to internal organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver, causing serious health issues for your pet.

The easy solution to fending off dental disease is to brush your pet’s teeth on a regular basis. While there are a lot of tricks we can teach our pets, brushing their teeth is not one of them, so that task falls to owners. Take heart, however, because although it may sound like a daunting task, brushing your pet’s teeth is not as hard as you might think.

First Things First
As a member of your family, your pet deserves to receive the same attention to her teeth as you give to your kids’ teeth. Ideally, then, you want to begin dental care when your pet is a youngster. Dr. Linda DeBowes of Shoreline Veterinary Dental Clinic in Seattle, Washington, says, “Starting dental care with puppies and kittens is really important because that will make it much easier to work with them as adults.”

Starting with a clean slate is also important. If the plaque that builds up on your pet’s teeth is not removed within about 24 to 36 hours after eating, it hardens and becomes tartar. When that happens, your pet needs professional attention to remove it. Before you begin brushing, ask your veterinarian to examine the condition of your pet’s teeth and provide a professional cleaning if needed.

Although metal tooth scalers are available through pet product catalogs, most veterinary dentists advise against using them at home to scrape tartar off your pet’s teeth. “Using a scaler can traumatize the gums, and it creates grooves in the teeth that actually promote the buildup of plaque by providing more space for bacteria to grow in,” says Dr. DeBowes. “During a professional cleaning, a scraper is used, but it is followed by polishing the grooves out of the teeth.”

Just as people do, pets should have regular professional cleanings. However, brushing your pet’s teeth at home is your best bet for keeping periodontal disease at bay.

Let the Brushing Begin
Veterinarians recommend brushing your pet’s teeth once a day. All you need are a toothbrush and animal toothpaste. Dr. Lewis recommends a soft-bristled toothbrush with small-diameter nylon bristles. “The key is soft bristles,” he says. The toothbrush should also be sized appropriately to fit your pet’s mouth. Toothbrushes can be purchased at pet stores, but some of these can be large. For a pet with a smaller mouth, you might try a human pediatric toothbrush or a toothbrush developed specifically for cats, which also works well for small dogs.

It is important to use toothpaste made specifically for animals. “Human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed and can cause stomach upset,” says Dr. Lewis. Plus, you’ll find that toothpaste for pets comes in flavors that appeal to animals, such as beef and chicken.

“Work up to brushing teeth gradually, and follow up with some positive reinforcement,” suggests Dr. DeBowes. You may want to start by letting your pet lick the toothpaste off your finger and then graduate to sliding your finger with the toothpaste into your pet’s mouth. Next, substitute a toothbrush for your finger and repeat the same procedure. Each step can be performed on a different day.

“Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle so you can get under the gumline where the bacteria hide,” says Dr. Lewis. Dr. DeBowes notes, “The goal is to brush the outside of the teeth where most of the plaque builds up.”

Fortunately, this means that you do not have to worry about brushing the inside surface of your pet’s teeth.

If All Else Fails
For pets that dislike having their teeth brushed, there are some alternatives you can consider. Ask your veterinarian about these options:

• Veterinarians often recommend a protective waxy gel that owners can apply along the gum line once a week. The gel sticks to teeth and reduces plaque and tartar formation, both above and below the gum line.
• Dental wipes, when used twice a week, also help prevent plaque formation. As a bonus, they leave pets’ breath smelling fresh—like cinnamon and cloves.
• Certain dog treats are specially made to control gingivitis and freshen breath.
• A dental diet (one that is formulated to fight plaque and tartar buildup) may be appropriate, particularly for those pets that have periodontal disease.

Your veterinarian can tell you more about these products.

Brushing your pet’s teeth may seem like a challenge at first. However, after a few weeks of working with your pet, you will find that brushing her teeth becomes as routine as brushing your own. In the end, your pet’s health is worth it.