Simple Steps to Healthy Teeth

Some clients are just unforgettable. I met with a client who had recently been to a nearby practice for her pet’s annual vaccinations. She was appalled when told that her dog had severe dental disease, so she came to me for a second opinion. She just couldn’t understand how his teeth had gotten to be in such horrible condition. She fed her dog the best food, and his last dental cleaning was only 3 years ago. No, she never brushed his teeth at home. She’d owned dogs for years and had never done it before. Besides, wolves don’t brush their teeth. Not to mention that this dog was way too old for anesthesia, she thought.

I knew she was going to be a challenge . . . and I love a challenge.

THE INSIDIOUS NATURE OF DENTAL DISEASE

First, I hit her with facts: By 3 years of age, 85% of all pets have some degree of dental disease. Small-breed dogs and pets with “flat faces,” such as pugs and Persian cats, are more prone to dental problems than other breeds because of their dental alignment. However, any age and any breed of pet can be affected.

I then informed her that dental disease was more than just a cosmetic issue. An unhealthy mouth allows bacteria to access the body’s blood supply. This shower of bacteria can cause irreversible damage to the liver, kidneys, joints, and heart. The damage would not be immediate but insidious in nature, perhaps not manifesting until years later.

DENTAL CARE STARTS AT HOME . . .

Dental care is best started at home with a puppy or kitten. Brushing your pet’s teeth can be a positive experience, but it will take patience, perseverance, and a good attitude (yours and your pet’s). Special dog and cat toothpastes and brushes are available. It is not advisable to use human toothpastes because of the higher concentration of ingredients that could potentially irritate the pet’s gastrointestinal tract if swallowed. Veterinarians and staff members will gladly demonstrate the proper way to accustom a pet to having his mouth and teeth worked with

. . . . AND CONTINUES WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN

All pets need to have their teeth professionally cleaned periodically. How often will be a matter of diet, genetics, and luck. I agreed with my client that in the past, pets did not have their teeth routinely cleaned. In those days, pets did not live as long either. Pets live longer today because of advances in pet healthcare, including improvements in dental care. It is now possible for a pet to receive a dental cleaning comparable to what any person would experience. Dental x-rays, root canals, braces, and even dental implants for lost teeth are available for dogs and cats. Dental cleanings can be performed by your neighborhood veterinarian; if special procedures are required, your pet may be referred to a veterinary dental specialist in your community.

My client was willing to concede that she had been previously told by veterinarians that routine dental care was an essential part of preventive healthcare for her pets, but she still felt that the risk of anesthesia was too great for her senior dog. She asked if I could show her how to scale her pet’s teeth at home. Although dental scaling instruments can be found in pet supply catalogs, I do not recommend that owners attempt to do this. Scaling instruments are hard and sharp and—when used improperly or by someone inexperienced— can damage sensitive gum tissue. Teeth also need to be polished after scaling. The scaling process leaves microscopic grooves in the teeth that allow tartar to re-form at an accelerated rate. Veterinary staff members are trained and experienced in using these devices.

ADDRESSING ANESTHESIA

At this point in our repartee, my client mentioned she had a neighbor who took her dog to a groomer who offered nonanesthetic dental cleaning. What did I think of that alternative? I asked her if she had her teeth cleaned while at her hairdresser. She began to laugh and said that was the silliest thing she had ever heard of. I agreed. Dental cleaning should only be performed by a licensed veterinarian or a trained technician.

To ensure a thorough and effective dental cleaning, a pet should be under anesthesia. Plenty of safeguards are in place, making modern anesthesia extremely safe. Before a pet undergoes an anesthetic procedure, a veterinarian will want to perform a complete physical examination. Depending on the age and general condition of the pet, a preanesthetic blood panel, chest x-ray, and electrocardiogram (ECG) may be recommended. Many of the same monitoring devices that are available in human medicine are also used for cats and dogs. While a pet is under anesthesia, your veterinary team may administer intravenous fluids, monitor your pet’s heart rate, and record the amount of oxygen in the blood, blood pressure, and electrical activity of the heart.

A GNAWING CONCERN

Regarding the subject of wild canine (and feline) relatives, I reminded her that they don’t dine on processed foods. They often consume the entire prey and gnaw on raw bones. I told her that I don’t recommend bones for my patients. Bones can splinter and act like shards of glass in pets’ intestinal tracts. (In fact, one of the reasons these wild relatives don’t live as long as domesticated dogs and cats is because they don’t receive the veterinary care that our pets do.)

Pets love to explore their environment by chewing on things. They will gnaw on wood, rock, chain-link fences, and even themselves. These masticatory movements can result in broken or loosened teeth. Foreign material embedded under the gum line can weaken the attachment of the tooth to the jaw and also act as a source of foul breath. When offering a pet a treat, toy, or dental chew, be sure it is dental safe. Look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance. Products that sport this seal have been shown to be safe and effective. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian.

A CURE-IOUS ISSUE

My client thought there had to be a shot that could cure dental disease. I told her I was pleased to be able to inform her that a “shot” was available; however, it was not a cure but rather an adjunct in the battle.

The newest tool veterinarians have to combat pervasive canine dental disease is a vaccine. This vaccine is the first of its kind. It immunizes the body against the bacterium Porphyromonas. Studies have shown that this bacterium is one of the factors responsible for periodontitis, the loss of the boney attachment of the tooth to the jaw.

I informed her that there are also other products that can help improve pet oral hygiene, including a preventive gel that is applied to the teeth to help keep bacteria from adhering to the tooth enamel.

My client was excited and wanted to start the series of vaccinations and have the gel applied. However, I had to dampen her enthusiasm by letting her know that the vaccine and gel, along with dental diets and treats, are not completely effective on their own; they should all be used in conjunction with a dental care routine.

FACING THE EVIDENCE

Despite my facts and figures, she was still in denial. How could her pet’s teeth be that bad? The pet was still eating, and his breath wasn’t “that horrible.” I lifted up the dog’s lips and showed her all of his teeth, not just the ones in front. This dog had all the hallmarks of advanced dental disease. Granted, the small teeth in front were only a pale shade of brown, but others were a crusty yellow-brown. None was the pearly white color of a healthy tooth. There were areas of severe gum loss with root exposure. Many of the teeth moved when I gently pushed them with my finger. The clincher was the yelp of pain her dog made when I applied pressure to an area of red and swollen gums. My client was now convinced. We scheduled her dog for a dental cleaning the following day.

THE OUTCOME

At the 1-week follow-up visit, I was presented with a bouquet of flowers from a very happy pet owner. The dog seemed like a puppy again. Her husband had even stopped calling the dog “buzzard breath.” My client promised to brush her dog’s teeth daily, bring him in twice a year for a complete wellness consultation, and get his teeth professionally cleaned when needed.

Wondering if your pet could benefit from some dental care? Just ask your veterinarian.

JUST HOW MANY TEETH DO THEY HAVE?

Cats and dogs go through a normal change in dentition.Their baby (deciduous) teeth erupt at 2 to 5 weeks of age. Puppies have 28 teeth, and kittens will nibble on your fingers and toes with their 26 sharp baby teeth. Many new pet parents want to save the cast-off baby teeth for the tooth fairy, but most are lost or swallowed harmlessly. At approximately 6 months of age, a pet will have a full complement of 42 teeth if it’s a dog and 30 teeth if it’s a cat.

BRUSH UP ON BIOFILM

Through innovations in manufactured pet diets and treats, many products are available that help remove the “biofilm” that normally forms on a pet’s teeth. Biofilm is composed of saliva, food debris, and bacteria. If this film is allowed to settle on the teeth, it becomes mineralized and turns into tartar.The most effective way to remove the biofilm is through daily brushing.