How Dental Care Keeps Your Pet Healthy and Happy

If you didn’t clean your teeth, how would you feel? You probably wouldn’t be able to tolerate always having a lot of plaque and a bad taste in your mouth. It wouldn’t be suitable for your budget to pay a hefty dentist bill to regain oral health.

Consider what can happen to your dog’s mouth if they don’t get the proper dental care. The apparent outcome is canine dental disease. Dental issues are common in dogs; almost 80% develop periodontal disease before age three.

Please continue reading to learn why it’s so important to prioritize canine dental care.

What Is Dental Disease?

Dental illness affects a dog’s teeth, gums, and the tissues surrounding and supporting them. Plaque accumulation on the teeth is the first stage, and tartar forms when plaque on the teeth continues to harden.

When tartar is above the gum line, it is easily removed by a veterinarian during routine dental cleaning. However, when tartar penetrates below the gumline, it can cause infection, aggravate inflammation, and harm the tooth-supporting components. When the dental disease reaches this level, dogs may have painful and significant dental issues.

Why Is Dental Care Vital for Dogs?

You want your dog’s healthy mouth as a responsible pet owner. Here are the top reasons why your dog’s general health depends on receiving proper dental care:

Prevent Tooth Loss

A dog’s teeth might become loose or even fall out when the supporting tissues become damaged or contaminated. These tooth-supporting mechanisms will remain healthy and hold the teeth in place if your dog receives proper pet dental care.

Avoid Gum Disease

Tartar buildup can result in gum infection and irritation in your dog’s teeth. The gums and teeth could start to separate, making them more vulnerable. As a result, your dog may develop gingivitis and lose their teeth. Gingivitis is the term for gum disease’s early stages. It may eventually progress to a more severe form of periodontal disease.

Avert Organ Damage

Bacteria in the plaque have the potential to travel through the circulation to the heart, kidneys, and liver. Bacteremia is a bacterial infection that can spread and cause organ damage and severe illness in dogs. Bacteremia and subsequent organ damage can be avoided with good dental hygiene.

How Do Wellness Exams Address Dental Issues?

A wellness exam is necessary to help detect any aging-related changes, such as arthritis and dental problems (every six months to once a year). Your veterinarian can discuss significant life stage changes at those pet wellness examinations, such as helpful nutrition advice, ways to maintain an acceptable level of activity for your pet, and instructions on appropriate dental care. Click here to learn more.

Do Pet Insurance Plans Include Dental Coverage?

Throughout their lives, your pet’s teeth require attention and protection. Treatment for your pet’s oral diseases or injuries is frequently expensive, much like human dental care. Finding a vet wellness plan that covers dental ailments is an innovative, proactive move because treating dental sickness (and the associated vet fees) is expensive.

Not every type of pet insurance is the same. Given the seriousness of severe periodontal disease, maintaining your pet’s teeth is crucial for their general health and well-being. However, there are substantial differences in the benefits, limitations, and qualifying requirements for dental illness coverage. Given the high cost, covering dental illness diagnosis and treatments is crucial to your pet’s total insurance coverage.

Final Thoughts

You can do a few things at home to help maintain your pet’s teeth and gums healthy and take them in for routine dental cleanings to remove accumulated plaque. Brushing your pet’s teeth is one of the most effective ways to maintain their dental health.

Purchase pet-specific toothpaste and gently clean your pet’s teeth with a finger brush or a standard toothbrush. Brush the front teeth first, then let your pet lick some toothpaste off the brush. You may begin cleaning every tooth when your pet is more at ease. To encourage them, reward them after brushing.