Understanding Your Pets Orals Health and Dental Care

Dental Disease - What is it?

​Causes of Dental Disease 

• Periodontal diseases (infection between teeth and gums)
  
• Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
  
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Gingival hyperplasia (gum growth covering part or all of the tooth)
• Oral tumors
• Tongue lesions
  
• Periodontal diseases (infection between teeth and gums)

• Daily plaque accumulation
• Tartar (calculus) forms from plaque
• Rough tartar accumulates more plaque
• Bacteria growth between the teeth or from infected gums
• Inherited
• Failure of deciduous (baby) teeth to fall, allowing adult tooth eruption

Most common complaints

How to avoid Dental Disease

• Bad breath
• Poor appetite
• Dropping food when eating

• Twice daily attention to plaque control
• Regular dental examinations and cleanings (At least once a year for large breeds, and twice a year for small breeds)
• Professional cleaning of plaque/calculus that has accumulated on the cheek teeth