During the lockdown, many of us let certain daily routines lax. “Why bother shaving this week?”. “My conference call has no video… guess I’m staying in my jammies.”. “Who am I brushing my teeth for today?”. While the first two aren’t so bad, that last will eventually lead to some rank breath and teeth that feel like they’re wearing sweaters. Both issues are from bacterial growth, a very normal process in the mouth that also serves other functions in the body as we learn more about our body’s bacterial co-pilots. For most animals, lifespans in the wild are short and the continuation of this bacterial growth rarely causes issues before their lives end from other causes. For both humans and domestic animals, longer lifespans now mean that these bacteria will reproduces and generations will die to form mineralized plaque on the teeth. That plaque will grow layer after layer like coral until it becomes tartar: cement-hard crusts that shove back the gums, expose the roots, and rot the teeth. Humans keep this in-check with brushing many times a day along with professional cleanings. Our pets aren’t doing this so the teeth become a real mess when left totally unchecked. The “cleanings” that people think their pets may eventually need at the vet end up becoming major and expensive oral surgeries, usually resulting in many teeth lost.
So how can you prevent this in pets? The most effective is to do what we do: brush your pets’ teeth every day. Most of time, when I suggest this to an owner, they look at me like I just suggested a swim from Boston to London would be great exercise. And, they are right. The nicest dog or cat can turn into a land shark when you start shoving a toothbrush into their mouths. But, it is do-able. With time and patience, many of my owners have learned to do this. The first step is using veterinary toothpaste that is enzymatic and meaty-flavored. Animals hate mint. Next is choosing the brush. Many are available of various sizes and shapes, including finger brushes. In a pinch, you can just get a children’s brush and trim the bristles a little shorter. Another suggestion is using a sonic toothbrush. I know they are expensive, but pets seem more amenable to them versus the back-n-forth motion of a standard toothbrush.
For those that think daily brushing is a no-go for their pet, the best option is dental treats. There are many over-the-counter options that have been shown not to work, so definitely check with your vet. These treats are meant to be abrasive and manually remove the plaque before it becomes tartar. So, they would need to be started early or right after a professional cleaning. They come in two forms. The first are “diets” that most vets recommend be used as treats. There are sizes for cats, small dogs, and large dogs. The proven brands have shown to be as effective as brushing. The second form is large, hard chews.
The last option is medicated chews. These are once daily treats that the dogs chew more slowly than a treat and it releases a compound called delmopinol. This will coat the teeth and basically creates a surface that is slippery to bacteria. The effects last about a day and it prevents bacteria from sticking to and colonizing the teeth. Some can cause odd coloration of the stool which scares owners, but its completely benign, especially when compared to not using them. There are many options of these chews so find out which from your vet recommends.