I should open this article by acknowledging that many of you are probably thinking “I’ve never had a pet with bad teeth…”. Congratulations! You’ve very lucky. That said, I would encourage you to read on. Statistically speaking, you will likely own a pet at some point in your lives that will need dental care. Be it genetics, diet, lifestyle, or as-yet unexplained phenomenon, a significant percentage of dogs and cats will require some kind of professional dental care in their lifetime.
The first reason does seem to be genetics. Breeds like greyhounds, Chihuahuas, and Maine coon cats absolutely develop terrible dental issues. And they are not alone. We are always extra vigilant with certain breeds to examine the teeth closely for early signs of issues. Honestly, we are not 100% certain why this happens, but most specialists theorize that there is a hereditarily decreased ability to fight off pathogenic bacteria within the mouth of these pets and they develop a buildup of bacteria along the gumline. Left untreated, this will lead to tartar, bone damage, and necessary extractions.
The second factor is diet. Just like with people, what we eat can lead to increased dental bacteria. With us, it’s usually sweets sticking sugar to our teeth that feed these bacteria. Pets are obviously not eating sweets, but soft and canned foods will absolutely stick to teeth more than dry food. While not high in sugars, there are still nutrients in this food that will promote bacterial growth. I am not saying you should never feed your pets soft food. All of my pets have loved the squishy awesomeness of canned food. But you will need to be more pro-active with providing preventive dental care like brushing or use of veterinary dental treats.
The third known factor is lifestyle. You may have read my article on treats that destroy pets’ teeth. Avoiding those treats is obviously clutch in keeping pets’ teeth healthy. But there are also things that are tough to avoid. Ball/Frisbee play, tug-o-war, carrying sticks on walks, string toys for cats, and similar oral fixations are things we can’t (and really shouldn’t…) discourage. They are life-enriching things that keep our pets engaged and strengthen our relationships with them. These do not have a huge negative impact on our critters. But excessive play or even moderate play with high-risk breeds can still damage the teeth and gums. Your vet should be looking for this on your pet’s normal exams and questioning you on their activity so that changes can be made to decrease the impact.