If you own a pet, you’ve probably heard by now that you should
brush your pet's teeth. Whether or not you’re actually doing it -- well, that’s another story. Even pet parents with the best intentions slack on this important duty. Maybe you simply forget, or maybe you think you can get away with brushing just once a week -- or eek -- once a month. The truth is that you should brush your pet’s teeth daily. And if you understand the reasons why, chances are you’ll stick to that schedule.So why should you brush your pet’s teeth?
1. To Prevent Periodontal Disease
, or gum disease, is a very common and very serious problem in pets. Periodontal disease not only causes pain, abscesses, tooth loss, and infection, it can also impact the brain, heart, liver, kidney, lungs, skin, and joints. It’s an irreversible condition, so prevention is key.
RELATED STORY: 19 Products That Clean Dog and Cat Teeth
2. To Prevent Bad Breath
Some people think that bad breath
-- also known as halitosis -- is normal in pets, but it’s not. If your pet has bad breath, something more serious is probably going on. While bad breath can result from a wide range of diseases, it is most commonly caused by a periodontal condition. Plaque mixes with saliva and bacteria to create one foul furry mouth.
Brushing your pet’s teeth prevents the buildup of plaque, and thus bad breath. However, if brushing doesn’t seem to be keeping your pet’s bad breath at bay, contact your veterinarian
.
3. To Prevent Pain
Periodontal problems can be incredibly painful for a pet, whether we’re talking about gum disease,
gingivitis, abscesses, or broken teeth. And most pets don’t show it when they’re feeling dental pain; they just go on living with it. Pretty sad, right? To prevent your pal from feeling discomfort, keep up with regular brushing.
4. To Check For Problems
Brushing your pet’s teeth is a great opportunity to check for problems such as fractured or broken teeth, retained baby teeth, abnormally positioned teeth, and abnormal bite. These issues can all cause problems for a pet, so you should contact your veterinarian if you ever notice anything unusual while examining their mouth.RELATED STORY: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Dog’s Dental Health
5. To Keep Their Teeth Looking Their Best
Most pets will exhibit some mild tooth discoloration as they age, but it’s possible to avoid heavily stained yellow, brown, or green (yes, green!) teeth with regularly brushings. Heavy staining is caused by bacteria found in plaque, and brushing helps to remove it.
Do you brush your pet’s teeth? Leave a comment and tell us your technique. And to keep your pet healthy, sign up for PetPlus. PetPlus is a benefit program for pet owners that provides member-only access to medications at wholesale prices, plus discounts on food, supplies, vet visits, boarding, and more.
19 Products That Clean Cat and Dog Teeth
A healthy mouth is a beautiful thing. Strong, pain-free cat and dog teeth, good breath, and the ability to comfortably eat are all functions of a healthy mouth and teeth. Our furry friends also use their mouths to pick things up and move them, to clean themselves, and to show affection. Good dental health is important.
It may come as a surprise that dental care is often undervalued in comparison with other health concerns for pets. Make sure your vet is doing a thorough check of the teeth and mouth. To ensure that your cat or dog’s dental health is up to par, take a gander at some of these top dental care products.
Pet Toothpaste
It isn’t just for people. Toothpaste helps break down the sugars that can damage teeth and gums in your pet. These pet toothpastes are specially formulated to taste good enough that your pet will be excited to get their teeth brushed.
- Fights both current and future plaque build-up
- Strengthens enamel and whitens teeth
- Helps freshen breath
- Tasty poultry flavor
- The enzymatic formula helps separate plaque from the tooth enamel
- Freshens breath
- Great vanilla flavor
- All natural sugar free toothpaste is sweetened with stevia, an herb, and uses just a touch of tea tree oil to promote healthy gums
Check out other toothpastes
Toothbrushes and Dental Picks
A good toothbrush is easy to use, reaches all the places it has to, and stands up to some wear and tear. In fact, in the case of most cats and dogs, it has to stand up to a lot of biting, clawing, and gnawing. These tools are tough enough for the job.
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Dogs
- Each kit includes a finger brush, dual ended toothbrush with two brushing heads, and a 2.5-ounce tube of flavored enzymatic toothpaste
- Helps to neutralize mouth odors with natural antibacterial action
Quadbrush Toothbrush with Holder
- The ultimate pet toothbrush for your dog
- Special ergonomic design wraps around teeth for maximum reach and the cleanest clean
- Safe, complete, and thorough cleaning for pets
Find more toothbrushes and dental picks
Dental Medications
When an infection occurs in the mouth it can be painful enough to disrupt eating. Don’t disrupt your pet’s flow of nutrition; get them the medicine that will start the healing process. Here are a few common oral infection medicines.
- Treats a variety of bacterial infections including canine periodontal disease and abcesses in the mouth
- A penicillin based anti-bacterial
- Works for both cats and dogs
- A highly effective antibiotic used to treat dental infections such as an infected mouth cavity
- Easy to administer capsules
- Results can be seen in as little as fifteen minutes after the administered dosage
- An antimicrobial antibiotic used for the effective treatment of oral infections like periodontal disease
- May also be used with other types of antibiotics such as penicillin, some cephalosporins, and amino-glycosides
See all of our dental medications
Dental Chews
Dental chews are the easy, tasty way to get a little more dental health into your dog or cat’s day. These delicious treats clean teeth and freshen breath as they get chewed up.
- The chews' unique texture and enzymatic formula help clean dog’s teeth and gums
- The enzymatic solution is activated by your dog’s saliva
- Real beef hide taste
- Cleans teeth with natural baking soda
- Made with real chicken bits
- Sized for all dogs
- Specially designed shape includes dental tips that remove tartar and plaque and massage gums
- Good for any dog who loves to chew, from hard chewers to teething pups
C.E.T Hextra Premium Chews for Dogs
- Chews are coated with exclusive patented 10% solution of chlorhexidine gluconate, a well-known antiseptic that continues working for up to 24 hours
- Made with real beef hide for flavor and natural abrasive cleansing action
C.E.T Hextra Premium Chews for Cats
- Tasty fish flavor and sized properly for a cat’s mouth
- Coated with chlorhexidine gluconate, a well-known antiseptic that continues working for up to 24 hours
- Freshens breath and improves oral hygiene
Check out more Dental Chews
Healthy Teeth Toys
Not all toys are created equal. These toys are really exercise objects for active cats and dogs to keep their jaws strong and their teeth actively chomping away.
- Constructed of rubber that is firm enough for the patented Denta-Ridges to clean teeth and soothe gums
- Features a replaceable braided rope allowing more feisty pet parents to join in all fashions of tug games
- Made in America to last a long time
Nylabone Pro Action Dental Dog Toy
- Multi-texture design provides dental stimulation and chewing satisfaction
- Satisfies natural urge to chew, while reducing tartar and massaging gums
- Strong and all-natural bone will not break and splinter
- A convenient size for smaller chewers
- Has the natural taste and feel of a real bone
- Infused with vanilla to promote chewing
- Gentle spikes for deep teeth cleaning
- Durable rubber construction
View all of our Healthy Teeth Toys
Dental Sprays and Drinking Additives
Sometimes it is hard getting inside your pet’s mouth. These sprays and liquids have many of the same cleaning powers of a good toothpaste without requiring all of the elbow grease of brushing.
- This dental spray makes it easy to keep your dog’s mouth clean
- Contains no alcohol and requires no rinsing as it fights bacteria
- Chlorhexidine formula works to diminish plaque and tartar accumulations, and can either be applied right to your dog’s mouth, or to dental toys directly before they are used
C.E.T. Aquadent Drinking Water Additive
- Formulated by veterinary dental specialists to help freshen your pet's breath and maintain oral hygiene
- Mix with your dog’s water and you are done -- their teeth are cleaned as they drink
- Freshens breath and fights plaque with glycerine and xylitol
- For irrigation of the oral cavity before, during, and immediately after any dental procedure
- Apply liberally to all oral surfaces
See more Dental Sprays
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