Joseph Roetheli, PhD
Highlights:
Your dog’s teeth can give you clues about their overall health. Ignoring symptoms of unhealthy teeth can lead to more significant health problems in your pet.
Being proactive with your dog’s dental care involves watching for symptoms their teeth are in trouble and taking steps to improve their oral health.
Using safe, effective, and nutritious dental chews like Yummy Combs can help you keep your dog’s teeth clean and even remove hardened tartar buildup.
Your dog’s teeth probably don’t get much of your attention. Their bellies, the spots behind their ears, and the tops of their heads are places we love to scratch, but when it comes to their teeth, most of us don’t give them any attention. After all, dog breath isn’t exactly pleasant.
Your dog’s dental care is really important, just like your own. Left unattended, your dog can develop serious dental issues that could leave them in pain and even result in tooth decay and loss. Most importantly, unhealthy teeth and gums can lead to periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease can lead to systemic illness and even organ failure, so maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene is extremely important. We’ll explain how it relates to your dog’s overall health and give you signs and symptoms your dog’s teeth might be in trouble.
We’ll also give you some solutions to help reduce your dog’s risk of developing dental issues.
If you’ve ever had a cavity you didn’t get filled right away, you know the situation only gets worse. Eventually, you may end up with an abscess on your gum line and find yourself in an unbearable amount of pain.
By the time you see a dentist, you may need a root canal and a crown. If the tooth is decayed enough, you may need to have the tooth pulled and replaced with a dental implant. If you never get your teeth repaired, you will eventually lose the tooth, and any infection from it may spread to your bloodstream and lead to other illnesses (even heart disease).
Your dog’s teeth, like your own, will suffer if their teeth aren’t properly maintained. Left untreated, your dog’s unhealthy teeth can lead to tooth loss and gum disease. Gum disease has been directly linked to poor heart, kidney, and liver health in dogs. Not to mention, your dog will experience a lot of pain and suffering when their mouths are not healthy.
But don’t panic. Thankfully, there are warning signs that your dog’s teeth are in danger before they develop gum disease. Watching for these signs can mean the difference in being able to prevent a dental problem from growing or not.
Your dog’s mouth does more than bark and eat kibble. Your dog’s mouth is an indicator of their overall wellness.
Here are six signs that your dog’s teeth could be in trouble:
Contrary to popular belief, your dog’s breath shouldn’t smell bad. Bad breath may happen from time to time due to something your dog eats or from playing and panting, but in general, your dog’s breath should remain neutral.
If your dog’s breath continually smells bad, it usually indicates a problem with oral hygiene. Plaque (a sticky film that clings to teeth after meals) builds up on your dog’s teeth and collects bacteria, which can lead to bad breath.
While humans brush this plaque off of their teeth, dogs can’t. Eventually, plaque buildup will lead to tartar at the gumline. Tartar is hardened plaque that can lead to gum disease.
Most dogs know when mealtimes happen and will let you know with a bark or a tap on their dish if you fail to get their food in their bowl right on time. However, dogs experiencing dental pain may begin to eat less, whine while they are eating, or refuse to eat at all.
Changes in eating may indicate more than just dental issues, so it’s important to call your vet to rule out any other issues.
Dogs have a need to chew; most of them have favorite toys or chews that they regularly play with. When a dog becomes uninterested in a chew toy, it could be because of mouth or tooth pain.
Many dogs drool, but if your dog begins to drool excessively or if your dog never drools and begins to drool, there may be a dental issue. Drooling may indicate that your dog has teeth that have come loose from the gum line or that they have the early stages of gum disease and need a professional cleaning and dental exam.
If an abscess is present, your dog may have swelling around the mouth or inside the mouth. It may be difficult to see swelling in the mouth, but swelling around the jaws will be more visible. If your dog is a particularly fluffy breed, it can be difficult to notice swelling at all.
Just like humans, dogs only get two sets of teeth. Most puppies will have all their adult teeth by six to seven months of age. Permanent teeth should never become loose or broken. If you notice your dog’s teeth are missing, broken, or loose, contact their veterinarian immediately to schedule a dental exam.
These symptoms of unhealthy teeth are signs it’s time to clean up your dog’s oral hygiene and become more proactive about their oral health. There are a few ways to get your dog’s teeth in good shape, and a few of them can be done at home.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean works a lot like keeping your own teeth clean. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth, you also see your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and to screen for cavities, bone loss, and other dental issues. Your dog needs the same type of care strategy.
Most dogs need to see their veterinarian for a professional cleaning at least once per year. Small dogs and breeds that are prone to dental disease may need more frequent cleanings. If your dog has gum disease, they’ll need to be seen more frequently to ensure their gums are getting the best care possible and the gum disease isn’t progressing.
Your pet’s veterinarian can also take x-rays to monitor the health of their jawbone and the roots of their teeth.
Yes, your dog’s teeth need brushing. No, they can’t do it themselves. You are your dog’s biggest advocate, and although brushing their teeth may seem difficult, you can do it.
Start by introducing brushing slowly. Begin by touching your dog’s teeth, allowing them to sniff the toothbrush and taste the toothpaste. As your dog acclimates to more mouth-focused attention, begin to brush the front top and bottom teeth. Over time, you should be able to brush your dog’s back teeth.
Healthy dental chews are a great way to help keep your dog’s teeth clean while fulfilling their need to chew. However, not all dental chews are created equally. Only Yummy Combs is research-backed to prove that it targets the most problematic part of your dog’s dental health: tartar.
Yummy Combs was developed to address problems with caring for dogs’ teeth. Every aspect of their design is intentional and created to ensure your dog’s overall safety and health.
In addition to brushing your dog’s teeth and getting them regular checkups, using Yummy Combs treats is one of the easiest and smartest ways to help keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is essential to preventing them from experiencing unnecessary pain and ensuring they don’t develop illnesses that can happen as a result of dental disease.
So, get brushing, and when your dog has been a good boy or girl, toss them a Yummy Comb to reward them and help keep their teeth in great shape.
Sources:
Everything You Need to Know About Periodontal Disease in Dogs
Relation between periodontal disease and systemic diseases in dogs | ScienceDirect
Why Does My Dog’s Breath Stink? Possible Reasons for Bad Breath | AKC
Changes in the Dentition of Small Dogs up to 4 Months of Age | PMC
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Always feed the right treat size for your dog’s weight category. Always supervise your dog when feeding treats. This product is an adult only dog treat. Always provide ample fresh water for your dog.
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