Good pet health starts with a proper toothbrush

Periodontitis is one of those medical words that can sound intimidating. In plain, everyday language it’s simply called advanced gum disease.

Gum disease

Gum disease is caused by plaque. This is a slimy ‘biofilm’ that readily sticks to teeth. Here it can irritate and damage the gums and other tissues around the teeth and their roots.

Once the disease takes hold, it’s progressive and will lead to pain and ultimately tooth loss. As well as causing a local problem, periodontitis has been linked to a large number of serious health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.

A pet’s individual genetics will massively influence the development and severity of gum disease. In some animals, a little plaque can do a huge amount of damage. Other animals can have plaque but live their lives without experiencing any adverse impact on their health.

As a vet who specializes in dental disease and oral surgery, I have spent countless hours treating animals for gum disease. The good news is that there are many ways to minimize the adverse effects of periodontitis.

It’s all about genes

When looking after a pet’s teeth, there’s not much we can do about genetics. Greyhounds and small breed dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers are notorious for having a higher incidence of periodontitis. When it comes to cats, oriental breeds suffer a similar reputation.

Face shape and crowding of teeth is also a factor and with the rise in popularity of dogs like French Bulldogs and cats like Persians, we see more gum disease. Teeth are happiest when they have plenty of space and are surrounded by healthy gum. But short muzzles compromise on space.

Nothing beats a toothbrush

Just as is the case with humans, reducing plaque and improving oral hygiene will lead to healthier gums.

There are many products available that all claim to help do just that. There are mouth rinses and water additives. There are chews and specialist foods. And you may even hear some recommending dried animal parts and – more recently – deer antlers.

However, it is worth noting that nothing beats the toothbrush! The mechanical removal of plaque is the gold standard of oral hygiene, and the bristles of a brush get into all the nooks and crannies.

Meat-flavored paste can be used on the brush to make brushing teeth a ‘tasty’ pastime for dogs. Interestingly such pastes also claim to help in all sorts of ways but perhaps the most important thing is that they help to put your dog at ease. When it comes to cats, brushing teeth can be more challenging.

Active versus passive care

If brushing is ‘active home care,’ then chews, rinses and water additives are considered ‘passive home care’, and whilst not as effective, they can be much easier in daily use. However, very hard chews – such as deer antlers – are too hard and will fracture teeth.

Important to know is that many companies create chews or other dental health products with claims of many beneficial effects. Only thing is that they cannot substantiate these claims.

So, at the end of the day, pet owners are recommended to choose products that have the data to prove effectiveness and are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).