February
Pet Dental Health Month!
Schedule now for your February dental.
What actually causes the bad breath when tooth/gum disease is present?
Bad breath, medically known as "halitosis", results from the bacterial infection of the gums (gingiva) and supporting tissues seen with periodontal disease (periodontal = occurring around a tooth).for National Pet Dental Health Month
What is the difference between plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a colony of bacteria, mixed with saliva, blood cell, and other bacterial components. Plaque often leads to tooth and gum disease. Dental tartar, or calculus, occurs when plaque becomes mineralized (hard) and firmly adheres to the tooth enamel and then erodes the gingival tissue.
Just like your teeth, periodontal disease starts with a film or slime over the teeth, followed by the gradual build-up of bacterial laden yellow, brown, and black tartars. Left untreated, this condition causes redness and swelling in the gums, increasingly foul mouth odors, and eventually this infection can negatively affect the vital organs like liver, lungs, kidneys, and even your pet's heart. Ultimately, the life of your pet can be shortened, all because of persistent yet preventable dental problems.
Don't wait until your pet stops eating or the smell from your pet's mouth is unbearable before you have a veterinary exam. Minimally, oral health exams should be done once a year but as with your own teeth, six months is optimal. Pets with a predisposition to accumulate tartar, especially small breed dogs, should be checked more often; say every 4-6 months.
It is extremely important to have your pets teeth cleaned regularly to remove the hazardous accumulations before they have a chance to build up and create damage and disease.