Dental Health
The importance of preventative care During each check up your dentist thoroughly cleans your teeth and removes plaque, which can build up causing serious oral problems. Plaque forms naturally and continuously on teeth and gums and is the cause of bad breath, which is an early symptom of poor oral health. If the plaque is left untreated, inflamed gums or "gingivitis" can result. In time, this disease can lead to periodontitis (which is disease of the tissues which support and attach the tooth) and tooth loss. That is why it is important to start a preventative dental care programme with your Veterinary Surgeon as soon as possible. Three simple steps Step one: Professional Examination - An effective programme of dental care begins with a visit to your Veterinary Surgeon who will assess your pet’s oral health and may recommend cleaning, polishing and other preventative measure. Step two: Home care - Plaque should be removed mechanically everyday and until recently daily brushing of your dog’s teeth was the most effective way to do this. It is best to start this as early on in your dog’s routine as possible. There are many specialised toothbrushes and Doggie toothpaste available to assist you in this routine (It is advised not to use human toothpaste as this can potentially detrimental to your dogs health). Fortunately, there are now special daily diets available which provide the same dental benefits as weekly brushing such as Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d*, which actually clean teeth and freshen breath on every bite. Please consult your Veterinary Surgeon for advice on all of these procedures. Step three: Regular check ups - Just as people need to see their dentist regularly, dogs also need regular check-ups. At each oral examination, your Veterinary Surgeon will look for any signs of plaque build up and gum disease.
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We all understand that to maintain healthy teeth and gums, a combination of daily brushing and regular visits to the dentist is essential. The same is true for our dogs. Research shows that more than 80% of dogs show some signs of gum disease by the age of five. So it is really important that your pet receives both professional dental care form your Veterinary Surgeon and care from you at home.
