A dog’s teeth are as sensitive as ours and they need the same amount of protection and attention. But you cannot just take your furry buddy to the family’s dentist, but rather to the veterinarian.
Prevention
This is the first step to a perfect dental care in dogs, because it is easier to prevent than to treat. This prevention is made up of the annual physical exam, which includes an oral exam, as well. The vet will look at the face, observing if there are any abnormalities. He will test the way the dog bites, whether there is a face swelling or not and if there is any sign of excessive depositions of tartar on the teeth. A more detailed exam may be done under anesthesia, because it takes a lot of time and it may be hurtful for the dog if there is an infection.
Teeth cleaning
How do we clean a dog’s teeth? Definitely not with toothpaste. The vet is the one who does this too. There is the acronym COHAT for this, which means “comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment”. The teeth are polished, scaled, radiographies are taken and the vet also charts the observations. If you want to do this at home, it is recommended that you brush the dog’s teeth every day and take the dog to a groomer every once in a while.
Small zoology lesson
In order to observe if there is something wrong with your dog’s teeth, you have to know how many of them there are and how they are supposed to work. Canines: they are the front of the mouth and the dog uses them to grab a hold of something, but not for chewing. Incisors: 12 in total, they are single-rooted teeth at the front of the dental crown and they are used for chewing or grooming. Premolars: they are sharp, 16 in total, used for cutting large items. Molars: they are 10, flat, ideal for grinding up dry food.
What can you use to keep the teeth clean?
There are lots of additives that help your dog’s teeth stay clean and healthy and they can be put in the water he drinks. These can reduce the tartar formation. Next to the water additives, you may use bones and chews, which keep your pet’s teeth normal, especially the premolars. A bone is strong, so this is not recommended more than once a month. Also, there are a number of dental diets that will help. Those foods will brush the teeth while chewing them and they contain ingredients that prevent gingivitis and plaque.
In case of problems
If you notice there is something wrong with the teeth, like a brownish color or black roots, or perhaps your dog may be missing a tooth, the best way to solve this is to take him to the vet immediately, for an oral exam. Do not attempt to solve things on your own, because you may make them worse, as a dog’s teeth are very different from ours and ask for very different care.
