A dental prophy is only one step in caring for your pet's oral health. Proper home dental care is essential to maintaining clean and healthy teeth and gums. Plague can form on the teeth only six hours after they are cleaned, and tartar/calculus can form within three to five days following the prophy. So, you can see that it is important to keep up with an oral hygiene program at home that includes brushing your pet's teeth on a regular basis.
It is preferable to establish this regular oral care program as soon as a puppy's/kitten's permanent teeth are in. An anti-plaque paste (Chlorhexidine) can be applied to the gum tissue with a cotton ball or swab. A cotton ball, swab or brush should be used with plain water for a few days prior to using any dental product to help your pet become accustomed to having it's mouth touched. Then, if you like, you can switch to a soft bristle toothbrush or finger toothbrush that is specifically made for pets.
These can be used with non-foaming toothpaste such as C.E.T. ENZYMATIC PASTE to clean and remove plaque. Do not use human toothpaste or baking soda. Human toothpastes contain ingredients that may cause stomach upsets in pets and the high sodium level in baking soda can be a problem for many pets, especially those with pre existing heart conditions.
Pets do not usually find tooth brushing a pleasant experience at first and it will take some practice before you and your pet adapt to the procedure. Each day gradually increase the number of teeth brushed, but do not go beyond your pet’s point of comfort. Buildup to approximately 30 seconds of brushing per side per day. Most importantly, proceed slowly, using lots of praise and petting. Soon, both you and your pet will look forward to the time you spend together during this important procedure.
The proper way to brush your pet’s teeth is as follows: do not try to open the mouth, but slide the brush or cotton swab underneath the lips and cheek area while holding the muzzle closed. Avoid touching the nose because that irritates most pets. Rub or brush in a circular downward motion on the upper teeth and a circular upward motion on the lower teeth. With the paste or gel, try to coat all the gum tissue.
Chlorhexidine penetrates gum tissue and prevents bacterial growth, plaque build-up, gingivitis and bad breath. Fortunately, only a few areas are particularly susceptible to plaque and calculus formation: these are the canine teeth and upper back molars (side facing cheeks). If you are successful in cleaning these you will help control dental disease. In addition to these areas, look at the front incisor teeth and brush away any accumulation of hair and food at the gum line.
Diet is also a major factor in helping to curb the development of plaque and tartar buildup. Bones are NOT effective in preventing plaque formation and are definitely not recommended. Recent studies have shown that rawhide chews do help to maintain clean teeth. But, be careful of the type of rawhide you choose, some may splinter and can cause damage to your pet's gastro-intestinal tract. In addition, some pets have a sensitivity to the rawhides and can have stomach upsets after chewing the. For recommendations, check with a veterinarian.
Hard, crunchy foods and biscuits help to maintain clean teeth. Soft, sticky foods should be avoided if possible as they may contribute to periodontal disease. There are several new foods on the market that are specifically designed to help retard tartar/plaque formation on your pet's teeth. Check with your veterinarian about the best food to help keep your pet's teeth clean and healthy.
Your pet's teeth should be examined each year along with his/her regular annual physical evaluation. Together you and your veterinarian can develop the best home health care program for your pet's needs.
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