One of the least-recommended preventative practices, that also happens to be among the most important for health care, is brushing your dog's teeth.
Never before has the phrase "an ounce of prevention..." been more meaningful than for brushing your dog's teeth. Anyone who has ever cared for a dog will have noticed the pristine white character of their dog's new adult teeth. Unfortunately, to keep your dog's teeth healthy recommendations to "give your dog plenty of bones to chew" or "feed them dry food" are not enough and your dog is doomed to accumulate plaque and calculus on his or her teeth.
Why is it so important to prevent decay of your dog's teeth? The reasons are many. Plaque is a sticky coating that is made up of bacteria, acid, food and saliva. Plaque forms on the surface of the teeth and can harden to form a substance called calculus. Its presence can lead to enamel loss and cavities and commonly with dogs, it gets under the gum creating gingivitis (gum inflammation), breaking down the attachment between the gum and the tooth, which, as bacteria travels from the gum line to the root tip can lead to root infections. The result is oral cavity odor, loose teeth, painful teeth and the insidious and continuous seeding of your dog's bloodstream with bacteria that may travel and affect many different internal organs.
Since brushing cannot remove such plaque and calculus, the treatment involves general anesthesia for professional cleaning, polishing and, in many instances, tooth extraction. The process of plaque accumulation takes about two weeks to become visible after your dog's teeth are cleaned professionally; which takes you back to square one unless you take preventative measures. Dry food does cause plaque to accumulate slower, but does not prevent it. Real marrow bones also slow down the progression, but at the common risk of chipping and breaking teeth. Rawhides are less likely to break teeth, but there is a significant amount of chemical processing before they reach your dog's mouth.
And that brings us to brushing. Recommended once daily, your veterinarian can show you how to brush your dog's teeth. The outer surfaces are most important to care for, as your dog's tongue and saliva tend to rinse food particles from the inside surface of the teeth. The entire process, after you become proficient at brushing, will take 10-12 seconds. I like to use a toothpaste designed for dogs because as your dog tastes it, he or she will be opening their mouth, allowing access to the lower teeth on the jaw, whose surface is normally shielded by the upper teeth. In the beginning, don't force your dog to go through the entire process, rather do a small amount each day and work up to brushing the whole mouth.
For those of you with dogs who just won't allow you to brush, I find the best preventative chew products are called Flossies. These are dehydrated cow tendons which, when soft, become stringy and move between the teeth, much like dental floss. Be sure your dog chews them before swallowing, as they can lead to esophageal obstructions.
For more information: City Veterinary Care 220 West 72nd St. New York, NY 10023 (212) 799-7000 www.cityvetcare.com
