Teeth Brushing

It is important to maintain your dog’s dental health. Plaque is an accumulation of bacteria and is a sticky substance that begins to accumulate on the teeth within hours after a meal or even after a professional tooth cleaning. Within a day, plaque combines with minerals that are present in the saliva to become tartar, also known as calculus. A list of dental products and diets that have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Counsel can be found at vohc.org. These accepted products have been shown to decrease the accumulation of plaque and/or tartar by at least 20%.

Why should I brush my dog’s teeth?
It is estimated that over 2/3 of dogs over the age of three have periodontal disease, an inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease starts as gingivitis caused by plaque and often progresses to involve the bony tooth sockets. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to painful tooth loss.