Canine Dental Care

Canine dental care is important in preventing dental problems such as plaque and gingivitis, and should include a healthy diet, daily brushing and regular check-up. This page looks at some common canine dental problems, signs that a dog may be suffering from a dental problem, and how to use natural supplements and remedies to prevent and treat gum diseases in dogs.

As dog parents, we should provide our dogs a good canine dental care program to ensure they have strong and healthy teeth, since poor dental health can lead to a lot of health problems not only limited to the mouth but also to other parts of the body, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.

However, in spite of the importance of maintaining dental health in dogs, it is estimated that a majority of dogs (about 80%) over the age of 3 have some form of dental or gum diseases, and the main cause is a lack of dental care provided on a regular basis by their dog parents.

To give you a clearer picture as to how serious canine dental problems are among dogs of all breeds, look at these figures: Tooth extraction was the number 3 reason for surgery in dogs in the year 2009, while the number one reason for pet health insurance claims in 2010 was periodontal disease.

Giving good and regular dental care to our dogs not only helps prevent dental and other health problems, it can also save us money in the long run since veterinary dental treatment is not cheap!

If you are looking for information on canine dental care, you have come to the right place! This page looks at the following topics:

Common Dog Dental Problems
Signs of Dog Teeth Problems and Gum Disease
Herbal Remedies for Gum Disease in Dogs
Natural Supplements for Dog Dental Care
Canine Dental Care at Home
Preventing Teeth and Gum Problems in Dogs

For more information on brushing your dog's teeth and some natural dental products that can clean your dog's teeth without brushing, please visit our page on Canine Teeth Cleaning.

As mentioned above, canine dental problems can have various adverse health effects on the whole dog. Visit this page to read more on this topic.

Common Dog Dental Problems

Plaque

Plaque is formed when debris (such as food particles) trapped along the gumline is not removed. Plaque can easily harden to become tartar in a matter of days. Therefore, to prevent plaque from turning into tartar, it is imperative that we brush our dogs' teeth, preferably every day, but at least 4-5 times a week.

Tartar

Tartar is formed when plaque is combined with the minerals in the dog's saliva and becomes hardened. When there are hardened substances along the gumline, it is easy to imagine that the gums will be irritated and over time become red and inflammed. When this happens, the dog has developed a gum disease called gingivitis. At this point it is necessary to visit a veterinarian for the removal of the tartar.

Periodontal Disease

If the tartar is still not removed, it continues to accumulate along and under the gums. Eventually, the gums will recede and pull away from the teeth, forming an opening between the teeth and the gums. More debris will be collected in the opening, encouraging bacteria to grow. If the dog's gums are allowed to deteriorate to this stage, the dog is said to have periodontal disease and the damage to the gums and teeth cannot be reversed - the dog's teeth will loosen and fall out. Often, this causes a great deal of pain to the dog. In addition, other complications can arise (e.g. development of abscesses).

Small breed dogs (e.g. chihuahuas, toy poodles, pomeranians, etc.) are more prone to develop periodontal disease due to the small size of their mouth - usually the teeth are too crowded in the mouth to be kept clean and debris-free. However, bigger dogs can just as easily develop periodontal disease if regular canine dental care is not provided.

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Common Signs of Dog Teeth Problems and Gum Disease

If your dog suffers from teeth or gum problems, she will show some of the following signs:

Red, swollen and sometimes bleeding gums
Excessive drooling, sometimes blood in the drool
Yellow-brown plaque and tartar at the gum line
Broken or missing teeth
Bad breath
Loss of appetite

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Herbal Remedies for Gum Disease in Dogs

If your dog has developed gingivitis or peridontal disease, you should take him to a veterinarian right away to have the tartar build-up removed. Very often, the dog is put under anesthesia for this major dental work, after which the gums will be very sore and inflamed.

Fortunately, a number of herbs can be used to speed up the healing process and to prevent recurrence:

Oregon grape: Use a tincture of Oregon grape to inhibit bacterial growth. Use a cotton swab to liberally apply the tincture directly to your dog's gums. Oregon grape is antiseptic and also promotes new gum tissue growth. Other herbs with similar properties include Goldenseal, and Myrrh.
Echinacea: If the teeth are infected and your dog is weak and thin as a result of his dental problem, try apply a tincture of echinacea directly to your dog's gums directly with a cotton swab.
Calendula: If your dog has bleeding gums, apply a tincture of calendula directly to the gums. Calendula is excellent for healing wounds and stopping bleeding.

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Natural Supplements for Canine Dental Care

Supplements are essential as part of the canine dental care program. The following two supplements which are antioxidants are particularly useful if your dog has dental problems:

Coenzyme Q10: Dogs with dental problems most likely have red and swollen, sometimes bleeding, gums. Coenzyme Q10 such as Vetri-Science Coenzyme Q10 helps gums heal better and quicker.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C boosts a dog's immune system, so that the body can become strong enough to fight bacteria in the mouth.

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Canine Dental Care at Home

Daily brushing

We brush our teeth at least twice a day. Why shouldn't we form the habit of brushing our dog's teeth every day as well?

Regular daily brushing is an important part of any canine dental care program to prevent dog teeth and gum diseases.

Please visit our page on Canine Teeth Cleaning for more information about how to brush your dog's teeth and some natural effective dental care products that can keep your dog's teeth clean without brushing.

Regular home oral exam

While brushing your dog's teeth, look for warning signs of gum disease such as bad breath, and plaque or tartar around the gumline. When touching your dog's mouth or the gums, do they move away, obviously in pain? Also look closely for signs of more serious dental problems such as swollen and bleeding gums, loose or missing teeth, etc. Any bumps or masses within the mouth should also be checked by your veterinarian.

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Canine Dental Care - Preventing Teeth and Gum Problems in Dogs

As always, prevention is better than cure! Besides daily brushing and oral check-up, we should also incorporate the following measures into our canine dental care program:

Feeding our Dog a Healthy Natural Diet

As much as you can, try to feed your dog a healthy, nutritious and natural diet. Sugary snacks and foods rich in starch are definite no-no!

Include fresh vegetables such as broccoli and leafy greens in your dog's diet. Hard raw vegetables such as carrots can be given to your dog regularly as dental treats.

Minerals and vitamins that are good for your dog's teeth include calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C and B complex. One good source of calcium and phosphorus is brewer's yeast.

Other foods rich in calcium include: