What is tartar and can it be prevented?
The mouth of all mammals is home to thousands of bacteria. Many of these bacteria will breed on the surfaces of the tooth and form an invisible layer called plaque or biofilm. Some of this is removed naturally by the pet’s tongue and chewing habits but if allowed to remain on the tooth surface, the plaque thickens, becomes mineralized and is then visible as tartar and ultimately calculus. The tartar presses on the gums, which recede, causing inflammation and infection called gingivitis. The gums continue to recede until ultimately the tooth socket is infected and the tooth is lost.
As the oral infection increases, tonsillitis and pharyngitis can also occur. In addition, the bacteria are absorbed into the blood stream and can be carried to other organs. Heart valve infections (endocardiosis or endocarditis), kidney and liver problems are frequently caused by “bad teeth”.
Can tartar be prevented?
Plaque becomes mineralized in some pets much quicker than in others. Special chew toys as well as feeding specifically-formulated dental diets may help reduce tartar build up, as does regular home care such as tooth brushing. Today there are many products designed to reduce tartar in our pets. We recommend the use of Hills Prescription Diet T/D to be given as treats (3-4 daily). We consider them “edible toothbrushes.” These kibble treats are instrumental in keeping plaque and dental tartar from re-accumulating after dental cleaning.
Will feeding dry food remove tartar?
Once tartar has formed it will be necessary to remove it by professional scaling and polishing under anesthesia. Pet food manufacturers have recently developed new dental diets that can help reduce the formation of plaque and tartar in your pet. We recommend T/D by Hills Science Diet for severe cases.
What is involved with a dental cleaning for my pet?
The goal of dental scaling and polishing is to remove the tartar and invisible plaque. Sometimes antibiotic treatment is instituted before a full dental prophylaxis is carried out.
Tooth scaling will be performed using both hand scalers and ultrasonic cleaning equipment to remove tartar both above and below the gum line. The tartar beneath the gum line causes the most significant gum recession. The teeth are then polished in order to help prevent subsequent plaque build-up. It may be necessary to carry out other procedures such as extractions at the same time. Special applications such as fluoride, antibiotic preparations and cleaning compounds may be indicated to decrease tooth sensitivity, strengthen enamel and reduce plaque accumulation and bacterial infection.
How can I prevent tartar accumulation after the procedure?
Plaque and tartar begin forming in as little as six hours after your pet’s dental cleaning. A home dental care program is a must for all pets. T/D diet or Oravet are two products we recommend to keep the re-accumulation of tartar and plaque from forming.
Can I use human toothpaste?
Human dentifrice or toothpaste should not be used in pets. These are foaming products and are not meant to be swallowed. Additionally, many types of human toothpaste contain sodium, which may cause problems in some pets.
