More than 85% of dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease. Bad breath, red and swollen gums, pain or bleeding, decreased appetite, difficulty eating or loose and missing teeth are just some of the warning signs of gum disease.

Left untreated, bacteria from gum disease can transfer from the teeth to the lungs, brain, kidney and liver and cause other infections and disorders, such as respiratory infections, liver disorders, kidney damage and inflammation of the heart.

Routine home dental care, regular dental health checkups and professional dental scaling and polishing will help prevent gum disease. Providing chew aids, a diet that reduces plaque accumulation and frequent teeth brushing will also help fight periodontal disease.

Brushing your pet's teeth

We recommend the following brushing program:

Find a quiet time when you and your pet are relaxed. Place them on a surface where you are in control eg. a table.

Get your pet used to you working in their mouth by touching the lips, slowly lifting the lips and then touching the teeth. Provide lots of praise and treats as you progress.

Start with a piece of surgical gauze or a soft piece of clean material such as a handkerchief, placed over your finger and dampened slightly to conform to your finger. Gently draw the lips back on one side with the fingers of the other hand and introduce your gauze-covered finger into your pet's mouth. Clean the front teeth with a small circular action. Use a sweeping action from the gums onto the tooth for the rest. Ask us or your local pharmacist for surgical gauze.

Once your pet will tolerate gauze brushing, apply a thin layer of an approved pet dental toothpaste. Veterinary toothpastes are meat/poultry flavoured. They contain enzymes to destroy bacteria and abrasives to produce a cleaning action. Avoid human toothpastes as they contain foaming agents and high levels of fluoride and are not formulated to be swallowed.

Once your pet is used to the paste, then progress to using a toothbrush or finger brush. We recommend pet specific brushes (please ask us for help in selecting the best toothbrush for your pet).

Using a toothbrush

The toothbrush bristles should be placed at the gum margin where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Be sure to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the space between the teeth.

Using a finger brush

Place the finger brush on your index finger and apply pet dental toothpaste. Start at the front of the mouth, using an oval movement brush over the front teeth and gum.	Brush to the back of the mouth
Also right along the side of the mouth - moving back and forth

Pets with healthy teeth and gums may only require brushing 3-4 times a week. Pets with more advanced dental problems require daily brushing for approximately 30-60 seconds.

Where brushing is difficult or not possible, then special gels or rinses can be applied to the teeth on a daily basis with gauze, cotton tipped applicators or specially designed spray bottles.

For more information or for a teeth brushing demonstration on your pet please feel free to ask one of our healthcare team.