How healthy are your pet’s teeth and gums?
DID YOU know that tooth and gum problems in dogs and cats are very common, with around 85% of pets over three years of age suffering from some degree of dental disease, causing ill health and pain?
A healthy mouth typically has bright white teeth and pink (or pigmented) gums. However as your pet eats, food particles will naturally accumulate on the tooth surfaces and bacteria in the mouth digests the food particles to form plaque – a sticky yellow film seen on the teeth. Over time, accumulation of plaque leads to inflammation and infection of the gums - a condition called gingivitis. Affected gums are more reddened in appearance and these changes may also be associated with localised mineralisation of the plaque to form calculus (tartar) – see figure 2.
If gingivitis is allowed to continue unchecked, it will lead in time progress to periodontitis; here the problem spreads below the gum line, leading to infections deep in the tooth socket, eventually resulting in tooth mobility and finally tooth loss.
Unfortunately once a tooth becomes loose, the problem is usually too advanced to save that tooth. However if gum problems are identified at an earlier stage, a combination of a Scale and Polish and on-going Home Care can make a real difference to your pet’s oral health (and also their breath!). Please contact us today for a dental check-up!
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