Jan 19, 2022
If your pet is three years old or older and hasn't had expert dental care, they are most likely suffering from periodontal disease. In fact, almost 90% of adult dogs have some form of periodontal disease. Oral health issues left untreated can result in discomfort, tooth loss, infections, and even organ damage, including the heart and kidneys. It can even result in premature mortality in some circumstances. Here are a few canine tooth issues to be aware of as a dog parent.
Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria and food debris that forms on the surface of a dog's teeth over time. Plaque is quickly removed by brushing's mechanical forces. A dog's teeth and gums will stay healthy if plaque is eliminated on a daily basis.
If plaque remains stuck on the teeth's surfaces, minerals in a dog's saliva solidify it into dental calculus, also known as tartar, which is permanently connected to the teeth.
Gingivitis is a disorder that occurs when tartar digs into and below the gum tissue, causing the gums to become red, irritated, and inflamed. Plaque bacteria are periodically introduced below the gum line as tartar digs into the gum line and create gingivitis, producing varying degrees of gum infection.
Toxic chemicals are secreted by plaque bacteria below the gum line, causing additional tissue damage. The inflammation and tissue damage caused by these bacteria often activate a dog's immune system. To try to destroy the bacterial invaders, the immune system sends in white blood cells and other inflammatory compounds. Unfortunately, many of the tooth's supporting soft and bony structures are injured as a result of this process, resulting in periodontitis.
Bacteria can acquire deep access to the roots of the teeth after the periodontal disease is established and aggressive gingivitis and periodontitis are present. The germs can gradually destroy the tooth's root and its attachment to the jaw, depriving the root and tooth of crucial blood supply. This causes the damaged tissue to die, and the immune system responds by summoning a large number of white blood cells to the area, resulting in an accumulation of white blood cells known as pus or an abscess. Unfortunately, the immune system has a tough time overcoming deep bone infection (osteomyelitis), necessitating surgical intervention by a veterinarian. Large premolar teeth are the most usually affected by tooth root abscesses, and a dog may often present with a painful soft swelling just beneath the eye.
Teeth will fall out or require removal because they are loose and causing trouble eating and/or pain in these advanced stages of periodontal disease where the deep attachments of the teeth are destroyed.
Periodontal disease can cause broad organ damage in addition to local harm in the mouth. Canine periodontal disease causes organ damage when germs from diseased tooth roots and gums enter the bloodstream. According to research, dogs with severe periodontal disease have more damage to their kidneys, heart muscle, and liver than dogs that do not have periodontal disease.
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, which includes frequent cleaning of your dog's teeth and gums, is the most effective method to avoid these problems. You should also take your dog for annual oral exams, as well as an anesthetic oral examination with a comprehensive tooth-by-tooth exam and dental X-rays if necessary. Use a list of foods, snacks, chews, sprays, gels, powders, wipes, water additives, kinds of toothpaste, and toothbrushes for dogs and cats that have been scientifically tested and authorized. Taking care of your dog's dental hygiene is about much more than clean teeth and fresh breath.
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