Why Brush Your Pet's Teeth?
Pets Have Teeth Too!
What a Healthy and Unhealthy Mouth Looks Like
The difference between healthy and unhealthy teeth and gums is easy to spot! This is something you can do at home easily. Just "flip a lip" and have a look!
Healthy Teeth and Gums
Healthy gums are pale pink, nearly flush with the teeth (they don't protrude out from the teeth) and aren't painful when touched. Healthy teeth are a bright white, solidly rooted and not cracked, chipped or broken.
Note: Some pets have areas of pigment on their gums (often black vs. pale pink); this is not a problem 😅
Unhealthy Teeth and Gums
Unhealthy gums are dark pink to red and can be swollen. They may be painful to the touch. Unhealthy gums can have deep gingival pockets under the gumline (where the tooth roots are). These pockets are created by a build-up of tartar acting as a wedge and prying the gums away from the tooth roots.
Unhealthy gums are often painful (although many dogs don't show a typical pain reaction when their gums are touched, so it can be hard to appreciate that they are in pain). Unhealthy teeth are usually covered in beige to brown tartar and can be sometimes be loose or broken.
Brushing is Easy (Really)
The good news is that brushing your pet's teeth is easier than you think :)
Dogs (and, yes, cats - see below...) are clever: They put most of their plaque and tartar on the outside of their teeth, especially along the inside of their cheeks. That means that we only really need to brush the outside of their teeth, which makes life really simple, 'cause we don't need to open their mouths and jam a toothbrush in (yay!).
... Cats?
OK, it's easy in dogs. I recommend trying to brush your cat's teeth, but if you can't, don't sweat it. I can't brush my cat's teeth either...
Technique
Using a toothbrush or finger brush (which I find easier on larger dogs) with pet toothpaste (available at the clinic or even the pet store; just don't use human toothpaste), simply brush the outside of the upper and lower teeth inside each cheek.It Takes 10 Seconds
I break this into four "quadrants": Upper right, lower right, upper left and lower left. I brush each one for a few seconds. You did the math right: You can effectively brush your pet's teeth in 10 to 20 seconds. This is not a huge time commitment. With the prep and clean up of the toothbrush, maybe put aside 1 minute each day. That's it. Seriously.
But Why Should I?
Other than the fact that it literally takes only a minute, there are a number of great reasons to brush your pet's teeth:
- Healthier pain-free mouth
- Reduced vet bills
- Longer life
- Better breath!!
These are pretty good reasons, eh? Let's break them down.
Healthier Pain-Free Mouth
I'm not trying to push veterinary dental procedures - I'd much rather your pet had healthy teeth throughout their lives - however I am trying to emphasize what a difference a healthy mouth makes. Pets with bad teeth hurt.
Regular brushing of your pet's teeth can help keep your pet's mouth healthier and pain-free.
Reduced Vet Bills
Veterinary dental cleaning is expensive. There's simply no sugar-coating it. It's expensive because, unlike with people, we have to have pets under full anesthesia just like they were getting surgery (unless you're like me - if the dentist is coming at me with a drill, I better be knocked out! But I digress). The reason for this is, that to be truly helpful, we must get the tartar in the area under the gumline (along the tooth roots), which we just cannot do when a pet is awake. This also means that it is highly recommended to perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork to help ensure the safety of your pet prior to their anesthesia. Really important, but it adds to the expense.
An Aside About "Awake Dentistry"
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So there is no getting around it: Veterinary dental cleanings are expensive. The solution is to simply avoid them! By brushing your pet's teeth, you will dramatically decrease the number of veterinary dental cleanings your pet requires over it's lifetime. Simple, right?
Longer Life
Bad teeth are ... well ... bad: Not only do they stress the immune system, they can lead to diseases of several internal organs, most notably the heart and kidneys. There is growing evidence that an unhealthy mouth has an effect on the whole body. By stressing the immune system, there is the likelihood that bad teeth exacerbate other diseases, and we also know bad teeth can directly lead to life-threatening infections of the internal organs.
Bacterial Showers
The inflammation and gingivitis that develop as a result of tartar building up on the teeth (tartar is what plaque becomes when it isn't removed by brushing. It's basically tooth concrete and can't be brushed off. This is why I recommend brushing every day: It prevents plaque from hardening into tartar).
Gingivitis opens pockets under the gum, which weakens the bone holding the tooth, leading to deeper pockets which further weakens the bone in a vicious cycle. The inflammation of gingivitis also makes the gums permeable to bacteria. This is especially true when your pet eats: The forces of eating open microscopic holes in the inflamed gums, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This is called a bacterial shower. It's not good...
Less Bacteria in Blood = Longer Life
It's a self-evident equation. Brushing your pet's teeth dramatically reduces the severity of bacterial showers from your pet's mouth, giving your pet's immune system a (well deserved!) break and keeping their internal organs healthier, which can help them to live longer, healthier lives. A good trade-off for a minute per day!
Better Breath!!
Yes, brushing your pet's teeth also means their breath smells way better. This, alone, makes it worth it.
Start Fresh
A quick note about starting fresh: If your pet already has a bad mouth, brushing may be painful. If you can gently brush, it will always help, however it may be too painful for your pet and, if there's a lot of tartar already, no amount of brushing will remove it. In these cases, it's best to get a veterinary dental cleaning to start fresh.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there's no reason not to brush your pet's teeth *. Start today!
* Ahem. This is a case of do as I say, not as I do: I am terrible at remembering to brush my dog's teeth, so I understand - there's no judgement here - just try your best
Learn More
To learn more:
- See our Brushing Your Pet's Teeth tutorial on YouTube (also embedded below), and
- Contact one of our clinics to have our team perform a comprehensive exam of your pet's teeth
Brushing Your Pet's Teeth Animal Care Clinics Tutorial
With Care, Dr. Hans Christoffersen
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Pets are precious to us. Please remember that not everyone may make similar decisions as you. We are all trying our best. This is a space for safe discussions. Please be understanding and kind. Only comments that are constructive will be posted. Thank you for caring.