Why Your Dog Needs Teeth Cleaning in Antioch, CA

Have you ever heard someone mention brushing their dog’s teeth? Do you ever find yourself wondering why anyone would go to the trouble to clean a dog’s teeth in the first place? There are actually many reasons why dental care is important for dogs, and as a dog owner, it’s important to understand the benefits of regularly taking care of your furry friend’s teeth.

Learn why doggie dental care should never go ignored and find out which common dog problems can be prevented with regular dog teeth cleaning below. If you have any questions, call Antioch Veterinary Hospital at (925) 757–2800.

Breath

It’s no secret that dogs have bad breath. And even if you brush your dog’s teeth every day, he’s probably still going to have breath that smells like their favorite flavor of dog food or their old chew toy. But brushing and regularly cleaning their teeth can make a big difference in the smell of their breath, especially as they get older. The longer a dog goes without having their teeth cleaned, the more plaque builds up, and the more bacteria gets stuck on the teeth. This leads to constant, severe bad breath.

Keep in mind that bad breath can be a symptom of other problems in dogs as well. If you notice your dog has bad breath all the time or if their breath smells sickeningly sweet, you should bring this up with your veterinarian in Antioch sooner rather than later. But if you’re sure their bad breath comes from a lack of dental care, then do your dog a favor and get their teeth cleaned. You may also want to supplement this cleaning with dental chew toys and dental treats, too.

Teeth and Gums

Of course, another common reason to get your dog’s teeth cleaned is to keep up with their tooth and gum health! Dogs often develop various types of dental disease by the age of two, largely because their dental health is overlooked by the majority of owners. Some dog breeds are even more prone to dental disease and inflammation than others and may develop this type of problem even earlier in life. You should have your dog’s teeth checked at the vet at least once every year.

When you brush your dog’s teeth often enough, the results are the same as they would be for a human. Brushing prevents plaque from building up and reduces the risk of inflammation and disease in your dog’s teeth and gums. The longer your dog goes without proper dental care, the more likely they are to develop inflamed gums, gum recession, damage to the roots of their teeth or even the bone structure of their jaw, and blackened or “dead” teeth. There are also many other problems that can come about because of a lack of dental care, all related to your dog’s teeth and gums.

Pain

When you have a toothache, it makes you feel terrible, doesn’t it? It’s almost all you can think about, and it keeps you from being able to enjoy life the way you normally would. You want to do anything to relieve it, and you may be irritable or unable to sleep because of the pain. The same is true for dogs. Constant tooth pain can make your dog’s personality change, sometimes dramatically, and can lead to lasting behavioral issues as well. Some dogs with severely damaged teeth and gums hurt so badly they can’t sleep or can’t bring themselves to enjoy playtime with their owners. They may be unable to eat their favorite foods or even find a comfortable position to lay in.

When you take care of your dog’s teeth on a regular basis, you’ll help them stay on track to a life without tooth pain. Although they may still develop tooth issues at some point in their life—just like people who brush and floss might—they are not going to suffer with constant tooth and gum pain that keeps them from being themself. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly can help prevent this from happening, but it’s also important to have a dental deep clean performed by the vet periodically, too. This can help deal with the deeper buildup of calculus that can’t be seen or reached easily.

Heart and Kidneys

Finally, if your dog’s dental health is left unattended to for too long, they may develop much more serious problems because of it. As bacteria builds up on the teeth and in the gums, it makes its way throughout the rest of your dog’s body. It can reach the valves of their heart and may cause them to develop heart disease, and it can also reach their kidneys and prevent their body from being able to filter toxins the way it’s supposed to. There may be other ways your dog’s overall health and well-being can suffer because of their bad teeth.

This is where deep dental cleaning from the vet comes into play. Although brushing your dog’s teeth is enough to help with the other issues listed above (at least to some degree), vet dental cleanings are important in preventing your dog from developing heart or kidney disease due to bacterial buildup in the mouth. These cleanings help your dog remain healthier for longer and encourage their body to continue functioning the way it’s supposed to. They cut down on the risk of organ damage and, as an added bonus, they also help with all the other problems mentioned on the list above, too!

These are just some of the most common reasons why it’s important to get your dog’s teeth cleaned regularly. Many dog owners keep up with brushing their dogs’ teeth at home every so often, but it’s also important to schedule teeth cleaning at the vet as well. This way, you can be sure your dog is getting a thorough deep clean at least once a year, just like a human might need. Dental health is the first step toward many other types of health in dogs, so keep your furry friend healthy and happy with regular teeth cleaning. Call us today at (925) 757–2800.