Dogs and cats rarely get cavities, but are much more prone to gum disease and excess tartar build-up on the teeth. Food particles and bacteria collect along the gum line forming plaque. Routine home dental care including teeth-brushing can to some degree keep this under control. Also the Science Diet “T/D” or “Teeth Diet” that cleans the pet’s teeth while eating can help.
We carry OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews which most dogs find very tasty. OraVet Chews are effective due to an ingredient called delmopinol. Used for years in a human oral rinse, delmopinol gives OraVet Chews their unique cleaning action. Each chew contains delmopinol in its center, which is released throughout the mouth as your dog starts chewing. Delmopinol creates a barrier against the bacteria which leads to the formation of plaque, tartar and bad breath. One chew daily is all it takes to provide serious daily dental care for your dog. OraVet Chews come in 4 different sizes and boxes of 14 or 30 chews.
Tartar: If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar (or calculus) which adheres strongly to the teeth. Plaque starts to mineralize 3—5 days after it forms. The tartar is irritating to the gums and causes inflammation and gum infection called gingivitis. Harmful bacteria in the mouth can then get access to the bloodstream through the inflamed and traumatized gums and later settle in various internal organs such as the heart which can be very dangerous for your pet. Gingivitis can be seen as reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth. It also causes bad breath. At this point it is necessary to remove the tartar with special instruments called scalers, and then polish the teeth.
