3001 Briarcrest Drive Bryan Texas 77802 (979) 776-1223

Dental Hygiene

As our pets are living longer healthier lives we are becoming more and more concerned about their oral health. Most pets will need a professional dental cleaning by the time they are 4 to 5 years of age. The rate at which tartar builds up on their teeth is dependent on diet and heredity conditions.

Dental Disease

As tartar builds up on the teeth, it hardens to form calculus. The calculus is a source for bacteria and can cause infection to the gums. As the gumline becomes inflamed and infected it recedes. The recession of the gumline causes exposure of the tooth's roots which are not protected by enamel. The final stage of dental disease involves abscessation and loss of the teeth. In addition to being painful, this can lead to infection elsewhere in the body (i.e. kidneys, liver, tonsils, heart valves, etc.).

Prevention

Once the teeth have been professionally cleaned, there are several options to help reduce the build-up of tartar in the future. One option is to brush the pets teeth. There are special brushes and tooth paste specifically made to facilitate this process. This method may be difficult to do effectively with some pets. If brushing is not possible, other options to reduce tartar build-up are available. These include oral rinses and specially designed chews. The chews resemble rawhide and have special enzymes imbedded in them to reduce tartar before it hardens into calculus.