Pearly Whites

One of my friends was telling me the other day that she had to have major dental work done on her cat because...get this...the cat had become allergic to its own teeth and had severe gum disease.

Now, I've heard of pets getting gingivitis and experiencing tooth loss, but allergic to their own teeth? I hadn't heard that one. But it's true. So that conversation led to the subject of oral hygiene for our pets. Out of about 6 of us around the table, I think I was the only one who regularly brushes my dog's teeth. Now, I'm not putting myself on some kind of dental pedestal here, but when I read that regular brushing can add 5 years to a dog's life, I was impressed to brush on a regular basis. That and the fact that our little Bichon had to have several teeth pulled, which probably could have been prevented with simple brushing at least 3-4 times per week.

It's really quite simple. Of course, you can't use regular toothpaste for humans, so canine toothpaste is a must. I'm not sure how refreshing a mouth can feel with chicken-flavored toothpaste, but that's one of the more popular flavors for dogs. My dog happens to like a vanilla based toothpaste, which I think smells much better, too. Once you have selected a toothpaste, there are several kinds of toothbrushes to consider. My favorite is a 3-sided brush that cleans all sides of the tooth with each stroke. (I've often wondered why Oral-B doesn't develop those for people!) They make brushing very easy and quick. There are also fingertip brushes that you just slide on the end of a finger and use your finger to brush their teeth. This type is especially useful for puppies, which is the best time to get your dog acquainted with brushing. The earlier the better, not only for his health but it will make the job easier as time goes on.

If you have a small dog like we do, pay particular attention to their dental health. Small dogs have a tendency to experience more dental issues due to their small mouths. Fortunately, if you end up with an expensive dental bill for tooth extractions, dogs can manage quite well with several teeth missing. The only adjustment we had to make to our dog's food was to soften it with water, and that was only temporary. Still, I hated that he had to lose the teeth.  

So do you brush? Any tips to pass along?