{"id":1597,"date":"2023-08-17T12:11:33","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T19:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baysideanimalhospitalonline.com\/blog\/?p=1597"},"modified":"2023-08-10T12:13:53","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T19:13:53","slug":"tips-and-best-practices-for-pet-dental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baysideanimalhospitalonline.com\/blog\/tips-and-best-practices-for-pet-dental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips and Best Practices for Pet Dental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pet dental health may be one of the most neglected aspects of caring for a pet. If a person never brushed their teeth or visited a dentist we would be appalled, but many pets go their entire life without any dental care at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the American Veterinary Dental Association about 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease by the age of three. Providing good pet dental care is vital to keeping your pets happier and healthier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Pet Dental Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria combine with saliva and food on the teeth and gums, causing plaque to form. This plaque eventually hardens to tartar. The accumulation of plaque and tartar can lead to inflammation and destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, which results in periodontal disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Untreated, periodontal disease causes pain and infection, and the eventual loss of teeth. The inflammation and infection can cause damage to other organs\u2014like the liver, heart, and kidneys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a responsible pet owner, it is important that you take steps to try to prevent this process from causing long term changes to your pet\u2019s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home Dental Care for Pets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Providing dental care at home can be very effective. Not only can home dental care for pets prevent and slow progression of dental disease, but it also allows you to become more familiar with any changes or concerns that you might otherwise not notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most effective thing that you can do at home is toothbrushing. This should be done on a daily (minimally every other day) basis. Work towards including this in your routine by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n