5 reasons why maintaining your pet’s dental health is important

Regarding pet health, you need to focus on several areas. With younger pets, a common concern is whether they eat enough or too much.

Worrying about their joints and bones is a common problem as they age. Many people overlook their pet’s dental health, even though it is arguably as important as the other areas.

Maintaining your pet’s dental health is critical. Here are five reasons why, so continue reading to learn more about your dog’s dental health.

Pain in the mouth

While this reason for maintaining your pet’s dental health is not necessarily a life-or-death matter, it can severely impact your dog’s quality of life.

There are many diseases that dogs, cats, and other pets can get in their mouths that will cause them severe pain. Lack of dental care can cause several diseases.

It can be hard to notice if your pet experiences oral pain, but watch for whether your dog has difficulty eating. That can be a significant sign of dental health problems. To remedy pain problems in the mouth and gums, check with BuenaVet for specific details.

Bad breath

Like mouth pain, bad breath can be more than an annoyance. Both can potentially cause long-term pain or damage. Healthy dogs shouldn’t have bad breath.

Periodontal disease and bad oral hygiene are the primary culprits behind bad breath in pets. Because of tartar and plaque accumulation, bacteria grow and proliferate, causing bad breath. Neglecting bad breath could result in other medical problems or indicate respiratory, heart, or digestive issues. 

Ideally, brushing your pet’s teeth at least twice daily would be best. Brushing their teeth several times a week can help prevent tartar and plaque buildup. If your dog hasn’t experienced brushing, it’s never too late to start. Use dog toothpaste that has enzymes to reduce oral bacteria and tartar buildup. Never use human toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth because it contains ingredients that can cause digestive upset in your furry friend when accidentally swallowed.

You can give your pet commercially available dental sticks, such as Bully Sticks, to prevent bad breath. Like treats and chews, dogs chew on dental sticks, which increases saliva production: the saliva and active ingredients on dental sticks clean plaque and bacteria from the dog’s mouth.

In addition, natural remedies to address bad breath in pets include adding a half teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar to the dog’s water bowl. You can supplement your dog’s diet with veterinary-approved probiotics to balance the good bacteria in the mouth and freshen up your breath. 

Work with your vet if brushing your dog’s teeth or using dental chews doesn’t fix the problem.

Removing plaque from your pet’s teeth is essential. Doing so can reduce the risk of tartar buildup. Tartar is much more severe, as only a professional can easily remove it.

Serious medical problems

While your pet’s dental care may seem like an afterthought, keeping your pet’s mouth clean can prevent serious medical problems that could leave your pet injured or even dead.

When plaque buildup becomes bad enough, there is a chance that certain bacterial infections can cause more severe health problems.

Bacterial infections can spread throughout your dog’s body. If the bacterial infection continues to grow and repopulate unchecked by antibiotics or proper dental care, your pet could get in serious trouble. The infection could potentially cause organ failure or death.

Losing teeth

While your pet may not begin losing teeth immediately, failing to provide proper attention can cause long-term damage.

Tooth loss leads to more severe problems since your dog relies on its teeth to eat, play and enjoy everyday life.

Tooth loss can potentially be severe for dogs. Losing teeth might not end the world, but it can make your pet’s life more difficult.

Poor dental health can be an indication of other problems

One important reason to keep your pet’s dental health in check is that it will be easier to watch for other issues they are experiencing.

If a pet’s dental health is top-notch, its mouth will not have any problems, and it can perform every function without pain or complications.

Suppose your pet begins having a different type of problem that could eventually show symptoms in its mouth. In that case, you will know immediately that your pet is having another issue and not one that is happening due to a lack of oral care. This can help you better monitor your pet’s overall health.