Pet Dental Care: Tips to Care for Your Dog and Cat's Teeth

Reviewed by Dr. Fiona Lee

Your pet uses their teeth to crunch kibble, gnaw on bones and chew toys. But a dog or cat with dental disease may not be able to do these essential things.

Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed condition in pets. In fact, 80% of dogs and cats are affected.¹ Not only can dental disease cause plaque, inflammation, pain, bad breath and tooth loss, but it's also been linked to liver and heart disease. Practicing good pet dental care is an essential part of keeping your dog or cat healthy.²

Types of dental problems in pets

While periodontal diseases are the most common cause of dental problems for pets, there are other reasons your pet may experience dental issues, including:

• Injuries or trauma³
• Abscesses or infections⁴
• Oral tumors or cysts⁴
• Misalignment of the teeth or bite⁴
• Palate defects⁴

What to expect during pet dental cleanings

Pets, like people, often need routine dental cleanings. A pet dental cleaning includes a thorough exam, dental scaling, and polishing to remove the plaque and tartar from your pet's teeth.⁵

All pets need dental X-rays to assess tooth and underlying bone health, and some pets will need extractions to remove fractured or broken teeth or teeth with severe periodontal disease.⁵ Dog dental cleanings and cat dental cleanings are done under anesthesia, which reduces stress and pain for your pet and prevents them from moving or possibly biting during the procedure.⁴ It also allows clinicians to protect the airways during scaling and polishing.

Most veterinarians provide routine dental care like cleanings, but your vet may make a referral to a veterinary dentist for more advanced care such as root canals, jaw fractures or orthodontics.¹

At-home dental care strategies

It's important to practice good dog dental care and cat dental care at home to keep their teeth healthy and help prevent oral disease.⁴

Regular brushing techniques

Learning to brush your pet's teeth is the best way to remove plaque and tartar and keep your pet's teeth healthy. While it's best to brush their teeth daily, even brushing dog and cat teeth a few times every week can be helpful.⁴ Use a toothbrush designed for pets and pet toothpaste—never human toothpaste.¹

Dental chews and toys

Pet store aisles are filled with treats, chews and toys that promise to improve pet dental health. Chewing on toys helps scrape plaque off your pet's teeth, and some dental chews and toys contain enzymes to freshen breath and promote good dental health.⁶

Avoid hard treats, like antlers or synthetic and natural bones, that could cause tooth damage.⁷

Dietary considerations

Certain “dental diets" were designed to help reduce plaque and tartar. In general, dental diets are made up of larger pieces of kibble. Biting down on them helps scrape plaque from pets' teeth. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations, or look for foods that have earned the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of approval.⁸

When to go to the vet/dentist

Ideally, dog dental care and cat dental care will include a good home hygiene program and annual vet visits, at which time your veterinarian might recommend a professional cleaning with X-rays.¹

Recognizing signs of dental problems

It's important to recognize signs of oral disease or dental problems in dogs and cats. These signs can include:⁹

• Changes in eating habits/lack of appetite
• Excessive drooling or salivation
• Sneezing or nasal discharge
• Loose or broken teeth
• Dropping food
• Refusing to play with toys
• Bad breath
• Facial swelling
• Red, swollen gums
• Bleeding from the mouth

If you notice these signs of dental problems in your pet, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Importance of regular veterinary checkups

A good at-home dental care routine is important for preventing unhealthy dog teeth and cat dental issues, but it's not a replacement for regular professional dental checkups and cleanings.² Ask your vet for at-home dental cleaning tips.

Recognizing signs of urgent dental problems

There are times when your pet may need urgent care to treat dental emergencies. Since pets often hide their pain, look for symptoms like facial swelling, bleeding from the mouth, an abscess in the mouth, tooth loss, trouble eating or refusing to eat, and aggression or defensiveness that could be signs of pain.¹⁰

Oral and facial trauma that result from animal fights or a car collision, or other accidents or injuries that affect the jaws, teeth and facial bones are dental emergencies that require immediate treatment.¹¹

The bottom line

It's essential to take a proactive role to protect your pet's pearly whites. At-home dental care for your pets and annual professional exams, with cleanings as recommended by your vet, are key to good pet oral health.

Pet insurance is often the best way to help you cover the costs associated with unexpected dental care. Pets Best insurance offers customizable plans with dental coverage, and our network of veterinary experts is available anytime through the 24/7 Pet Helpline.

Sources/Citations

1. “Pet Dental Health: Fact or Fiction?" (2/2023), Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/pet-dental-health-fact-or-fiction, accessed January 19, 2024.
2. “Periodontal Disease," (1/2024), Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/periodontal-disease, accessed January 19, 2024.
3. “Dental Disorders of Dogs," Alexander M. Reiter (10/2022), Merck Veterinary Manual, https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/dental-disorders-of-dogs, accessed January 19, 2024.
4. “Pet dental care," American Veterinary Medical Association, https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care, accessed January 19, 2024.
5. “Dental Disease in Dogs," Lorraine Hiscox and Jan Bellows, VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs, accessed January 19, 2024.
6. “Keep Your Dog's Teeth Clean with Five Tips," Katie Finlay (11/2023), American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/keep-dog-teeth-clean/, accessed January 20, 2024.
7. “Dog Dental Treats: Safety & What to Look For," Mary Kearl (3/2022), American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-dental-treats-safety-what-to-look-for/, accessed January 20, 2024.
8. “Dogs, Nutrition, and Periodontal Disease," Tammy Hunter and Robin Downing, VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dogs-nutrition-and-periodontal-disease, accessed January 20, 2024.
9. “8 Warning Signs of Pet Dental Disease," (7/2022), Animal Dental Center, https://www.animaldentalcenter.com/pet-owners/8-warning-signs-of-pet-dental-disease/, accessed January 20, 2024.
10. “Dog Dental Emergencies — Signs and Symptoms," Dr. Savanna Gephard (9/2022), Veterinary Emergency Group, https://veterinaryemergencygroup.com/blog/dog-dental-emergencies-signs-and-symptoms/, accessed January 20, 2024.
11. “6 Common Dental Emergencies in Pets," (2/2023), Ethos Veterinary Health, https://www.ethosvet.com/blog-post/6-common-dental-emergencies-in-pets/, accessed January 20, 2024.