Dental Home Care for Our Pets
The oral cavity supports a rich bacterial microflora much of which thrive in plaque on tooth surfaces when a not appropriate oral hygiene is performed. The bacterial plaque on the crown surface of a tooth constantly stimulates an inflammatory response and results in gingivitis if not treated at a time. On the other hand, the bacteria have a beneficial function by helping limit the number of periodontal pathogenic bacteria that comes from outside. The result of poor oral hygiene is a periodontal disease which is an infection and inflammation of the periodontium (the tissues that surround and support the teeth) due to plaque bacteria and the host’s response to the bacterial insult. Gingivitis is common in dogs and cats and refers to inflammation of the gingiva in response to the plaque. Periodontitis is a more severe disease that involves deep inflammation of the periodontal structure and usually happens in the elderly and predisposed breeds.
Four stages of periodontal disease have been described
Stage 1: There is gingivitis only, without attachment loss of the teeth to the gingiva.
Stage 2: There is early periodontitis with <25% of attachment loss or, at most.
Stage 3: There is moderate periodontitis, with 25%, attachment loss.
Stage 4: There is advanced periodontitis, with >50% of attachment loss.
Your veterinarian should check if there are other reasons for your pet to have periodontal disease as some fewer common causes of gingivitis, including systemic disease (e.g, uremic stomatitis), autoimmune disease, juvenile gingivitis, etc, may require more than only plaque removal. Other diseases that may come due to poor dental hygiene can be endocarditis (heart disease), back pain, jaw fracture as well as chronic diarrhea, and bad breath. Removal of the bacterial plaque on the tooth surfaces is of utmost importance. This can reverse gingivitis, returning the gingiva to a healthy, uninflamed state. This is achieved through professional dental cleaning (scaling and polishing) with power and hand instruments under general anesthesia. Prevention of gingivitis is the same as its treatment: plaque removal and control. The teeth should be brushed daily to remove plaque and prevent tartar accumulation. Some dogs and cats may not allow regular toothbrushing, so the plaque should be removed by wiping with a gauze pad at least every second or third day. Plaque that remains on the tooth surface for more than 3 days mineralizes to form calculus (tartar). Some diets are formulated to include ingredients that help decrease oral bacteria or slow plaque mineralization. Some fibrous toys that allow tooth penetration can wipe the plaque from the tooth surfaces during chewing. Some of this information should be advised by your veterinarian and discussed during your pet’s regular check-ups.
Read more blogs about Cat Periodontal Disease and Dog Periodontal Disease
Written by: Dr. David Perez, ABVC Veterinarian
