Teeth. Those pearly whites. We may not think about them as often as we need to. And we need them to be healthy more than we realize.

They’re necessary for eating certain foods we enjoy, they’re a sense of personal pride, and if they’re not taken care of, they can be a source of pain and discomfort.

Well, the same goes for dogs too. Dogs need their teeth for chewing on their favorite toys and crunching their favorite foods. And while a dog may not care much about what his own teeth look like, we as pet parents may take a great deal of pride in those nice pearly whites.

And unfortunately, a dog’s teeth can definitely be a source of significant disease if not taken care of.

So, it makes sense to take care of them!

In this article, we’re going to briefly discuss why knowing how to brush a dog’s teeth is important, how often it may be necessary to brush, and last but not least, step-by-step tips to introduce your pup to brushing.

Brushing Teeth: Why Bother?

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease comprises a few factors, but essentially consists of the effects of the inflammatory response that the body creates to address bacterial plaque that builds up in the mouth.

When we or our pets eat food, there’s always little microscopic bits left behind. The bacteria in our mouths thrive on this, creating what’s called a biofilm, also called plaque. This is that slimy stuff you can feel on your teeth when you wake up in the morning.

Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which can also be termed calculus. Our immune systems really dislike this bacterial biofilm and attack it, leading to inflammation in the form of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis which affects the bones and tissue surrounding the teeth beneath the gums.

The severity of this is likely most related to what types of bacteria are present and how our immune systems react to them, which can be different for everybody.

Periodontal disease is a widespread problem. According to one 2016 article in PLoS One, the prevalence of periodontal disease in dogs may range from 44%-80%.

And it’s not just a problem in pets. According to the CDC, half of Americans aged 30 and over have periodontitis. Pretty similar figures.

Over time in people, periodontal disease leads to cavity formation from the acids present in plaque, severe tooth decay, and eventually loss of teeth.

In dogs, we don’t so much see actual cavities the way people get them. With dental disease in pups, the teeth themselves are often intact, but the tissues around them, including jaw bone gets degraded over time, abscesses and infections result, and teeth will eventually fall out.

We do actually see root degeneration and ulcerative lesions on teeth of dogs similar to cavities, but the process is likely different in dogs since they don’t eat food high in sugar, and is related more to the immune system attacking the teeth themselves.

Does Periodontal Disease Just Affect Teeth?

Periodontal disease can become severe if teeth aren’t taken care of, both in people and pets. The process causes significant oral pain and eventual loss of teeth. This should be reason enough to focus on dental care.

But for any out there who are in the camp of “well, if he’s eating he must be fine”, consider how much pets may hide signs of disease and discomfort. It’s ingrained in their nature to hide pain, so that they don’t look vulnerable to other animals.

And if you have a pup that never misses a meal and enjoys his food, think about how much pain he’d have to be in to actually stop eating. Most dogs and cats will adapt and find ways around the pain they feel until it’s severe.

But if oral pain and teeth loss isn’t enough to be concerning, there is mounting evidence about the effects on other parts of the body that periodontal disease can have. And this isn’t just in pets, but most definitely in people too.

According to Medical News Today, the incidence of people with heart-valve infections, termed endocarditis, has been increasing steadily for the last few decades. The principle of endocarditis as related to dental disease is simple. The inflammation and bleeding that occurs with gingivitis and periodontitis allows bacteria in the mouth to enter the blood stream, where they eventually set up shop on heart valves.

The bacterial plaques that form on heart valves lead to thickened and dysfunctional valves, causing secondary heart disease and even heart failure. And naturally, having bacteria living inside your heart raises a huge risk for body-wide septic infections and death.

While periodontal disease is not the only cause of endocarditis, it is considered to be one of the greatest risk factors.

In pets, periodontal disease is also considered to be a big risk factor for heart disease. After all, smaller breed dogs most often have the worst dental disease and also have the highest prevalence of heart disease. Development of heart disease is also related to genetics, but what if periodontal disease plays more of a part than was previously thought?

There are two recent studies that support this thought and are leading to increased concerns. One, from Research in Veterinary Science, was published just recently in the summer of 2019. It sought to review clinical records for over 100 dogs and look for patterns between the presence of periodontal disease and other concurrent diseases like heart disease, kidney disease, etc.

Main findings of this study included a higher risk factor for small breed dogs as well as a connection with the presence of heart disease. Dogs without dental disease, even small breed dogs, had a much lower incidence of heart-related issues.

A second study from PLoS One from 2016 investigated the presence of Enterococcus, a specific type of bacteria and its connection between presence in the mouth and presence on the heart valves of dogs with confirmed endocarditis on post-mortem exam.

Of 65 samples including oral swabs and heart valve samples , 35 cultured Enterococcus. And of the 13 positive samples found on heart valves, 7 had the same strain both in the heart and in the mouth.

The authors of this study concluded that there was an “unquestionable association” between periodontal disease and bacterial endocarditis in dogs.

So What Does This Mean for My Dog?

These studies and increased association that’s being seen between dental disease and heart disease in dogs really highlights the importance of regular dental care. And we’re not just talking about dental cleanings with your vet. We’re talking about routine care at home too.

While dental cleanings are important, as we’ll touch on at the end, having your or your dog’s teeth cleaned just once a year isn’t going to replace constant removal of the bacterial biofilm that builds up everyday. Only regular brushing combined with dental treats can do that.

How Often Do I Need to Clean My Dog’s Teeth?

So If I Can Brush My Dog’s Teeth, Why is a Dental Cleaning Necessary?

We won’t get into dental procedures very much, since that’s a whole topic for another article, but many pet parents may justifiably ask this question.

But this question isn’t too hard to answer if you think about your own dental health. Even if you brush twice a day and floss on top of that and use mouthwash, you’re still going to have plaque and tartar build-up.

This is why dental checks and cleanings are recommended at least yearly by the American Dental Association. And if you have a history of periodontal disease, they recommend them more frequently.

Both our teeth and those of our pets have small grooves and cusps that are great at trapping food material and providing a shelter for plaque and bacteria to fester. Plaque also builds up underneath the gumline. Most toothbrushes have a limited ability to get under the gumline well-enough or to reach these hard-to-get spaces.

The same is true for dogs. The back premolars and molars especially have small crevices that are hard to get to. So even if you brush everyday, you’ll find the need for a dental cleaning for your pup at some point, though possibly much less frequently than with a pooch who doesn’t have any home dental care.

Not Sure What Your Dog’s Teeth Look Like? Ask Your Vet!

Veterinarians are part dentists. It’s true. We know a lot about oral health in pets and how to make appropriate recommendations.

So if you’re not sure if your pup’s teeth are healthy or if an actual dental cleaning is needed, make sure to bring it up at your furry friend’s next exam.

Your vet will be the best one to discuss a dental cleaning with, especially since he or she will be the one to perform it. It’s true that dental cleanings are performed under anesthesia and this does pose risks, but there are risks to leaving dental disease to fester too.

Your veterinarian’s job is to weigh the risks and benefits of a dental cleaning with other health risks your pup may be facing and to help you make the best and most informed decision. Sometimes, we do decide that a dental procedure is too risky based on other health concerns.

But because we don’t know what health risks our pets may encounter in the future, it makes home dental care and good prevention from the earliest time all the more important.