Why Dental Care Is Important for Overall Pet Health

Human beings should visit a dentist at least once every six months for routine checks and cleaning. The reason is that the health of your mouth is critical to your overall well-being. Neglecting your oral health could lead to painful conditions that reduce the quality of your life. The same is the case for your pet. 

As your pet feeds daily, its teeth and gums get lined with plaque; a sticky deposit made up of fine food remains. Plaque is an excellent breeding ground for harmful bacteria that causes periodontal disease. Due to the infrequency of dental checks, many cats and dogs have caught this disease. Statistics show that 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs get gingivitis before they are three years old. Sadly, most pet parents do not catch this. 

Most people assume that pets’ mouths naturally stink, but that’s not the case. It is a sign of dental disease. 

Your pet needs regular dental care as a part of boosting its overall health. Here are the benefits of doing regular dental care: 
 

It Helps to Prevent Dental Health Issues 

Like humans, pets are prone to several dental conditions like the development of tartar and periodontal disease. The two are caused by a buildup of bacteria and food deposits in the mouth. The result is plaque that coats the pet’s teeth. As the bacteria reproduce and some die, the calcium in the pet’s saliva calcifies them. Calcified plaque is rigid and leads to periodontal disease and gingivitis. As the disease advances, it infects the root and tissues around the teeth. The socket supporting the teeth erodes, and eventually, the teeth fall out. 

Animals with missing teeth have difficulty eating their food. 

 

Prevents Chipping Teeth 

Pets break their teeth easily. They do not have the sense to know that chewing on hard objects could damage their teeth. Humans worsen the situation by giving the pets hard bones to “sharpen teeth” and “scrape off plaque.” But, the hard bones cause many of them to break their teeth, which is incredibly painful. 

Some broken teeth expose nerves, which, when infected, could lead to some more extensive problems. 
 

Prevents Pain in the Mouth 

Periodontal disease and gingivitis cause pain to your pet. The pain is more like how you feel when you have a toothache. By getting your pet regular dental checks, you ensure that its gums and teeth are healthy. Otherwise, with painful gums, your pet may avoid food. 
 

Prevents Organ Damage 

The bacteria in the pet’s mouth may infiltrate the mouth’s soft tissues and enter the bloodstream. Once it gets into the circulatory system, it may get to your pet’s critical organs, including the liver, heart, and kidneys. This infiltration is called bacteremia and causes damage to the vital organs. But, with proper dental care, your dog stays healthy. 

Dental care is a critical element of the wholesome healthcare plan for your pet. Ensure that your pet has regular dental checks and cleaning to ward off dental health issues. For these services, visit the Community Pet Outreach in Lewisville, Texas. You can also call 972-848-8930 for more information and to request an appointment.