Pet owners should start thinking about their pet’s oral hygiene early. While that may seem a bit overwhelming for pet owners — keeping your pet’s teeth healthy can be as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.
Pets generally love to give kisses, protect your home from intruders, and serve as their human’s best friend. But what pet owners may not know is that there is a strong correlation between pet health and pet teeth. Like humans, pet teeth need to be taken care of to stay healthy and keep pets living well into their senior years.
As humans, we know that if we neglect to take care of our teeth, it can negatively affect our overall health. The same is true for our pets — cavities, gum disease, and infections can happen to them, too. So, while they’re giving us kisses, protecting our home, and serving as our best friend — we need to make sure we are taking care of them in the ways they cannot.
If you’re wondering how to go about keeping your pet’s teeth healthy without feeling overwhelmed — we’re here to help. We’re going to show you 5 easy ways you can keep your pet’s teeth healthy and in tip-top shape so they can keep on giving with the kisses and protection so you’ll have a best friend for their life.
1. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
Consistent oral hygiene can help lessen plaque buildup on pet teeth and decrease pet odors, often leading to terrible pet breath. In addition to pet dental products, owners should also use pet toothpaste specifically made for pets. Pet toothpaste does not contain fluoride because fluoride is toxic if ingested by a pet. It is also recommended that you do not use baking soda on your pet’s teeth. While it can be an excellent and natural remedy for humans, it can be toxic to pets if they over-consume it.
You can brush your pet’s teeth every day using a soft-bristle toothbrush — but if you cannot brush their teeth every day, do not worry. Brush them as often as possible, whatever works for your schedule.
Another product that pet parents can consider is pet-friendly dental wipes designed to remove plaque from teeth quickly. Gently wipe down all visible surfaces of the front and back of each tooth. While they won’t get all of the tiny nooks and crannies like a toothbrush will, using pet wipes can often be quicker, easier, and less stressful for both you and your pet.
Be sure to rinse out your pet’s mouth after brushing or wiping to ensure no loose or crumbling pieces remain in their mouth.
2. Let Your Pets Gnaw on Chew Toys & Snacks
Pet owners should also make sure their pet has access to pet-specific toys that can help remove food particles from the teeth.
To keep your pet healthy and happy, get toys designed for their specific needs. Look out for items that contain no toxic chemicals or materials — stay away from those too hard so they cannot accidentally choke on them if swallowed whole by accident (or intentionally), as well any fabric-like substance like upholstered furniture drapes, etc. You do not want your pet to think it is okay to chew on these types of fabrics and head to your couch or curtains for their next snack.
Purchase sturdy quality pet chew toys instead of softer plastic ones since some animals find this type more satisfying. However, bones should not be given out because they could chip or even break a pet’s teeth and injure its gums and tongue.
You can feed your pets crunchy snacks like raw carrots and apples. There are many benefits of making your pet eat vegetables and fruit, but starting them off right is the most essential part. Remember that they may need some creativity with how you feed it — blending meats could work well for this task!
Fruits and vegetables can help keep teeth clean and provide essential vitamins or minerals in their diet, which will make life more enjoyable on both ends — they get their teeth cleaned, and you get to know they’re eating something good for them.
3. Spray Your Way to Healthy Teeth
Pet dental spray is available if your pet refuses to let you brush its teeth and won’t sit still long enough for you to use a wipe. Dental spray can be used to supplement brushing or wiping, but it’s also beneficial to use as a replacement if you have a picky pet. Dental spray can help eliminate buildup when used regularly. It’s also extremely helpful with keeping their breath minty fresh!
4. Feed Your Pets Dry Kibble
Dry kibble is one of the easiest ways to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy. Crunchy kibble has been proven to be better than soft food because of its ability to break down faster in an animal’s mouth. This can prevent decay from happening more easily on the surface area where bacteria can thrive most readily- between our pet’s teeth!
Many types of dry pet food are on the market today designed just to reduce tartar buildup. These products usually work best when combined with other forms of dental hygiene for pets.
5. Take Your Pets to Regular Professional Cleanings
Your veterinarian will be able to check your pet’s teeth for problems, advise you on dental hygiene, and help identify signs of oral diseases or other health problems that may affect the smile. It’s important for your pet to see a professional every year.
Your vet will assess their dental health and determine the best course of treatment. Still, some pets need more frequent checkups than others – especially those with older or advanced problems who are at higher risk for periodontal disease due to overcrowding around their teeth!
If your pet is up-to-date on their vet visits but experiencing any of the following, contact your vet for teeth and gum check.
- Bad breath
- Stinky breath that has gotten worse
- Swollen gums
- Gums that bleed
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive drooling
- Messing with their mouths
- Lumps or growths in their gums
- Broken teeth
- Discolored teeth
Let Us Give Your Pet the 5-Star VIP Treatment
We hope that by following these 5 steps, you can help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and avoid costly dental procedures. There’s no reason to worry about your pet’s teeth while you travel, and there’s no better choice for first-class pet care than Kennel Club LAX. Contact us to book your pet’s stay today!
The staff at Kennel Club LAX have been providing top-notch care to pets since 1983, and we want to provide you with the best possible experience when it comes time for your pet’s stay in our care. We are dedicated to taking excellent care and investing in their future by providing activities and add-ons to enhance their visit! You can even schedule a dental brushing during their visit or exit bath.
