Natural Pet Dental Care For Your Furry Family Member

Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums healthy with natural pet dental care will help prevent not only bad breath, periodontal disease, and an uncomfortable or even painful mouth, but also more serious chronic conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, heart conditions and joint problems.

Wild animals have eating habits that keep the teeth clean and strong. The typical diet of your domestic pet does not. Proper dental care throughout your pet's life is essential for optimal health.

Did you know that all dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease by the age of 3? It could range from mild tartar build up to severe infection and tooth loss. It’s really important that your pet get an annual dental exam and cleaning as needed (by preference), but most importantly that you provide natural pet dental care at home.

A real eye opener is that within just a few hours of brushing, bacteria begins to build up on the surface of the teeth. The bacteria secrete a substance that attaches them more firmly to the teeth. Combined, the bacteria and secretion form plaque. If plaque isn’t removed it turns into tartar within 48 hours of brushing.

If it isn’t treated tartar buildup can lead to periodontal disease, infection, tooth decay and fractures. This will surely deteriorate your pet’s quality of life. Sometimes bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause infection in the heart, liver and kidneys, not to mention inflammation in joints and other areas. In most cases the reason for a cranky pet is brought on by dental problems, and once corrected will again become happy and playful. Diet does play an important role in dental disease but some breeds like Abyssinian cats and toy-breed dogs have a tendency to develop severe gingivitis. Animals with “smushed” in faces also have cavity prone teeth because of the overcrowding. Some pets may need minimal natural pet dental care, while others may require an annual cleaning.

Here are four steps to prevent dental disease in your pet:

1. Healthy Diet
This is important because the healthier your pet the better their immune system and the less likely it will be for infection to develop. A meat-based diet helps maintain a healthier mouth environment. A lot of people think dry food cleans the teeth, but the most that can be said is that it produces slightly less tartar then canned food. The truth is that the food type is not important, it’s the quality of the ingredients that matters. Poor quality foods contain by-product meal, corn gluten and cellulose and sometimes even glycerin which is actually sugar! Definitely not good for the teeth!

2. Brushing at Home
The best way of preventing dental disease at home is brushing the teeth. Ideally, you should brush your pet's teeth daily. Brushing removes plaque on the outside of the crown (above-gum portion) of the tooth, and stimulates the gums to keep them healthy. However, plaque can still accumulate below the gum line; so an annual check-up is still an essential part of natural pet dental health. Your veterinarian can show you how to brush your pet's teeth, but it may still turn into a battle at home, which is the last thing you want! Here are a few tips to get you going:

• Buy a finger brush and toothpaste designed for pets or use gauze wrapped around your finger. Don’t use a human brush or even a pet brush on a stick; these can severely injure the gums without you knowing it! Using a finger brush or gauze is very safe and can make brushing more tolerable for your pet.
• Cats love to have their faces rubbed at the corners of the mouth, and most dogs tolerate it and even enjoy it. Gently rubbing that area is a good place to start. Each time you do, run your finger a little farther forward along the lips.
• Gradually extend your rubbing by slipping your finger under the lips and massaging the gums gently. Take this step slowly and back off immediately if your pet starts to struggle.
• Put a little pet toothpaste (never human toothpaste!) on your finger when you're rubbing. Most pets love the taste.
• Put the brush or gauze on your finger with a little toothpaste. This will only be a little different from what you've been doing. If your pet struggles, remove the brush or gauze and go back a step.
For natural pet dental care the best thing to do is to brush every day, but don’t sweat it if you miss a day. If you brush every other day and then miss a session you’ve lost several days and the plaque will start to accumulate.

4. Regular Check Ups
Doing a regular check up on your pet is very important, especially for an older pet. Give your pet a general dental check once a month. Lift the lips so that you can see the teeth furthest in the back. Those are usually the trouble sources. If there’s a bad smell or redness in the gums, then you may want to get help from your veterinarian. Every year during your pet’s annual wellness check up have your veterinarian do a thorough assessment of the mouth.

5. Dental Procedures
If your veterinarian finds tartar build-up or any periodontal disease, you could consider having a full dental cleaning performed under anesthesia. If you have an older pet or a pet with a compromised immune system, or you just don’t feel comfortable putting you pet under anesthesia, a safe option for natural pet dental care is PetzLife Oral Care Spray and Oral Care Gel . The all-natural ingredients safely remove plaque and tartar, help reverse oral disease, promote healthy gums, whiten teeth and kill the bacteria that causes bad breath. No matter what you decide to do your pet will definitely benefit from a healthier and more comfortable mouth.

Taking care of your pet’s teeth with natural pet dental care is one of the best gifts you can give them. Although it entails time and dedication it will go a long way in preventing disease and discomfort and will give them and longer and healthier life.

Tips: Supplementing with Vitamin C and CoEnzyme Q10 can help promote the health and healing of gum tissue as well.

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