Dog - Tartar (Calculus) Prevention

What is tartar?

Within a few hours of a meal an invisible layer of bacteria forms on the teeth. This is plaque. Within 24 hours this starts to harden, absorb minerals and becomes dental calculus or tartar.

This is harmful in two ways. Firstly, it serves as a refuge for bacteria in the mouth in which they multiply. There is scientific evidence that oral bacteria can enter the blood stream and can cause problems in various organs. Secondly, tartar not only forms on the crowns (visible parts) of the teeth but also builds up at the gum margin. As it increases it gradually pushes the gums away from the roots of the teeth. Bacteria then enter the sockets and cause loosening of the teeth.

What can I do to prevent this happening?

Following a scale and polish under general anaesthetic, or, better still, starting from when you acquire a puppy, we recommend the following steps which will help to reduce the formation of further plaque and calculus.

1. Regular brushing of the teeth is the most effective means of removing plaque thus preventing calculus formation. Do not use human toothpaste.There are several canine products available. Brushing should be carried out at least twice weekly and ideally daily if possible. Specially shaped tooth brushes make the task easier.
2. Start by getting your dog used to the procedure by dipping the brush in his dinner. Do not try to clean the inside of the teeth, the dog’s tongue will do that effectively. Confine your brushing to the buccal (outside) surface.
3. Try feeding one of the commercial dental care foods, if necessary mixing it with the usual food. If you have difficulties, as an alternative, try to encourage chewing rawhide or dental chew toys. This has been shown to lower calculus build-up considerably.
4. Special mouthwash is available that can be added to the drinking water or placed directly in the mouth. Other preparations are available that can be applied to the inside of the lips. The action of these preparations is similar to a human mouth wash. They reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth, resulting in less bad breath and plaque.
5. Some dogs are more prone to calculus build-up than others. In these cases it may be beneficial to arrange regular dental check-ups with scaling and polishing under general anaesthetic as necessary.

Please contact us if we can help.