How To Remove Dog Teeth Tartar And Plaque

Healthy teeth and gums are crucial to your dog’s overall happiness, whether they are playing tug of war or chewing on treats. A great way to keep your dog’s teeth healthy and avoid dental disease is to establish a daily oral care regime care against a build-up of plaque and tartar on dog’s teeth.

How Many Dogs are Affected by Dental Diseases?

Dental diseases in dogs are quite common. Vets have revealed that over 80% of dogs incur some sort of dental ailments by the time they turn three years old. Studies show that dental diseases that dogs suffer from are quite similar to the dental diseases that humans suffer from. However, unlike humans, the most common dental problems that dogs suffer from are periodontal diseases. These diseases occur due to issues like inflammation or infection of the periodontium, which are specialised tissues that surround and support the teeth. Studies show that if periodontal diseases in dogs are left untreated, they might cause extreme discomfort and pain, including tooth decay and even tooth loss. According to a Pedigree study, 80% of dogs over the age of three years suffer from periodontal diseases.

Plaque and Tartar in Dogs

Apart from periodontal diseases, plaque on a dog’s teeth can also become a major health concern for them. Plaque forms on dogs’ teeth when the food they eat gets stuck between their teeth. The stuck food causes the bacteria in their mouth to multiply and form a layer on the surface of their teeth, which is called plaque. Within 3-5 days, if the plaque remains in contact with the tooth, this plaque hardens into tartar in dogs’ mouths when it remains uncleaned. Removing tartar from dogs’ teeth then becomes extremely important because it can further cause major illnesses and tooth decay.

Tartar is formed when the existing plaque mixes with minerals in your dog’s saliva. Tartar is noticeable from its brown appearance, which looks rough on the surface of your dog’s teeth. Bad breath in dogs and inflammation of the gums also go hand in hand with the build-up of tartar. If the tartar on dog’s teeth is not removed, it can cause many dental issues including gingivitis and periodontal disease in dogs.

Why is Dental Care Important for Dogs?

Dental health is a major concern for dogs, just like it is for humans. Here are five reasons why keeping your dog’s oral health in check is extremely important:

1. Prevents loss of teeth - Ailments like tartar and periodontal diseases can weaken the gums and supporting tissues of your dog’s teeth, eventually causing loss of teeth. Good oral care can prevent that from happening.
2. Prevents bad breath - Keeping your dog’s dental health in check will also ensure that they do not have foul-smelling breath.
3. Prevents toothache - Toothache can be very painful for dogs, just as it is for us. When you keep your dog’s mouth healthy, you are saving them from this pain which can occur due to several dental diseases.
4. Averts oral diseases - As we saw earlier, more than 80% of dogs incur dental diseases by the time they turn three. These diseases, like gingivitis, periodontal diseases, etc., can cause a lot of damage if not detected and treated early. By following a good oral care procedure for your dog, you can prevent those diseases from ever occurring.
5. Prevents major ailments of the heart, kidneys, and liver - Your dog’s unclean mouth can cause significant multiplication of bacteria, which can be deadly. It can lead to major illnesses in your dog’s body and can damage their kidneys, liver, or heart. By keeping their oral health in check, you can truly save your dog’s life. 

Common Problems Caused by Dental Diseases

1. Heart Failure

Once again, let us take a look at what bacteria present in your dog’s mouth can do if left unchecked. The bacteria, which causes plaque and tartar in dogs, is quite deadly. When it is left unremoved, it can enter your dog’s bloodstream. From this bloodstream, it can reach their major organs, like the heart. The bacteria can then cause bacterial endocarditis which causes inflammation in the heart. It can damage the valves, leading to congestive heart failure.

2. Kidneys & Liver Inflammation

Like the heart, the bacteria that enter your dog’s bloodstream from their mouth can also cause damage to their liver and kidneys. Observations have shown that a dog’s liver and kidneys are even more susceptible to damage due to the bacteria. This is because both these organs play an important role in filtering the blood. This can cause the bacteria to spread from the teeth to these organs, causing infection and inflammation.

3. Jaw Fractures

Periodontal diseases cause severe weakening of teeth, gums, and the tissues around the teeth. This can then lead to decay and falling of teeth, decay of jaws, and fracture of jaws, which can sometimes be beyond repair. The jaw fractures can be extremely painful to the dogs and can also cause further damage to their bones.

Since the poor oral health of dogs can lead to so many issues, it is necessary to understand how to remove tartar and plaque from dogs’ teeth. Upon noticing tartar in your dog’s mouth, you can directly consult your vet, and get the cure. But what then? Then, comes prevention. Prevention to avoid the need to seek a cure in future.

Oral care is a regular practice and PEDIGREE® can help you keep your dog’s oral health in check with Dentastix™.

How does PEDIGREE® Dentastix™ Treat Help Prevent Plaque & Tartar in Dogs?

PEDIGREE® Dentastix™ treat is a chew treat for dogs that is scientifically proven to help reduce a dog’s tartar build-up by up to 80%. It contains active ingredients such as Zinc Sulphate and Sodium Triphosphate that help in reducing tartar build up. You can simply feed your dog 1 Dentastix™ treat a day, and you will get the results.

Benefits of PEDIGREE® Dentastix™

1. Triple Action: PEDIGREE® Dentastix™ treat is a triple action treat. It helps in the removal of tartar from dogs’ teeth by reducing tartar build-up by up to 80%. Along with that, the treat also cleans your dog’s teeth that are hard to reach and also supports their gum health.
2. High Calcium: Dentastix™ treats are high in calcium and help in making your dog’s bones and teeth healthier.
3. Dogs Love Them: Dentastix™ treats are designed with gently abrasive texture, because of which dogs love chewing on them.

How to Take Care of Your Dog's Oral Health?

• Brushing dog's teeth at least thrice a week.
• Take them to a vet for regular dental check-ups. You can also take tips from your vet regarding how to remove tartar from your dog’s teeth.
• Feed your dog one PEDIGREE® Dentastix™ treat a day. Do not break the treats into bite-size pieces, rather, give them the whole stick to chew.