Does My Pet Need Dental Cleaning? Importance Of Good Oral Hygiene

Taking care of your furry confidant's pearly whites is crucial for their overall health. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, deficient dental care can cause periodontal (gum) disease and can also lead to severe health problems and unbearable pain. Your furry friend's teeth and gums should be medically examined at least once in 12-13 months by your veterinary doctor to recognize initial signs of problems and to keep the pet's mouth healthy. The veterinary visit includes pet dental cleaning, extraction or filling, and other oral health care aspects. The process begins with an oral inspection of your pet's jaw by radiographs that assist in evaluating the health condition of the jaw and tooth roots below the gums. After the veterinarian evaluates the mouth, thorough dental cleaning is done under anesthesia. Pet dental cleaning includes scaling, polishing, and similar practices used on your teeth during dental cleanings.

Why does your pet need dental cleaning?

Poor oral health can impetus the development of oral diseases like periodontal, gingivitis, plaque in the teeth, and the weakening of gums underneath. These severe conditions, if overlooked, can lead to excruciating pain, inflammation, infection, or tooth decay. Plaque and bacteria from the detrimental oral hygiene of your pet's mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs heart, liver, and kidneys. Frequent visit to veterinary specialists for pet dental cleaning avoids severe health issues for your pet.

Veterinary experts highly recommend regular, at-home brushing. It helps your furry friend's mouth be healthy every day and reduces the number of veterinary visits they will require overtime. However, even pets with substantial oral hygiene will still require occasional veterinary dental cleaning, removing plaque and tartar from teeth. While daily brushing is best, brushing several times a week has also proved to be effective. There are many pet-marked products with claims of improving your pet's dental health, but not all of them prove to be effective. Consult your veterinarian before purchasing any dental products, dental-specific edibles from any personal pet care services or pet stores.

What to expect in a dental cleaning service?

Vet dental visits can depend upon the size, species, and severity of oral problems. For deep cleaning, the vet will access the area under the gumline, which can startle your fully awake pet (which is why anesthetizing is recommended). Scaling and polishing the crown of the tooth is the following step. Finally, the vet may take an X-ray to examine the tooth and jaw problems visible to the naked eyes to determine the oral health needs of your pet.

Post Dental Cleaning care

Most pets recover relatively quickly from the after-effects of dental cleaning. The doctor will use anesthesia and other techniques to minimize pain and discomfort. Additionally, anesthesia allows better cleaning because the pet is not moving around and risking injury from the dental procedures. A little dizziness and post-anesthesia anxiety are usual.

Soft textured food is recommended if your pet underwent some dental extraction. If numerous extractions and oral manipulation were performed in the dental proceedings, veterinary specialists often recommend pain relief.