Why brush your pet’s teeth (and how to do it well)?
By Dr Joe Inglis BVSc MRCVS
Most of the benefit is mechanical: the brush, the angle and the daily habit matter more than the paste.
Just imagine not brushing your own teeth for months or even years on end and the state your dental health would end up in, and it’s easy to appreciate just how important regular brushing is to prevent dental disease. And it’s just the same for our pets – without regular brushing, dental plaque builds up on their teeth and leads to the formation of tartar and dental calculus and the development of gum disease which can ultimately lead to severe periodontal disease and the loss of teeth.
So, how exactly does brushing help? Well, despite all the marketing claims of human and pet toothpaste manufacturers, the main way that brushing helps to reduce the development of dental disease is not because of added enzymes or other special ingredients, but through the mechanical action of brushing. As the brush contacts the surface of the tooth, it disrupts the film of bacteria that are feeding on the food residue on the teeth and stops them from developing into tartar (the brown deposits that can build up on teeth) and releasing acids which can damage the enamel surface of the teeth.
As a result of this mechanical action to disrupt the formation of the damaging biofilm on the dental surfaces, regular brushing – ideally twice a day, but definitely once daily – is by far and away the most effective way you can protect your pet’s teeth from dental disease. Added toothpaste ingredients such as enzymes can provide additional benefits, but most of the value of brushing is in the physical action, so getting into the routine of daily brushing is more important than worrying about exactly which toothpaste you use (provided of course that it is safe for dogs and cats as human toothpastes are not suitable for pets).
Just as with our own teeth, how you brush your pet’s teeth is important as it’s easy to end up spending a lot of time and energy brushing their teeth without actually being effective at keeping them healthy. The most important factors are the brush you use and your brushing technique. Your pet toothbrush should be soft to avoid damaging their gums, but in good condition so it is effective at cleaning the teeth and therefore should be replaced on a regular basis. Silicone finger brushes are also effective and are particularly useful in smaller dogs and cats. When you brush, aim to angle the head of the brush, or your finger, at around 45 degrees to the dental surface, and try to make sure you brush all of the teeth as thoroughly as possible.
It’s well worth getting into a regular dental care routine with your pets, based around daily brushing, as it is the best way to avoid the risks of painful dental disease from developing and the associated health risks (and costs). At Luna the Dental Vets, we are passionate about helping pet parents prevent dental disease and we offer membership to our dental health club where we deliver a monthly box of dental care products, along with regular check ups and dental care sessions with our expert clinical teams.