Dental cleanings are performed to remove the buildup of plaque on the surface of teeth that can contribute to heart disease and other conditions. After your pet’s dental, there are several things you can do at home to maintain their teeth in their newly cleaned condition.
The most effective way to keep your dog’s teeth healthy between dental cleanings is to brush them. While this can be a time consuming effort, it dramatically reduces the number of future dentals needed and improves your pet’s oral health, diminishing the risk for the development of diseases associated with poor dental hygiene. Although brushing every day is optimal, brushing even once a week can be effective to slowing the accumulation of plaque.
There are two other tasty ways to keep your pet’s mouth clean. An oral cleansing mouthwash can be placed in your pet’s water to remove harmful bacteria and prevent bad breath. Additionally, dental chews can help to keep your pet’s teeth clean and are a great snack! These chews are a healthy alternative to rawhide, which can be harmful and cause intestinal blockage, and can reduce the number of dental cleanings your pet requires. Both of these products are available on the Northside Animal Clinic website and can be shipped for free directly to you.
Keeping your pet’s mouth clean is vital to its overall health and wellbeing. Following these guidelines will help to maintain your pet’s oral hygiene needs and extending its life. Talk to your veterinarian to create a dental health plan customized to you.
