Bad Breath (halitosis)
Bleeding From the Gums
Display of blood on chew toys
As the progression of gingivitis and dental disease progress and become more severe, other symptoms will surface. These include:
Unwillingness to Eat
Drooling
Difficulty in chewing or picking up hard foods
Pain when the mouth is opened
Enlargement of lymph nodes underneath the jaw
Swelling just below the eyes
Severe dental disease can affect other vital organs of the body as the bacteria can spread to the heart, kidneys and brain.
The Veterinary Visit ” Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease
A general physical examination can tell a veterinarian if your dog has dental disease. The procedure is simple consisting of a simple viewing of the mouth, gums and teeth. However, tartar below the gum line cannot be seen so an x-ray will need to be taken. This procedure is generally performed during treatment as they both require anesthesia.
The most effective way to treat tartar accumulation and gingivitis is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure is usually a one day, outpatient procedure, but does require general anesthetic.
While a dog is under anesthesia, the teeth are cleaned and polished in the same manner that a human dentist cleans and polishes peoples teeth. The teeth are cleaned both above and below the gum line.
If severe dental disease and gingivitis are present, x-rays of the teeth and jaws should be taken while the dog is under anesthesia to have its teeth cleaned. This allows assessment of the health of the jawbone and root of the tooth and helps in preparing a treatment plan. In some cases, where there is an abscess or severe infection under or around the tooth root, a tooth may need to be pulled. X-rays of the jaw allow the veterinarian to decide which teeth may or may not need to be pulled. Most dogs do very well after having teeth pulled. A great many of them can even continue to eat dry food after losing a large number of teeth.
There are some owners who choose not to have their dogs teeth removed. Instead, they prefer to visit a veterinary dental specialist to salvage a broken or infected tooth.
Preventing Canine Dental Disease
Brushing your dogs teeth is the best and most effective way to prevent dental disease. Always use a soft brush and toothpaste made especially for your dogs. It is important to note not to use human toothpaste as it was not meant to be swallowed and it tends to foam too much. Below you will find a detailed video on how to brush your dogs teeth.