【Dog Health Guide】5 Ways to Prevent Teeth Aging

As an owner, you should brush your teeth every day to keep your teeth healthy, but do you brush your dog’s teeth every day? Dogs' teeth serve many important functions, including chewing and tearing food, grasping objects, expressing emotions, grooming, and defense or attack. Once a dog's teeth change, if they are not properly cared for, signs of tooth aging such as tartar accumulation, tartar, breakage, and loss will appear early, which will have many negative impacts on their lives.

Learn about dog teeth

Dogs will gradually grow deciduous teeth from 20 days after birth to 3 months old. From 4 months to 1 year old, the deciduous teeth will be replaced one by one by new permanent teeth and will be used for life. Regardless of whether they are small dogs or large dogs, normal dogs have 42 teeth, and the enamel of their teeth is thinner and more susceptible to damage than humans.

The most common cause of early aging of their teeth is not brushing after meals. Plaque can form within 24 hours, turn into tartar within 3 days, and cause gum inflammation within 2 weeks. Over time, teeth may become yellow, black, painful, loose, have bad breath, have red and swollen gums, or even fall off. Small dogs or short-muzzled dogs are particularly prone to dental problems. Here are the effects of premature aging of your dog’s teeth:

• Pain and discomfort: Aging teeth are often accompanied by periodontal disease, causing discomfort such as tooth pain, looseness, redness, swelling or bleeding of the gums.
  

• Refusal to eat: The pain and looseness of the teeth make it difficult for the dog to chew. The dog may gradually evolve from a picky eater to a refusal to eat, or a loss of appetite.
  

• Bad mood: The pain and discomfort make the dog become anxious, irritable, and have reduced activity.
  

• Impact on health: Reduced food intake or refusal to eat can lead to malnutrition. If you suffer from periodontal disease, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect the heart, respiratory system or kidneys, negatively affecting your overall health.
  

• Severe bad breath: Oral bacteria accumulate and multiply, causing bad breath.
  

• Jaw fracture: Without teeth, if the dog uses the jaw bone to bite food, it will increase the burden on the jaw bone and cause fracture at any time.

5 tips to prevent dog teeth from aging

1. Brush teeth regularly: Develop the habit of brushing teeth for dogs since they are puppies, and brush teeth at least once a day. If the owner can brush the dog's teeth after eating, the oral hygiene will be better. If your dog is very resistant to brushing, you can also use pet-specific mouthwash or cleaning gel to improve the oral environment.
   

2. Diet control: The dog's diet directly affects dental health. If the dog only eats wet food all the time, it will accelerate the formation of tartar; if it only bites hard objects, it will also cause damage to the teeth. Owners should choose dog food with appropriate hardness or chewing resistance for their dogs to increase their chances of cleaning their gums and make their teeth stronger. Also avoid giving too many sweets and snacks.
   

3. Change drinking water every day: keep the water fresh and avoid bacteria from growing and adhering to the tooth surface.
   

4. Make good use of teeth cleaning snacks and toys: There are many teeth cleaning sticks, snacks and toys specially designed for teeth cleaning on the market, which can help dogs grind their teeth, remove tartar, and prevent tartar and plaque.
   

5. Regular teeth cleaning & dental check-up: Taking your dog to the veterinary clinic for dental check-up at least once a year can detect dental problems early and provide necessary cleaning and treatment.

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Disclaimer: This article is prepared by an independent third party and is not sponsored. The content provided is solely for informational purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not represent any specific viewpoint. In the event of any discomfort or health issues, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly.