free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

1-877-937-4372 the pet expert hotline

free shipping over $100 (USA & Canada)

Mouth Drops for Dogs

A natural herbal oral supplement that aids in eliminating bad breath, gingivitis, and helps combat bacterial infections of the mouth and helps guard against tooth decay and plaque.

USD $49.95
Mouth Drops for Dogs USD $49.95 Add to Cart

How To Prevent Plaque And Tartar On Your Pet’s Teeth

Vet Talks 3 min read
Golden retriever dog smiling with his teeth showing

Plaque is effectively removed mechanically with a toothbrush.

Humans have the habit to brush their teeth every day but when it comes to our pets, this task can be complicated. Poor hygiene is a big problem as it can cause plaque and tartar that is dangerous for our pets. Unfortunately, it can affect more than 80% of dogs and cats over 3 years old.

In the advanced stage, there is a risk of tooth loss and even death. It also can reach the blood vessel resulting in generalized infection, kidney, and heart diseases. That’s why it is important that we take good care of our furkiddos’ teeth.

What Are Plaque and Tartar? Why Should You Be Concerned About It?

Plaque is a thin film of food debris, bacteria, saliva, and dead cells that are continually deposited on your pet’s teeth. Plaque that is present for more than 72 hours begins to harden into a substance called tartar (calculus) that accumulates at the base of the teeth. This buildup irritates contributes to the development of diseases such as periodontal disease (periodontitis), gum disease (gingivitis/swollen gums), heart disease, etc.

How Can You Tell If Your Pet Has It?

A good indication that your little one has tartar and/or plaque buildup is the yellow or brown discoloration of the teeth along the gum line. For gingivitis, the gums change in color from coral pink to red or purple, and the edge of the gum swells. The inflamed gums will often have a plaque at the base of the teeth. Bad breath can also be a sign of dental issues.

Cat getting their teeth brushed to prevent plaque and tartar.

How Do You Prevent Or Treat It?

Plaque is a typical biofilm, composed of many microorganisms that are more resistant to antibiotics, disinfectants, and antibacterial agents. However, biofilms are easily and effectively removed mechanically with a toothbrush. The ideal would be brushing the teeth daily to remove the plaque and prevent tartar accumulation. Toothpaste made for people should not be used as it can be toxic to your pet. As some dogs and cats may not allow regular toothbrushing, you can remove the plaque by wiping every second or third day with a gauze pad. Plaque that remains on the tooth surface for more than 3 days mineralizes to form calculus that cannot be removed by brushing.

The texture of the diet treats, and toys may be helpful as well to cleaning the teeth. As they are firm it allows tooth penetration and may wipe the plaque from the tooth surfaces during chewing. In addition, some diet formulations are specific to help decrease oral bacteria and slow plaque mineralization.

Products such as Mouth Drops, that slow and prevent the plaque film from adhering to the teeth are also helpful.

Mouth Drops is a herbal, oral disinfectant that aids in eliminating bad breath, gingivitis, and helps combat bacterial infections of the mouth, and helps guard against tooth decay and plaque. Mouth Drops works similarly to mouthwash for humans and does not replace regular teeth brushing. We recommend using Mouth Drops after brushing their teeth for additional support or twice daily (after meals) for pets that will not allow teeth brushing.

If you have any questions about your pet’s oral health and ways you can keep those pearly whites healthy, we’re here to help! Click the button below to start chatting with our pet expert team now.

Dr. Amanda Nascimento DVM, MVSc, PhD

Dr. Amanda Nascimento DVM, MVSc, PhD

Dr. Amanda completed her undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine in 2010 and graduate studies in veterinary pathology (MVSc. 2012 and PhD 2016) at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo. She completed her post-doctoral training at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine – University of Saskatchewan in 2018. Dr. Nascimento will be hosting her own blog series and sharing her knowledge with our extended NHV family.

Published: June 23, 2021

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like