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Oral health is more important to your dog’s overall health than you may realize. In fact, gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is one of the biggest threats to your dog’s health. It affects up to 80% of dogs by three years of age. 1 |
Common Problem, Often Overlooked
Dental hygiene is not just about sparkling teeth and fresh breath. The effects of dental neglect can lead to damage to the jawbones and loss of teeth. It may even lead to disease, reduced immunity and infections that can spread to vital organs and cause serious damage. That’s why it’s crucial that dental check-ups are part of your pet's annual veterinary visit. Brushing your dog’s teeth and feeding him PEDIGREE® snacks and treats are a great supplement to his oral care, but not a stand-in for regular clinical veterinary cleanings.
One of the most common changes seen in older dogs is dental disease. Unless you've been diligent about making sure your dog has had proper dental care since he was a pup, it's quite possible that your dog has some sort of dental disease.
A dog’s mouth has many different types of bacteria:
Plaque is a soft sticky film that forms when food debris, bacteria and proteins in the saliva combine and build-up on the tooth surface.
Tartar (or calculus) occurs when minerals in saliva combine with plaque to form a hardened yellow coloured substance. Over time it may turn brownish red. Tartar adheres strongly to the tooth, requiring significant mechanical abrasion to remove it.
Causes of Dental Disease
Just like humans, dogs accumulate plaque in the mouth from everyday activities like eating. Dental problems are caused when plaque is left to build up and combine with bacteria found in the mouth. As plaque hardens, it forms tartar, which can cause painful reddening and inflammation of the gums (also known as gingivitis).
The Four Stages of Oral Health
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Stage 1—Healthy |
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Stage 2—Gingivitis |
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Stage 3—Early Periodontitis |
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Stage 4—Advanced Periodontitis |
You can learn more about each of the four stages of oral disease in the next article on
Spotting Signs of Dental Disease.
PEDIGREE® has a range of scientifically designed oral care snacks that are effective and tasty:
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For a delicious daily snack, try PEDIGREE ® DENTA STIX ®. The clinically proven daily snack with a unique X shape that helps clean down the gumline, reduces plaque and tarter build-up, freshens breath, and helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Learn more. |
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For deep cleaning, give your dog PEDIGREE ® DENTABONE ® Snack. It’s clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar build-up. With its unique bone shape and abrasive texture, it deep cleans to reach even the least accessible teeth. Learn more. |
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For additional breath freshening, PEDIGREE ® BREATHBUSTER ® biscuits are a delicious snack containing parsley and eucalyptus. Learn more. |
1. Prevalence of Dental Disorders in Pet Dogs; Kyllar, M. and Witter, K. Journal of Veterinary Medicine – Czech; 2005, Vol 50 (11): 496 – 505