It’s Pet Dental Health Month!
Your pet’s dental health is just as important as their regular health, as dental problems can cause other health problems. A pet’s gums and teeth should be checked at least once a year by its veterinarian to make sure that they’re healthy.
Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most important thing you can do to maintain their good dental health. It’s good to aim for brushing their teeth two to three times a week, but sometimes brushing frequently can be hard, as pets will fight it, which is why it’s important to make sure the pet is maintaining a healthy diet at all times. Avoid giving a pet table scraps, and stick to their own specifically formulated diet and dental treats when wanting to treat them. If the pet like to chew, giving them chew toys to scrape plaque from their teeth and strengthen their gums is effective, too.
Aside from the simple toothbrush and toothpaste, there are dental wipes, drops of mouthwash that you add to a pet’s water, and dental pills to take that will improve dental health as well. Simply regularly checking your pets’ breath for especially offensive smells, checking their lips and gums for swells and irregular colors, and looking for loose or rotting teeth, is a good step toward making sure that their dental health is the best it can be between veterinary checkups.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local pet store if you have questions on this or any pet related topic.