Do dogs need dental care?

One of the biggest recommendations that veterinarians make these days are for routine dental cleanings.  But why?  We've had dogs for years and we never had their teeth cleaned, why start now?  The easiest answer is.......Your pets overall health and their oral health go hand in hand, just like humans.  When is the last time that you saw an olympic athelete with rotten teeth?  When is the last time that you saw a beautiful smile in a person in terrible health?  Brushing a dog or cats teeth, chew toys and certain types of food can all help to decrease the amount of plaque and tartar build-up that they have, but they do not replace professional cleanings.  Just because you brush your teeth everyday (hopefully) that doesn't keep you from going to the dentist.  But it does decrease the amount of work that your dentist have to perform on your mouth.  We take dental x-rays before dental cleanings on pets just like your dentist.  That gives us a picture of what's going on below the gum line, which is the most important place.  Some teeth may look normal above the gum line but x-rays may show that the tooth is starting to decay.  Unfortunately, our pets can't tell us when their mouth hurts, but if you have ever had a tooth ache, you know how painful they can be.  Dental disease can also lead to heart and kidney disease.  The bottom line is, proper dental care can add years of quality life to your pet.  Starting early is the key.  if we start early and clean their teeth as a preventative, then they still have teeth to clean when they are older.