Dental plaque and dental problems in dogs and cats.

Does dental plaque often cause dental problems in dogs and cats?

. Many times, dental problems in dogs and cats correspond to complaints we ourselves may have. The thing is, however, that we do not always recognise them as such, because dogs and cats often do not indicate that there is actually a problem in the mouth.

Failure to remove dental plaque causes dental problems in pets.

Dental plaque or dental plaque occurs on the teeth of many animals. Initially, this will not cause a nuisance but when will it? Dental plaque is formed when barely visible food particles (proteins) remain on the teeth and bacteria settle in the leftovers. Together, this then forms a very thin layer on the elements of the teeth and is called biofilm. Often, this will be on the edge of the gums and tooth. When more bacteria start to accumulate in this plaque layer, this, in combination with saliva, can turn into tartar. Tartar is hard as the name suggests and cannot be brushed away, but will have to be removed by the vet. The tartar has a rougher surface, making it easier for new bacteria to stick to it as well, which causes an increase in the tartar already present. In addition, new bacteria will also stick to it more easily. The presence of the bacteria around the teeth will increase the risk of tooth decay in the direct vicinity of the tartar.

The tartar present with the accumulation of extra bacteria will also cause irritation of the adjacent gums. When the gums become irritated, chances are that they will also become inflamed. This is because the bacteria remain present because the tartar is not removed. Gingivitis, inflamed gums, is a mild inflammation and can often fully recover by having the teeth thoroughly cleaned, removing plaque and tartar. If dental cleaning happens too late or not accurately enough, periodontitis develops. This is a very extensive inflammation where the gums loosen from the teeth but where the jawbone also softens. This together causes the teeth to become loose in the jaw. These loose teeth will fall out or have to be pulled because the dog or cat suffers a lot.

-This is an automated translation-