Tartar Control in Dogs

Keeping your dog's teeth clean helps avoid bad breath, tooth loss, gum disease and other oral-related problems. Progressive tartar build up promotes infections that may cause heart and kidney problems and become life threatening, warns veterinarian Susan Wynn, Georgia Veterinary Specialists. Periodontal problems affect more than 80 percent of dogs over the age of four, according to Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic veterinarian Jan Bellows.

  1. Veterinarian

    • Plaque, the soft covering on the teeth containing bacteria, mixes with saliva to harden and form tartar (calculus). Tartar causes minimal problems; however, it allows more plaque to form and leads to periodontal problems, according to University of Pennsylvania. Once formed, your dog needs a veterinarian to sedate him in order to remove the tartar above and below the gum line effectively and safely. Attempting home removal risks injuring your dog's gums and introducing bacteria into the blood. Once cleaned, taking steps to control tartar helps your dog keep a healthy mouth.

    Brushing

    • Bacteria from the plaque gets below the gum lines when not removed daily, resulting in inflammation of the gums and the buildup of tartar. Daily brushing helps remove plaque before it hardens into tartar and helps reduce the amount forming below the gum line. Start teaching your dog to allow brushing by rubbing your finger along the outer teeth daily for about a week then begin using a soft toothbrush with dog toothpaste, advises University of California Davis. Increase the effectiveness of brushing by pushing the toothpaste into the bristles before brushing to prevent the dog licking it off quickly and by holding the brush at a 45-degree angle, suggests University of California Davis. Do not use human toothpaste as it contains unsafe ingredients for your dog.

    Food

    • Feeding dry dog food does not remove tartar at the gum line and canned food sticks to the teeth and contributes to an increase in tartar, according to Vetinfo. Feeding raw meaty bones helps remove plaque and prevent tartar; however, raw bone diets may pose risks including fractured teeth and intestinal tears, warns veterinarian Susan Wynn, Georgia Veterinary Specialists.

    Treats

    • Rare or blanched tough meat chunks, including beef stew cuts, chuck steak, lamb shanks and beef knuckle bones, fed to your dog twice a week help remove plaque and avoid tartar formation, according to Wynn. Make sure to feed large enough chunks to force the dog to chew, not just swallow. Dental treats, including those with sodium hexametaphosphate, help prevent tartar from forming, advises University of Pennsylvania. Check labeling on products for an approval seal by the Veterinary Oral Health Council indicating it meets requirements for aiding in tartar control. Supervise your dog with treats to make sure it chews properly to avoid gastrointestinal issues and choking, warns University of Illinois information specialist Kim Marie Labak.

    Chews

    • Hard rubber and nylon bones and toys provide your dog with chewing stimulation while helping remove plaque. Avoid items such as hard plastic or sterilized bones though to avoid your dog breaking its teeth, warns University of California Davis. Supervise your dog and remove chews it breaks or that become small enough to swallow.

    Additional Products

    • Consult with your veterinarian about products to help remove plaque such as mouth sprays, rinses and additives for its water. Dogs with chronic ulcerative paradental stomatitis (CUPS) disease and other disorders may require several products, brushing and other medications to help control plaque and tartar.