Your dog's teeth and gums are very similar to your own. Although dogs may have less mouth bacteria than humans, almost 85 percent of dogs have some gum disease by the time they are three years old.
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Teeth
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Saliva mixes with bacteria in the mouth to form plaque on the teeth, which hardens into tartar and irritates the gums, creating gingivitis. Broken teeth can cause infections in the root and gum.
Effect
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The tartar blocks oxygen to the tooth, and tartar bacteria can destroy the tooth, gum tissues and eventually the bone around the tooth. If unchecked, your dog's jaw can break from the damage.
Bacteria
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With severe periodontal disease the bacteria can enter the blood stream and cause heart and organ damage.
Symptoms
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Gum disease symptoms include yellow or brown teeth, bleeding gums, redness and gums separating from the teeth and swelling. Your dog may have bad breath, not eat, spill food out of its mouth as it eats or lose teeth.
Prevention
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Brushing teeth is the best prevention. Brushing your dog's teeth is the best way to prevent gum disease. Do not use human toothpaste. Some products like Novaldent Oral Solution or dental chew treats with sodium hexametaphosphate may help prevent and remove some plaque between cleaning.
Treatment
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Dogs need routine tartar removal by a veterinarian. The American Animal Hospital Association also recommends fluoride sealers or plaque repellent treatments.
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