PERIODONTAL DISEASE
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Now that you have a better understanding of what periodontal disease is and what to look for, how do you prevent and treat it?

Prevention – There are a few things that you can do to help prevent periodontal disease. Dental cleanings at a veterinarian are more in-depth and require the pet to be under anesthesia while the vet and her technician scale off the dental calculus, evaluate, and polish the teeth. However, your pet doesn’t have to have dental disease in order to get a full cleaning done. This can also be used as a preventative measure to help prevent any future tooth decay!
You can also find pet-safe toothpastes at your local pet store (typically beef, chicken, or mint flavored), purchase a finger toothbrush or regular toothbrush, and brush your pet’s teeth at least 3-4 times per week.

Dental chews can also be used to help reduce mild plaque and to help prevent plaque from developing. At ACGSVH we offer OraVet chews – veterinarian-approved and doggy-approved, these chews are perfect for dogs of all sizes. Dental rinses and water additives can also be purchased in some pet stores and online.
Treatment – As previously mentioned, a full dental cleaning at the veterinarian’s office can be used to prevent and also to treat dental disease. If your pet has one of the 4 stages of periodontal disease, then the only way to treat it is with a dental cleaning with your vet.
Brushing their teeth and using dental chews after the procedure will help reduce the chances of developing dental disease again in the future. However, these methods will not be effective in treating true dental disease.