Home Dental Care

Home dental care is extremely important in preserving oral health for dogs and cats.  Home care may be started early in life to prevent early dental disease in puppies and kittens and to accustom them to having their mouth examined and teeth brushed.  

Regardless of the age at which it is started, home dental care on a regular basis helps to improve dental health and delay the need for professional dental procedures.  The choice of home dental care options depends on many factors. Some questions to answer include:

• How easy it is to handle my pet's mouth?
• How much time and effort am I willing to commit to my pet's dental care? Fifteen minutes daily, weekly?
• Is ease of use of primary importance, even if the product or method may not be as effective? Remember, highly effective methods, such as teeth brushing, are not very effective if they are infrequently done. 

The table below provides a good overview of these options and factors. 

All of the home care options listed above can be used together for even better oral health.

Tooth brushing is the best way to prevent dental disease.  To be effective brushing needs to be performed daily which can be difficult for many pet owners.  Special pet toothpaste is required because human toothpaste contains fluoride which is harmful if swallowed.  We have pet toothpaste and brushes on hand and are more than happy to show you how to effectively brush your pet's teeth. 

How to brush your pet's teeth

Oravet Gel is a polymer that binds to the surface of teeth to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.  It is applied after a dental cleaning and then weekly at home.  Many of our clients who do not have time to brush teeth daily find Oravet Gel a convienent and effective compromise. 

How to apply Oravet

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Maxi Gard Gel is an antibacterial gel that is applied to the surface of teeth and gums once daily.   By reducing harmful bacterial numbers, Maxi Gard improves the overall health of your pet's mouth. Maxi Gard also stimulates gum healing.  It is an excellent option for pets who will allow some handling of the mouth but will not tolerate brushing. 

T/D Diet is a prescription dry dental diet made by Science Diet pet foods.  The structure of the kibbles serves to clean teeth surfaces as your pet chews.  It is a great option for pets that will not allow their mouths to be handled.  For clients who are unable to feed T/D as the sole diet, the kibble is also effective when fed as treats.

More information on T/D

Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information.