February is Pet Dental Health Month

Is Pet Dental Health Month for the Dogs?

In addition to National Children’s Dental Health Month, February is also Pet Dental Health Month, so no technically it’s not just for the pooches.

Pet Dental Health Month is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medial Association, and helps build awareness by delivering the message that dental health is an important part of maintaining overall health for not only our beloved Boxers or posh Persians, but all of our pets.

Pets Need Proper Dental Care Too – In Dental Health Month & All Year Long!

Have you ever even examined or cleaned your pet’s teeth?

Do you find your pet’s breath unbearable?

Don’t let neglect kick you in the rear with higher costs when your dog or cat develops gum disease, oral infections, or worse.

Bad breath could be a sign of dental disease to come, and it won’t get less expensive to treat when potentially minor problems develop into full-blown disease.

Preventive dental care for ourselves and our pets can save us money in the long run.

Every February Pet Dental Health Month reminds us pet owners that brushing our pet’s teeth is good for both our pet’s health and our budget.

Just like in humans, when the inflammation and infection associated with gum disease starts off in the mouth it can have a systemic effect throughout the entire body.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the organs most often affected by oral diseases are the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver, and even the nervous system.
 

 
Three out of four Americans have some form of periodontal disease and only 3 out of 100 will ever get treated before its too late.

Dental disease affects our pets too, – whether it’s Pet Dental Health Month or not – a whopping 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of three.

Signs of Dental Disease In Our Pets

When we know what to look for we can better address a small problem before it becomes larger.

A few pet dental health indicators to be aware of from the AVMA lists the following on their website:

• Red swollen gums and brownish teeth.
• Bad breath — Most pets have breath that is less than fresh, but if it becomes truly repugnant, similar to the smell of a rotten egg, it’s a sign that periodontal disease has already started.
• Bleeding from the mouth.
• Frequent pawing or rubbing at the face and/or mouth.
• Reluctance to eat hard foods—for example, picking it up and then spitting it out.

Take Care of Your Pet’s Dental Health Every Day

While February is National Pet Dental Health Month and certainly a time to raise awareness, maintaining optimal dental health for our pets really needs to be more of a daily ritual than a once a year thing.

“It’s something you do every morning, part of your daily routine—brush your teeth. While most people take care of their own mouths, they often forget that they also should take care of their pet’s teeth through a regular dental health care regimen,” explains Dr. Clark K. Fobian, president of the AVMA.

If our pets are members of the family, why would we not want to take care of their dental health?

Somerset NJ Dentist: Advanced Dental Arts by Joseph Haddad, D.D.S.

Our patient’s comfort is our primary concern. We proudly provide quality Family, Cosmetic, & Sedation dental care to the community of Somerset, NJ. 08873 in addition to the surrounding Somerset County areas of Bound Brook, Hillsborough Township, Readington Township, and Bridgewater.

We offer the most advanced technology in cosmetic dentistry. Zoom In-Office Power Teeth Whitening, Laser Dentistry, Invisalign, Sedation Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers and Full Porcelain crowns are some examples of how we re-design our patients’ smiles.

We’ll be glad to hear from you if you have any questions. The first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile is to schedule an appointment, please call us today at (732) 545-8111.

Let us give you something to smile about!

This post originally appeared on Dental Patient News and has been republished with permission.