National Pet Dental Month | Part 1
With February being National Pet Dental Month, we’d like to take a moment and review why we think daily chewing is one of the best activities you can provide for your canine companions.
Why does cleaning teeth lead to a healthier dog?
Keeping teeth clean can literally extend the lifespan of your pet. The driving concept behind this is that dental hygiene will improve quality of life and extend their lifespan because you are preventing future diseases that often begin with dental problems.
Why is Dental Disease (Periodontal Disease) so destructive?
As plaque turns into tartar, gingivitis or inflammation of the gums becomes a factor. This leads to an increase in oral bacteria, which can eventually enter the bloodstream, stressing the immune system's response and putting specific organs at risk. Three organs are more susceptible to the spread of oral bacteria: the heart, the liver, and the kidneys.
Where does dental disease start?
The most common culprit is kibble! Processed dog foods are not hard enough to clean teeth and ultimately leave behind plaque because commercial foods contain high levels of carbohydrates. A dog’s saliva does not contain the needed enzyme (amylase) to break down carbohydrate sugars, so without daily cleaning, these sugars lead to plaque, which turns into tartar in the span of a few days.
What is the best way to maintain dental hygiene?
Daily chewing that lasts around 10 minutes is the best way to know you are cleaning your teeth! As your dog chews, they scrape and grind their teeth, and this motion is precisely what you need to clean teeth and strengthen gums. What chews you select will all depend on the breed, age, and size of your pup, but the most crucial goal is to reach 10 minutes of chewing.
Here are some chew recommendations based on what we use in our own home:
Ready to learn more? In our next blog post, we will talk about the Mental Benefits of chewing!