Dental (tooth) disease is the most common health problem affecting UK dogs. Around 80% of UK dogs have dental disease. 12.5% of dogs who have to see a vet go because of dental problems. Dental disease can happen in dogs of any breed, sex or age, but it’s most common in older dogs and breeds with short faces.Summary: Some dental problems start before birth, while a puppy is still in the womb. Other problems may develop at any time throughout your dog's life. Common problems include poorly aligned teeth, dental decay and trauma. Unidentified and untreated dental disease causes pain and suffering for many dogs. A healthy diet, daily dental care and regular check-ups with a vet help your dog have a healthy mouth and a better quality of life.What dental problems happen in dogs?Dogs are born without teeth, but their baby teeth come in at between 3 and 6 weeks oldDogs have 28 baby teeth and 42 adult teeth.Baby teeth fall out as adult teeth come in. Adult teeth are all present by 6-7 months old

Dental problems with dogs fall into 3 categories:

• Problems from birth: tooth alignment and overcrowding

• Dental (Tooth) Injury: broken, worn and weakened teeth

• Tooth decay: plaque and tartar causing gum and tooth disease (Periodontal disease)

Problems from birth - overcrowding and tooth alignment

Teeth need to line up in a particular arrangement or ‘bite’ to work properly. Painful gum damage and chewing problems develop when teeth don't meet as they should. Some dogs are born with overcrowded teeth, or an abnormally long or short lower jaw.Breed problems and birth defects include: Overcrowding

• All dogs have the same number of adult teeth, irrespective of their facial shape.

• A short faced breed, like a pug, has the same number of teeth as a German Shepherd dog or a collie

Malocclusion - When upper and lower teeth don't meet properly

• Upper and lower teeth need to align (meet up) properly for a healthy bite

Overcrowding and Malocclusion increase risk of:

• Broken teeth

• Trapped food and food decay

• Gum damage

• Problems eating

• Pain

• Poor quality of life

Dental (tooth) injury

Broken teeth -

• Accidents,

• Biting into hard objects - antlers, bones.

• Biting kennel bars

Worn teeth -

• Chewing stones

Weakened teeth:

• Certain medicines given to a young puppy or to their mum during pregnancy damage the developing tooth

• Serious illness affecting mum in pregnancy

• Some infectious illness - distemper

• Poor diet

Tooth decay

Dogs on a healthy diet don't eat sugar and sweets the way humans do, so they aren't prone to the cavities (caries) and decay this causes in humans. However, tooth decay is still a problem in dogs and can result from any (or all) of the following:

• Bacteria from rotting food particles trapped between teeth

• Poor diet, especially sugary human food

• Poor dental care

• Tooth root abscesses

• Overgrowth of gum tissue around the tooth - triggered by decay and also a cause of decay as it traps bacteria between gum and tooth.

• Other illnesses - including chronic kidney disease and cancer (especially cancers of the gum or jaw)

The process of tooth decay in dogs

• Bacteria in the mouth grow on the surface of the tooth to form a layer of plaque.

• Plaque is hard to remove from teeth. Chewing and tongue movements can help to break plaque down. But poor diet and poor dental care will worsen the situation.

• Dental calculus - also called tartar or scale - forms when plaque hardens on the tooth, creating a rough surface which attracts even more bacteria.

• Acid produced by the bacteria and plaque attacks teeth.

• Gingivitis - Red and inflamed gums when plaque bacteria get onto the gums

• Periodontal disease - decay affects the gums and other structures which support and anchor the tooth.

Gingivitis is usually the first warning sign of tooth decay.Dental Caries (cavities) - Labradors.

• As a general rule dogs don't get dental caries. Labradors are the exception to this. They get them in their big back teeth (molars). This is a genetic (inherited) problem. And not usually the result of a bad diet. These caries are usually only discovered during a general health check.

How will I know if my dog has dental problems?

Dogs may not show any obvious symptoms in the early stages of dental disease. For this reason, problems are often well-established by the time they are identified. Symptoms of dental problems will relate to poor chewing function, tooth decay and pain. For example:

• Eating soft food and leaving kibble.

• Dropping food, eating on one side of mouth, dribbling saliva.

• Halitosis (smelly breath).

• Rubbing/pawing at mouth.

• Facial swelling over a tooth abscess.

• Losing weight.

• Becoming quiet and withdrawn.

What are the risks of dental problems?

Various lifestage, breed and lifestyle factors affect your dog's risk of having dental problems.These include:

• Increasing age.

• Belonging to a small breed - Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas.

• Belonging to a brachycephalic breed.- Bulldogs, Pugs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Shih Tzus -with teeth overcrowded in a short upper and lower jaw.

• Poor alignment of teeth damages gums and lips as well as teeth.

• Retaining temporary (baby, milk or deciduous) teeth - most common in brachycephalic and small breeds (Yorkshire terriers).

• Eating a poor quality diet.

• Dogs who chew stones, kennel bars or other hard surfaces.

Complications of dental disease

Undiagnosed and untreated dental disease can lead to other serious and life-threatening illnesses. This happens when bacteria from the affected teeth and gums spread through the blood or airways to other parts of the body. Disease risks include:

• Chest infections and bronchopneumonia

• Septicaemia

• Kidney disease

• Damaged heart valves and muscle (bacterial endocarditis)

How do vets diagnose dental problems in dogs?

Dogs often don't let their pet parents know if they have teeth problems. So dental disease may only be discovered at routine health checks:

• New puppy check.

• Annual health check.

• 3-6 monthly dental check.

These examinations can pick up very visible changes like

• Poorly aligned or overcrowded teeth

• Missing and loose teeth

• Inflamed sore gums

• Retained baby teeth

• Stained teeth

However, it's often impossible to assess your dog's mouth when they are awake. Your vet may advise a general anaesthetic This allows them to fully examine your dog's mouth when they are asleep and carry put any additional investigation or dental surgery required at the same time.Further tests-

• Dental x-rays- to examine the roots of teeth and the jaw bone that anchors them

• Rarely, CT scan for complex problems.

What's the treatment for dental disease?

Vet treatment for dental problems depends on the problem and the severity:

Birth defects and malaligned teeth:

For brachycephalic breeds, malaligned and crowded teeth are such a feature of the breed shape that potential problems can't be ‘cured’ or prevented as a puppy. Some degree of dental disease is inevitable.For other dogs, with an individual overbite or misplaced canine, various options can be considered.Treatment options include:

• Encouraging your dog to carry a special sized ball - pushing teeth into the correct alignment as they continue to erupt

• Removing teeth that damage gum or other teeth. The tooth removed may be otherwise healthy

• Flattening crowns (tips) of teeth to reduce gum injury.

Injured teeth:

This depends on whether the injury allows infection into the tooth.

• Monitoring - where the tooth is simply discoloured or bluntened..

• Extracting - a fractured or loosened tooth.

More specialist techniques - canine orthodontic treatment:

• Dental fillings

• Dental polish

• Dental crowns

Tooth Decay.

Treatment options for tooth decay include some or all of the following under an general anaesthetic:

• Extracting loose or decayed teeth

• ‘Scaling’ - removing all the lumps of hard scale with an ultrasonic scaler and handheld dental tools

• Cleaning and polishing the remaining teeth and gums thoroughly to give the mouth a ‘fresh start’.

Dental caries:

• Removing teeth with deep caries (labradors).

How to help your dog with their dental problems.

If your dog has dental problems, they should see their vet for a full examination. Your vet will be able to advise on treatment that is safe and in your dog’s best interests. There are no home remedies to correct problems with tooth alignment. Any procedures suggested online, in chat forums or elsewhere are unethical and dangerous to your dog.Chipping of calculus by hand can also lead to emergency problems with broken teeth and bleeding.If your dog is experiencing dental problems:

• Call your vet for the next available appointment.

• Feed smaller, more frequent meals of soft food.

• Encourage your dog to drink as much as possible, even if they refuse food.

Pet parents have the biggest influence on their dog’s dental health.

• It’s never too late or too early to start brushing your dog’s teeth.

• Keep your dog's teeth clean after a dental operation.

• Start brushing immediately to prevent plaque and bacteria from returning. This can happen within 24 hours of a dental operation.

Dental disease is expensive to treat. The most uncomplicated dental procedures will cost hundreds of pounds. Keeping your dog’s mouth healthy and clean through a healthy sugar-free diet and regular exercise will give them the best quality of life. And save you a lot of money and worry down the line.

How to reduce or prevent dental problems in dogs.

The risks of dental decay in later life can be dramatically reduced if you start cleaning your dog’s teeth when they’re as young as possible. Ideally start as a puppy.

Brushing your dog's teeth

What you’ll need: -

• Doggie toothpaste. There are some specifically designed toothpastes to help break down plaque

• Toothbrush or finger brush or microfibre cloth

• Pet parent patience and perseverance

• Cooperation!

<insert link and photos to tooth brushing tips>Effective cleaning means

• Cleaning all of the teeth-including the back ones

• Cleaning the inside surfaces next to the tongue

• Paying close attention to brushing the margin between the base of the tooth and the gum. This is where all the plaque and bacteria start to build up.

Mouth washes

• Using a dental mouthwash, gel, spray or rinse may be beneficial for dogs who won't tolerate brushing

Water additives

Special diets for dental and general health

• For example Hills t/d

Dental chews and treatsThese can encourage the chewing and tongue action which helps to remove plaque and scale from teethCertain dental products may be unsuitable for your dog. Some edible chews may be too high in fat content or too full of calories if they suffer from certain health conditions, like pancreatitis or obesity.Always check the feeding instructions or ask your vet for advice.The Veterinary Oral Health Council awards a seal of approval to dental products which effectively slow down plaque and tartar formation.This includes diets, toothpastes, sprays, washes, food additives.chews and treats. Check if this seal is present on products you select. .

Protecting future generations

Living with dental problems is challenging and painful.Many dental problems are inherited. They pass from mum or dad to the puppy before it’s born.Fewer puppies and dogs will have these dental problems if we avoid breeding from dogs with dental problems. This includes breeding dogs with faces too short to hold the teeth.

When to worry about dental problems in dogs.

Call a vet if your dog:

• Has facial swelling and poor appetite or after a blow to the face.

• Has unexplained bleeding from their mouth.

• Is physically unable to pick up food or chew.

• Is distressed, pawing at their face and unable to settle.

Joii can help with advice on:

• Recognising the symptoms of dental disease.

• Brushing your dog's teeth.

• Alternatives to brushing.

• Choosing age-appropriate chew toys and diets.