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The term periodontal translates to perio<\/em> which means \u201caround\u201d and odontal<\/em> which means \u201ctooth\u201d. Periodontal disease is the loss of the support structures around teeth, such as gums, jaw bones, ligaments, and tooth sockets. This is caused by oral bacteria, plaque, and tartar that lead to inflammation. Often, periodontal disease results in chronic pain and infection, as well as bad breath and tooth loss. Since this disease is the number one medical problem in dogs and cats, our Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service wants to share the top five things pet owners should know about periodontal disease! Usually, \u201ctop five\u201d lists are in reverse order, but this time, the number one thing we want pet owners to know is so important that it goes first!<\/p>\n That\u2019s right \u2013 <\/span>periodontal disease is<\/span> absolutely preventable! But prevention means starting <\/span><\/span>now<\/span><\/span> to improve the life of your furry family member and save money in the <\/span>long <\/span>run. <\/span>Begin at<\/span> day one with puppies, kittens, or newly adopted pets to commit to an oral health plan which <\/span>should <\/span>always <\/span>kickstart<\/span> with a professional dental cleaning with your family veterinarian. As with many things, it is much more cost-effective to prevent periodontal<\/span> disease than it is to treat it<\/span>!<\/span> For example, removing a single deceased tooth can be three times more expensive than <\/span>annual <\/span>professional dental cleanings and twenty-five times more expensive than at-home dental care.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So <\/span>how does one<\/span> prevent periodontal disease? With daily oral hygiene! This is best done by committing to brushing or wiping your pet\u2019s teeth <\/span><\/span>every single day<\/span><\/span> to remove the plaque film build-up. Just like how <\/span>we<\/span> humans need to care for our own teeth<\/span>!<\/span> Oral rinses and ingredients in pet dental products can also assist with <\/span>this<\/span>. It is the mechanical disruption to remove the plaque that makes preventing periodontal disease possible. In addition, your pet needs an <\/span>anesthetized<\/span> dental cleaning<\/span> with x-rays annually. And <\/span>remember, NEVER use human dental hygiene products on your pets<\/span> \u2013 many of them contain ingredients that are harmful to pets<\/span>! Learn more about at-home dental care for your dog or cat <\/span><\/span>here<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, periodontal disease is the <\/span>most common<\/span> disease in dogs and cats. In fact:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So why do so many pets develop periodontal disease? Unfortunately, our pets can\u2019t communicate if a tooth hurts or if their mouth is bothering them. They also tend to hide illnesses so it\u2019s not always obvious if there\u2019s something wrong. Since periodontal disease <\/span>happens under<\/span>neath<\/span> the <\/span>gumline<\/span>, there are few signs of periodontal disease other than bad breath that pet parents will notice<\/span> early on<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are four stages of periodontal disease and only Stage 1 (gingivitis or redness of the gum tissue edge) is reversible. This is determined when a professional oral examination and dental x-rays confirm that no other abnormalities are present in your pet\u2019s mouth. So, what\u2019s the secret to reversing gingivitis? Daily oral hygiene!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If after an oral exam, your family veterinarian says \u201cyour pet\u2019s teeth don\u2019t look bad\u201d or \u201cdental care can wait\u201d \u2013 ask them what they see (or don\u2019t see) in your pet\u2019s mouth and what you should do at home to improve your pet\u2019s oral health and continue to prevent periodontal disease.<\/span><\/p>\n Once periodontal disease has progressed past reversible gingivitis, the treatment goal is to stop further progress of the disease and obtain a healthy mouth. However; loss of support tissues around the teeth cannot come back in most cases. A healthy mouth means no diseased teeth present, so the most common treatment of periodontal disease is to extract any diseased teeth. With a newly healthy and pain-free mouth, pets can then begin an at-home dental care routine to prevent periodontal disease in the future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that if periodontal disease is left untreated, it can cause systemic problems that will affect your pet\u2019s overall health. Liver, kidney, and heart disease can develop as the result of both chronic oral inflammation and as bacteria in the mouth spread throughout the body.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, many pet parents realize the importance of good oral health for their pets after it\u2019s too late to save teeth. But now\u2019s the time to start your pet off on the right paw! We recommend regular dental care with your family veterinarian, which includes an annual oral exam and annual anesthetized dental cleaning with <\/span>x-rays<\/span><\/a>. And of course, create a daily at-home dental care routine for your pet. Your family veterinarian can help develop a plan that is personalized to your pet\u2019s specific needs and recommend products to use at-home. Oral health affects a pet\u2019s overall health, so don\u2019t push this off \u2013 start preventing periodontal disease today!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Learn more about our Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service and find more veterinary dentistry resources and tips <\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/i><\/a>!\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"x-rays,](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Periodontal-Disease-in-Pets-9.png\")
<\/p>\n1. Periodontal Disease is Preventable.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
2. Prevention is Daily Oral Hygiene.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
3. Periodontal Disease is the Most Comm<\/span>on Disease <\/span>& Occurs at a Young Age<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n4. Very Early Periodontal Disease is Reversible.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n
5. Periodontal Disease is Treatable.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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