4 Reasons to Brush Your Pets' Teeth

Why do humans brush their teeth? Well, duh! We brush our teeth because we don't want our breath to stink, right? It's socially unacceptable to have rotten teeth and halitosis. But there are other benefits to good oral hygiene that we may or may not think about, and just like pet parents, our pets benefit from good oral care and getting routine cleanings.

This 3-sided pet toothbrush is amazing! Check it out!

Let's take a closer look at the health benefits of regularly brushing our teeth and visiting our dentists. Shall we?

1. Healthier Gums: Mouths are truly disgusting when we think about it. There are both good and bad bacteria in our pets' mouths that help them to digest food, but if their teeth are not brushed, this can lead to unbalanced microbes in their mouths that can cause infections and plaque buildup. Plaque is also responsible for gum disease, which causes painful inflammation that can lead to gum disease. 
2. It Protects Their Heart: That yucky plaque can increase the risk of a heart attack in humans by 50%, according to the American College of Cardiology, so why would it be any different for our pets? If plaque leads to gum disease, in a nutshell, having gum disease can, indeed, lead to your pets' having heart disease.
3. Healthier Lungs: I already mentioned that mouths are gross. Can you imagine what could happen if all that bacteria is inhaled into the lungs? As a former CNA and current LPN, it is vitally important for intubated patients to receive regular oral care to prevent inhalation of bacteria into the lungs that would further complicate their care. If it's important for patients who can't perform their own oral care, don't you think it is pretty darn important to provide oral care for our fur babies since they are incapable of brushing their teeth themselves? 
4. Decreased Risk for Cancer:  Even though researchers do not fully understand the connection between cancer and gum disease, they do know that gum disease can contribute to various types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. They believe it is a possibility that certain cancers are linked to an overabundance of bacteria that can boost the growth of cancer cells. 

For a much better outcome, it would be in our best interests to introduce a toothbrush to our pets when they are still young, but for those of you who are just now finding out how important oral care is for your pets, long after they have become adults, establishing a routine daily to get our pets used to oral care is extremely important. It won't be an easy task, but nothing important in life is easy. 

Sources: 

Brushing Teeth in Cats | VCA Animal Hospital (vcahospitals.com)

8 Unexpected Health Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene: Goodman Dental Center: General Dentistry

1healthypet.com

Brushing Teeth in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital (vcahospitals.com)