Tartar and bad breath: the most postponed health problem

It does not occur to anyone to smell an animal's mouth closely. That is why oral problems are among the health issues owners notice latest — and by the time they are noticed, the process has usually been running for years.

How it progresses

Food residue and bacteria leave a soft layer on the tooth surface. If it is not removed it hardens into tartar. Tartar pushes the gum away, opening a gap, bacteria settle in that gap and inflammation begins.

What follows is a chain: the gum recedes, the tissue holding the tooth weakens, the tooth loosens and falls out. Getting to that point takes months of living with pain — which the animal does not show, because not showing it is what it is built for.

The signs

• Noticeable bad breath
• Hard yellow-brown deposit, especially on the back teeth
• Red, swollen or bleeding gums
• Chewing on one side, dropping food from the mouth
• Abandoning dry food and taking only wet food
• More drooling, reacting when the mouth is touched

Why it is not just a mouth problem

A painful mouth reduces appetite; poor appetite leads to weight loss, and weight loss to a decline in general condition. In older animals especially, this chain lands on top of whatever else is going on.

What can be done at home

Regular tooth brushing is the most effective method, but only if the animal has been accustomed to it. Starting young is far easier; with an adult it is built through short, rewarded attempts spread over weeks.

Do not use human toothpaste. The fluoride and some sweeteners cause problems when swallowed — and animals do not spit it out.

Chews and special diets can slow the build-up but do not dissolve existing tartar. Most sprays and drops sold as "tartar removers" have no effect on hardened deposits.

Cleaning and the anaesthesia question

Removing established tartar is a clinical procedure and requires general anaesthesia. That is where owners hesitate most. The anaesthetic risk is real but postponing is not risk-free either — advanced oral inflammation is a burden in itself.

What to discuss at the clinic: pre-anaesthetic blood work, the anaesthetic method, and the animal's age and chronic conditions. Age alone is not a barrier; the assessment is the vet's.

Be wary of procedures offered as anaesthesia-free dental cleaning. Below the gum line cannot be cleaned, so the area that actually matters is left untouched; the visible surface is polished and the inflammation stays where it is.

This page is general information. Whether cleaning is needed, whether anaesthesia is appropriate and which products to use are assessed only by the vet who sees the animal.