Soft-bristle electric toothbrush does trick for dogs

Dr. William K. Fauks
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND March 18, 2008 01:11 pm

— I recently received a rather lengthy e-mail from an Edmond Sun subscriber containing a suggestion she thought I might want to pass along to readers of this column. She described judiciously attempting to comply with her veterinarian’s recommendation that she brush her dog’s teeth every two days, following dental problems that he previously had addressed. The dog owner says she was able to adequately brush the front teeth such as incisors, canine teeth and premolars but unable to do much for the back teeth until she tried something she’d read in a dog magazine — using a soft bristle electric toothbrush. She followed by stating that “now it is a cakewalk — I’m doing a good job and my springer spaniel doesn’t mind at all.”
I tried this out on my own dog, who is somewhat mouth shy and she also accepted it after one or two tries.
Don’t waste your time with this method, or any other type of brushing, if long standing tartar buildup is present. But it certainly will keep the much softer plaque under control. Dental plaque is the precursor of tartar, which ultimately is the cause of eventual oral infections and tooth loss. The removal of established tartar must be dealt with by your veterinarian — routinely employing sedation or a short-acting general anesthetic.
Incidentally, human toothpaste is not recommended for brushing your dog’s teeth. Enzymatic toothpastes, especially designed for dogs, are available through your veterinarian or favorite pet supply outlet. You’ll love the way your dog’s breath smells after a few brushings with these products, which greatly impact the control of dental diseases.
Because they’re pretty much out of sight, a dog’s teeth often are overlooked and neglected; consequently, dental disease still is acutely common. It is, in fact, one of the most prevalent problems that companion animal veterinarians deal with daily. Canine oral disease is painful, leads to early loss of teeth, and often causes heart and kidney disease when the heavy bacterial load in a patient’s mouth enters the main blood stream.
So whatever method works best for you, make it a habit to keep your canine companion’s teeth shiny, which should translate to healthy gums. Even with good home care, you also should have your veterinarian check your dog’s teeth once or twice a year.
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“No matter how little money you have, or how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.” — Louis Sabin

DR. WILLIAM K. FAUKS is a retired Oklahoma City veterinarian. If you have questions about the health of your pet, write to “Ask a Vet,” at 3142 Venice Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or e-mail bfauks1@aol.com.