Dog Dental Cleaning – Why It Matters

Dog at Vet Getting It's Teeth Cleaned



Have you ever gotten kisses from your fur baby, and their breath stopped you in your tracks? Maybe you thought about brushing their teeth. It works for you, right? Well, you're not wrong. A dog's dental care is a vital part of their dental health regimen, just as your dental regimen is to you.


Right now, your dog's teeth may be pearly white or covered in puppy plaque. Either way, it's a good idea to start taking care of their dental hygiene.


Why Teeth Cleaning Is Important For Your Dog's Health

Pet owners tend to neglect their canine's dental health until it's too late and their pup gets periodontal disease, also called gum disease. Brushing your dog's teeth is the most effective way to prevent gum or any other dental disease.

It's a good idea to take your canine to the veterinarian for regular checkups so you can stop any dental issues in their tracks. Your vet can help you prevent severe dental diseases from infected gums. It's vital to stop the bacteria from infection from entering your dog's bloodstream and causing blood infections or even organ damage.


Now that you know how crucial it is to stay on top of your doggie's dental care, we've listed a few tips for getting started with your dog's oral care:


Brush Your Dog's Teeth Daily

The first step can seem daunting if you've never brushed your dog's teeth before. Keep in mind that the more you brush your dog's teeth, the better and healthier they'll be. If you're stressing about what type of toothbrush you'd use to clean your puppy's teeth, don't worry. There are many different options for dog toothbrushes and pet toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste because it contains a substance that is toxic to your dog.

While vets recommend brushing your dog's teeth once a day, if it's not feasible for you, at least attempt to brush them within three days. After three days, the plaque builds up and turns into tartar, which can only be removed with dog teeth cleaning from a veterinarian.

When it comes to small dogs, their teeth need to be brushed more often because they tend to have more dental issues than larger dogs. Toy breeds are at more high risk of periodontal disease because their smaller mouths have teeth crowding, which makes teeth cleaning harder to accomplish.

In older dogs, diet and time contribute to oral decay, so they need more dental care than younger doggos. If your dog is over seven years of age, it's a good idea to make sure they get an annual exam to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

It's best if you stick to a schedule or routine to ensure proper dental cleaning regularly. Maybe when you're grooming your pup, you can brush their teeth right after.


Using Chew Toys

Playing with chew toys is a fun and engaging way for your dog to clean their teeth because when a dog chews on a toy, it tends to scrape the plaque from their teeth. There are even special chew toys that are created explicitly for dental purposes.


Dental Chews

To ensure dog teeth cleaning, you can switch up the chew toy for a dental chew. When your dog uses a dental chew, it helps them clean their own teeth and minimizes plaque buildup on the tooth surface. Your canine companion should chew on the dental chew for approximately 5-10 minutes to thoroughly clean their teeth and gums.

Dental chews come in different sizes and shapes, allowing it to get into all those hard-to-reach spaces for a more thorough clean.

Regular Dental Checkups With Your Veterinarian

A dental checkup is recommended for most dogs at least once a year, but preferably twice. At Phoenix Veterinary Center, we offer a variety of services to take care of your dog's dental hygiene. A dental cleaning allows the veterinarian to do a tooth examination and inspect your dog's oral cavity and gums.

A veterinary dentist at the Phoenix Veterinary Center is best qualified to determine when your dog needs a dental cleaning visit. Our Phoenix veterinary staff provides the following veterinary dental services.

  • Dental and oral examination

  • Dental extractions

  • Oral surgery

  • Dental X-rays

  • Ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar

  • Polishing to prevent plaque buildup

  • Fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth

  • And more!


If your veterinarian believes your dog is a good candidate for professional dental cleaning, then part of the dental exam is the vet running blood work to ensure your dog's health is good and can handle general anesthesia for the procedure. While your dog is under the effects of anesthesia, a trained tech will monitor your pup's blood pressure and vital signs.

Other steps in the dental procedure include taking X-rays of your dog's mouth to determine if there are any other dental issues aside from plaque buildup.

A hand scaler is used to clean under the gum line and all sides of every tooth. A dental probe is used to measure the depth of the pockets found between tooth and gum. A veterinarian uses many tools to ensure your dog gets the best dental care possible. Sometimes a vet will have to use a special tool to perform a tooth extraction for diseased teeth.

Professional Dog Teeth Cleaning From the Phoenix Veterinary Center

At the Phoenix Veterinary Center, we strive to provide complete care for our patients. Our veterinary staff members will do everything they can to provide your dog with the highest level of service.

To learn more about dog and cat teeth cleaning in Phoenix, contact us today to make an appointment for your pet or call (602) 559-5500. Please review our Newsletter Library and Video Newsroom to learn how to create a healthy, happy life for your pet.

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