Like humans, dogs and cats are susceptible to gum disease. In fact, by the time your pet is three years old, there’s an 80 percent chance that his or her gums are already under attack. The same research that has linked poor dental health to poor overall health in humans is applicable for animals. Like in humans, any bacteria and infection in an animal’s mouth may spread through the bloodstream to cause heart, kidney or liver disease. These diseases can cause serious damage to the organs and potentially lead to premature death.
Does your pooch have “doggy breath”? This can actually be odor from the by-products of bacteria in the mouth, and it is often the first sign that your pet has gum disease or other dental problems. Your veterinarian should give Fido or Fluffy a dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning once or twice a year, but, in between visits, you’ll need to make an effort to remove plaque from your pet’s teeth, too. Ask your veterinarian about the many pet-specific oral cleaners and oral hygiene solutions available today, and about dental-friendly foods and treats that will make achieving good oral health easier for both you and your pet.
Be your pet’s best friend by ensuring many years of health and happiness, from head to tail!
Smokeless, but Not Stainless
While the image of a puffy-cheeked ball player might first come to mind when mentioning chewing (“spit”) tobacco, the reality is that smokeless tobacco is also a daily habit to millions of everyday North Americans, both young and old.
It’s important to know that, just because chewing tobacco is smokeless, it’s far from harmless. In fact, because of the practice of “chewing” and “dipping,” tobacco and its juices are left in contact within and around the oral cavity for extended periods of time, subjecting users to an increased risk of mouth and other cancers.
From a cosmetic perspective, whether you smoke or use chewing tobacco, expect to develop tobacco stains on your teeth. Frequent cleanings by a dental professional are absolutely vital and will certainly help delay deep staining, but, occasionally, some of the tobacco stains will seep into the pores of your tooth enamel, and turn whole teeth a darker color.
If your teeth are already stained by nicotine, you’ll want to find out how to best bring them back to a brighter, whiter appearance. Please call for an appointment so we can assess the severity of the staining, and provide options that may involve something as simple as tooth whitening, or perhaps the application of veneers, which will not only provide a whiter appearance, but also straighten and correct any slight imperfections in your teeth.
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