It can be frustrating when you brush your pet’s teeth, but they still have bad breath and poor dental health. Is brushing really effective and worth it? Yes! At-home dental care for your pets is just as important as it is for humans. Just like toothbrushing for humans, brushing your pets’ teeth is meant to prevent dental problems, not to cure them. For toothbrushing to be effective, however, you need to start with a clean base – trying to brush away tartar build-up or gum disease is not going to work. 
To keep your pet’s teeth clean, the best approach is to have them scaled and polished at the vet, to brush them regularly at home, and have the vet check your pet’s teeth at their annual check-up.
When should your pets go for a dental check-up?
As soon as you notice signs of a decline in your pet’s dental health, it may be time to take them for a dental scale and polish. What are the signs?
- bad breath
- visible yellowing or demineralisation of teeth
- red or bleeding gums
- excessive drooling
- difficulty chewing
- pawing at the mouth
These are a few giveaway indicators that your dog or cat may require a dental. During routine veterinary visits, you can also ask the veterinarian to perform an oral examination if you require any guidance or recommendations for your pet’s dental care.
What is the difference between plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a soft, sticky film made up of sugars and bacteria that accumulate on your pet’s teeth. This is what we remove daily when brushing. When teeth are not brushed or cleaned regularly, plaque hardens into tartar that strongly adheres to the tooth surface. Tartar is too hard to remove with brushing alone, so an anaesthetised scale and polish at the vet is the only way to properly clean the teeth once there is tartar build-up.
It can be disheartening when you put plenty of effort and money toward brushing your pet’s teeth and investing in their dental health, but it doesn’t seem to work. If there is already a build-up of tartar, toothbrushing will not remove it. Brushing is most effective only after a dental scale and polish at the vet.
How to prepare your pet for a dental cleaning
A dental scale and polish is performed under general anaesthesia for a few crucial reasons. It allows for:
- proper inspection of all teeth without interference from a wriggly patient
- tooth extraction when necessary, without trauma
- adequate cleaning below the gumline, without discomfort
- placement of an airway tube (prevents inhalation of water, debris, vomit, etc)
- patient compliance.
There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing your pet for a dental procedure. They will be sedated and under general anaesthesia, so they must not be fed for 8–12 hours before coming in to the clinic or veterinary hospital. This is done to prevent vomiting and potential aspiration (inhalation of fluid). Water is usually allowed until the morning of the procedure, but confirm with the veterinarian beforehand.
What happens during a veterinary dental cleaning?
A dental scale and polish is a same-day procedure, meaning your pet arrives early in the morning and goes home later that same day after recovering from the anaesthesia. Patients are typically admitted in the early morning to allow time for a physical examination, blood tests (if required), and anaesthetic preparation. Screening tests are often run in older patients – testing for liver and kidney function, infection, and blood cell counts. While under anaesthesia, the patient’s heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and temperature are monitored throughout. It is also common practice to support pets with intravenous fluids (a drip) for safety and hydration.
Tartar is removed from the tooth surface (scale), and then the tooth surface is smoothed to remove ‘crevices’ where bacteria can hide and accumulate (polish). Extraction of some teeth may be necessary in the case of advanced dental disease, where tartar build-up progresses to affect the root and/or ligament holding the teeth in place. Extraction may also be necessary if there are loose/wiggly teeth, tooth fractures, exposed roots (with or without infection), and in cases where the gumline recedes too much. Extraction may seem daunting, but it relieves your pet from chronic pain and irritation and any drastic complications in the future. Both dogs and cats adapt well to having fewer teeth in their mouths.
After the procedure, your pet is monitored closely during recovery and will remain at the clinic until fully awake and stable. They are often groggy for the remainder of the day, and owners may notice a change in appetite – it is recommended to offer a small meal later that evening or the following morning. If any extractions were performed, soft food is essential for the next few days, and pain control medication will be dispensed. If an infection is present, antibiotics may also be dispensed. In the days following the dental procedure, you’ll need to monitor for severe swelling, excessive bleeding, inappetence, and continuous grogginess. If any of these signs persist longer than one or two days, schedule a follow-up with the vet.
What to expect after an anaesthetised dental procedure
After the financial commitment of an anaesthetised dental, it’s normal to expect a visible difference in the appearance of your pet’s teeth. Nearly all tartar build-up is removed from the tooth surfaces, which will yield a significant improvement in both overall appearance and bad breath. Human teeth stain due to a high consumption of pigmented foods such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and wine. Our pets' teeth appear yellow mostly due to the presence of tartar, and once removed, the teeth are often significantly whiter. Even though true deep staining of the teeth is uncommon in animals, note that a few factors, such as long-standing tartar, diet-related pigments, age-related enamel wear, medications, and tooth damage/disease can still lead to irreversible staining.
Cosmetic dental cleaning vs veterinary dental procedure
Cosmetic dentals at the groomer differ significantly from the medical dentals offered by the vet. As helpful as grooming dentals can be, a check-up with a veterinarian remains essential. At the groomer, the teeth are superficially cleaned, and loose pieces of tartar may be removed. However, it is also not possible for them to adequately clean under the gumline or professionally assess the condition of all teeth.
There are several benefits associated with dental care performed by the veterinarian. During a routine scale and polish, bacteria are removed from underneath the gumline and crevices between the teeth, preventing the manifestation of periodontal disease (inflammation and infection of gums and the bone that supports the teeth). All teeth are inspected and charted, and loose or decaying teeth are removed with their roots to prevent pain and infection. Chronic infection of the mouth or teeth can lead to medical complications, including heart, kidney, and liver disease. Finally, fresher breath, increased comfort, and improved quality of life are the overall benefits of a veterinary dental procedure. Your pet’s teeth are polished afterwards, providing a smooth dental surface and slowing down plaque build-up in the future.
How to brush your pet’s teeth after a dental cleaning
After a professional dental cleaning, brushing your pet’s teeth becomes extremely beneficial and effective in maintaining oral health. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily will help to remove plaque build-up and keep their teeth clean. For this to be effective, keep these key concepts in mind:
- Time: are you brushing for long enough?
- Coverage: are you reaching the back teeth/molars?
- Compliance: is your pet sitting still/tolerating the brushing?
- Consistency: are you brushing frequently enough?
You can brush your pet's teeth as often as daily, but no fewer than two to three times per week. The molars are often overlooked or difficult to reach, but it’s important to reach in the back and scrub around the entire tooth because this is where plaque builds up quickly. Other helpful tools to remove plaque and promote fresh breath include dental chews, water additives, dental diets, and even small pieces of crunchy vegetables such as raw carrots (in moderation).
Brushing your pets’ teeth and taking care of their dental health comprise preventative care, which supports their health, comfort and overall wellbeing. Professional veterinary care and regular toothbrushing at home give your pet the best shot at achieving great dental health.
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