Dog Oral and Dental Diseases and Care

Dental and oral problems are important to learn to prevent and to cure. Dogs may not live to the fullest if theres something that bothers on their mouth. Mouth and teeth diseases will also keep the dog owner from getting too close because of unpleasant odor. Proper hygiene and oral care is important and it ensures our dog is healthy.

Tartar Build Up. The most common form of canine dental disease is tartar buildup. This causes irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth (gingivitis) resulting in exposure of the roots. Ultimately this leads to infection and tooth loss. Infection will accumulate in the mouth resulting in gingivitis tonsillitis and pharyngitis (sore throat). Infection within the mouth will be picked up by the blood stream and carried to other parts of the body. Kidney infections as well as infections involving the heart valves frequently begin in the mouth. One of the main factors determining the amount of tartar buildup is the individual chemistry in the mouth. Some dogs need yearly cleanings; other dogs need a cleaning only once every few years.

Bad Breath and Halitosis. Dog bad breath is a common problem that makes unpleasant situation for dog owners. Bad breath could keep from enjoyable playing and getting close with dogs which upsetting for dogs too. Dog halitosis bad breathe is a particularly foul and offensive odor coming from dogs mouth. While its unpleasant dog bad breath can also be a sign of a serious health problem like infection or any internal health issues that releases the foul odor. Furthermore symptoms like facial swelling pawing at the mouth sneezing and nasal discharge can all be signs of mouth disorders. However even if you only observe the foul odor its still important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian so that the cause of your pets halitosis can be identified and treated preventing continuation of the unpleasant odor as well as protecting your furry friends health and happiness.

Periodontitis or Periodontal Disease. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the structures that support teeth the gum tissue periodontal ligament alveolus (small cavity) and cementum (bonelike connective tissue covering the root of a tooth and assisting in tooth support). It is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world in dogs and is caused by bacteria that make up plaque. Periodontal comes from two Greek words that mean around the tooth. Periodontal disease is a series of changes that are associated with the inflammation and loss of the deep supporting structures of teeth. Periodontal disease is inflammation of some or all of the tooths support structures (gingiva cementum periodontal ligament and alveolar bone). When compared to gingivitis periodontitis indicates bone loss. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. Initially a pellicle forms on the clean tooth. This pellicle attracts aerobic gram positive bacteria (mostly actinomyces and strepococci). Soon more bacteria adhere forming plaque. With in days the plaque thickens underlying bacteria run out of oxygen and anaerobic motile rods and spirochetes begin to populate the sub gingival area. Endotoxins released by the anaerobic bacteria cause tissue destruction and bone loss. Small breed and brachycephalic dogs are at greater risk of periodontal disease because their teeth are often crowded together. This results in an increased accumulation of plaque because the normal cleansing mechanisms are hindered. If gingivitis is left untreated it will progress to periodontal disease which is irreversible. Periodontal Therapy is one of the treatment that controls plaque.

Mouth Infections and Stomatitis. Infection or inflammation in the mouth stomatitis can be caused by cuts burns foreign bodies stuck in the mouth and diseases of the gums and the structures that support the teeth (periodontal disease). Metabolic diseases such as kidney failure can also cause painful stomatitis. Stick are common and potentially serious especially those in the back of the mouth. To treat stomatitis the cause is addressed: physical injuries are treated foreign objects are removed dental conditions are corrected and any underlying metabolic disorder are controlled to prevent recurrence. Secondary bacterial infection is common so appropriate antibiotics are almost always used.

Foreign bodies in the mouth and throat. Dogs love to chew sticks stones bones and other hard materials but also potentially dangerous: sticks can cause damage to the mouth and can also crack teeth especially molars. This may lead to toothpulp exposure and infection. Sticks can also lodge in the back of the throat too far for easy removal with a spoon handle. A dog with something in its throat gags paws anxiously at its mouth and may drool or vomit. A foreign body in the throat may cause swelling that interferes with breathing. If the object blocks the voice box the dog chokes and faints. Treat the dog immediately for choking. For severe cases surgery is needed. Always supervise what the dogs chew or rather give them balls and other chewing toys instead of sticks and other not safe to chew materials.

Dog Mouth Tumors. Tumors are uncommon but can occur on the gums tongue or roof of mouth or in the salivary glands. When possible they are surgically removed followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Dog Oral Examination. The annual physical exam must include an oral exam to recognize problems with teeth periodontal disease and other oral diseases. The comprehensive oral exam begins by observing the face recognizing that there are normal breed variations but carefully observing for abnormalities.

Diet and Chewing Behavior. Studies show that hard kibbles are slightly better than canned foods at keeping plaque from accumulating on the teeth. Dogs that chew on various toys or edible dental chews may remove some of the plaque buildup.

Home Care. The owner plays an important role in the oral health care for their companion animals. We consider the pet owner and the family veterinarian as key members of our dental health care team. Out Comprehensive Oral health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) as well as all of our services may be ineffective without the pet owners involvement. It is important that the pet owner has interest in their pets oral health. Regular teeth brushing are strongly recommended because it is a huge benefit for pets and it allows for close observation for oral problems.

Hannah Serrano is a passionate writer of http://www.americaoutdoor.com an informative website about dog crates and pet strollers pets and animals.

Tags: dog owner tooth loss unpleasant situation foul odor internal health unpleasant odor health and happiness nasal discharge furry friend proper hygiene heart valves offensive odor kidney infections

Source:

Does Your Dog Have Bad Breath
By: Lee Dobbins

Your cute little pooch is the joy of your life you love to be around him. Until you get too close!

Bad breath in dogs can be a common problem and while easily taken care of it can be detrimental to their health if left unattended.

Bad breath can be blamed on a number of culprits. A couple of the most common are dental or periodontal disease. This can all be associated to your dog not properly chewing his food (i.e. not allowing saliva to do its job) having a broken tooth or dental plaque and tartar. Also your dog could be suffering an internal problem that is causing his bad breath. He could be having problems with kidney or liver function. The best thing to do in extreme cases is to consult with your vet.

The first tool in battling bad breath in dogs is a toothbrush and some enzymatic toothpaste. Yep thats right fido needs his teeth brushed regularly. Almost 80% of dogs over 3 years old have periodontal disease. This is very serious and is causes a buildup on the teeth and gums that results in deterioration of the gums teeth and bones. Not only does it cause bad breath but the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and threaten the health of your dogs vital organs. In fact proper dental care may help your dog live up to 5 years longer!

You should brush your dogs teeth every day. At first this may really be a struggle but after a while it will become routine and eventually you and your dog may even enjoy this time together. There are two types of brushes one looks pretty much like a regular toothbrush and one is a rubber finger with little rubber bristles that you place over your finger. You may need to experiment to see which one is best for your dog.

Never use

human toothpaste on your dog it can hurt him! You should use special enzymatic toothpaste that will help kill the bacteria. Plus it comes in flavors dogs like like chicken (I know my dog loved that taste of it).

Anther way to insure your dogs breath smells sweet as well as his overall health is to make sure that you are meeting your dogs nutritional needs. Do not feed your dog table scrapsever. And never feed your puppy or dog candy or especially chocolate. Give your dog the best food designed for his body type and breed.

Finally youll want to be sure to have your dogs teeth brushed and professionally treated by a veterinarian every six to twentyfour months. After your first consultation ask your vet what schedule he believes is best. It can vary dependent upon breed and lifestyle. You dog will have to undergo a general anesthesia in the vets office before the brushing. For older dogs talk to your vet especially if its been awhile (up to a few years) since your dogs last cleaning. Some vets will not put older dogs under anesthesia for regular cleanings.

If you havent tended to your pets dental needs in a while you may find he needs a dental cleaning and scaling right away. He may even need to have some teeth removed. Once you have this taken car of however you can start on a routine of daily brushing and he may never need to get a dental from the vet again.

Once you take care of any buildup and start on your brushing routine your dogs breath should be sweet in no time!

Lee Dobbins is an avid dog lover and writes for many pet related sites. Find out more about dog care at the webs Pet Center or learn about the loveable pug at The Pug Pages

Find Love guide and resources.

Cure Bad Breath Fast

Did you know that most people who have bad breath are not even aware of it Breathing into your own hand to see if you have bad breath is just a myth…. it does not work.

Having bad breath can make a serious dent in your social life not to mention retarding your success on the job. we live in a social world but all the social skills on earth can not compete with bad breath.

You could be having bad breath if you experience any of the following: *Does milk or coffee leave a bad taste in your mouth

*Do you have post nasal drip

*Do people regularly offer you breath mints

*Is there a white coating on your tongue

*Is your saliva thick

* Do people frequently turn their heads or back away from you

If you answer yes to any of these questions then you are most likely suffering from bad breath. and guess what Even your closest friends will not tell you about it. Rather they will simply avoid you like a plague!

But do not worry there is a solution. To discover how to cure bad breath fast click on the link in my Resource Box.

Thousands of people are suffering the embarrassment and constant worry caused by bad breath and spent years looking for a cure for my problem.

Some have tried every single bad breath cure on the market but the problem keep getting worse.

Do not allow bad breath to ruin your life.Take control today and get rid of bad breath fast today.

Lay your hands on this classic and get rid of Bad Breath Fast. Go here:http://tinyurl.com/pbwk3

Tags: myth job tongue earth plague embarrassment post nasal drip saliva coffee bad taste suffering from breath mints

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_133708_17.html     

Occupation: Marketing Are you looking for a Bad Breath Treatment that actually work Do you want to eliminate your bad breath in a matter of days Let me show you the bad breath treatment products that worked for me. Visit: http://curebadbreathe.blogspot.com http://curebadbreathe.blogspot.com

Foods To Avoid That Cause Bad Breath
By: Harold Katz

Did you know that there are specific foods that may lead to bad breath This is because of volatile sulfur compounds the culprit in causing bad breath!

For example if food sits out too long it will spoil. That spoiling action is due to anaerobic bacteria breaking down proteins in that particular food. In milk the odor of sour milk is caused by relatives of the bugs that create bad breath when they break down proteins in the milk (and basically in all dairy foods). A reaction takes place where the bad breath bugs extract sulfur compounds from the amino acids in these proteins. Specifically the amino acid Cysteine is converted to Hydrogen Sulfide (which has a rotten egg smell) and Methionine becomes Methyl Mercaptan (which smells like a cross between old socks and garlic). The same analogy applies to meat if it sits out too long.

Everyone knows that onions and garlic will create bad breath. But do you know why Its because the odorous molecules in onions and garlic are actually sulfur compounds themselves called Mercaptans. Sulfur is natures way of creating odors. Youre all familiar with the skunk. Its odor is created by a defense and/or attack mechanism. Skunk odor is made up of skatoles which are naturally occurring sulfur compounds. In a similar fashion bacteria in your mouth creates the volatile sulfur compounds of bad breath and taste disorders.

There are 4 food categories that will result in an increase of sulfur production because these categories have a stimulating affect on the bacteria that cause bad breath:

1. Drying Agents

2. Dense Protein Foods

3. Sugars

4. Acidic Foods

Lets look closely at each of these food categories and how they stimulate bad breath!

DRYING AGENTS

The most common drying agent in food is alcohol. Alcohol of course is the basis of all adult beverages such as beer wine and hard liquor. It is also used unfortunately in many mouthwashes you find in the grocery stores which only makes a bad breath problem worse.

Alcohol known chemically as a desiccant is used quite often in laboratories to dry out hard to reach areas in test tubes and beakers. The same end result takes place in the oral cavity.

Although cigarettes are not really food smoking is probably the quickest way to dry out your mouth with alcohol being the second. If you smoke you are bound to have bad breath!

DENSE PROTEIN FOODS

Dairy foods are notorious for creating bad breath. An article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times once noted that over 50% of the population in Southern California was lactose intolerant. With regards to bad breath many of these people (numbering in the tens of millions) end up with more dense proteins available as bad breath fuel for the bacteria than those who have no problem with dairy foods like milk cheese yogurt ice cream etc. The end result is a buildup of amino acids which are easily converted into volatile sulfur compounds by the anaerobic bacteria found within the surface of your tongue and throat.

To a lesser extent people have the same problem with other types of food that are considered to be dense in protein such as beef chicken and fish.

Another problem thankfully rare has to do with people who have an inability to break down certain proteins found in beans. This condition is called TMA (Trimethylaminuria) and is sometimes

known as the Fish Odor Syndrome because the odor produced is similar to decaying fish. The odor consists of sulfur compounds plus nitrogen compounds (amines). People with this condition must abstain from beans and other types of food that are dense in protein.

SUGARS

Wouldnt it be great if we could get rid of bad breath by chewing on M&Ms Or what if the cure for bad breath were Hershey Kisses

Thats what the makers of Altoids would have you believe. Altoids and other products of the same ilk are trying to fool the public into believing that a strong good taste in your mouth is equivalent to the freshness of your breath. This is so antiscientific its absurd! If you think about it for a minute it really doesnt make any sense.

By using concentrated mint flavorings your taste buds pick up mint as a taste. However Altoids contains two types of sugar which again are a fuel for the bacteria to reproduce and create more sulfur compounds thus bad breath. In addition the frightening part is that other bacteria can take the sugars and produce glycan strands which in turn end up causing thick layers of plaque on the enamel of your teeth and around your gums. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease and you guessed it worse breath than you started with!

Since you cant smell your own breath you just go merrily along with that great strong mint taste in your mouth while others close to you are backing away backing away from your increased bad breath decayed teeth and gross swollen bleeding gums!

Stay away from candies mints and chewing gum if they contain sugar! Instead let me recommend an alternative created by TheraBreath called the TheraBreath Oxygenating Chewing Gum (http://www.therabreath.com/products.aspCAT=5). It releases Oxygen molecules directly into your mouth and also contains the antibacterial agent Zinc Gluconate. This agent is found in many cold medications. In addition it contains Xylitol which is a natural sweetening agent with an antidecay compound.

ACIDIC FOODS

Foods with a high acidic content are a problem as well. pH is a term used to describe the acidity of an environment. The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is considered neutral). Some of the foods you should watch out for are coffee and many citrus juices. Both decaffeinated and regular coffee contain acids. However tea is okay. Among the citrus juices the ones with the highest acidic content include tomato juice orange juice pineapple juice and grapefruit juice.

We know that acids make the bacteria reproduce much faster. In order to decrease the production of odorous sulfur compounds the acid environment needs to be neutralized.

What can you learn from all this Avoiding foods that contribute to if not cause bad breath is vital if you want to have clean fresh breath. While this is a difficult task being aware of these bad breath causing elements is the first step in developing confidence in your breath. In addition it is important to use oral care products that are free of alcohol sugar and that also have a high pH level.

Dr. Harold Katz is the worldwide expert on the topics of bad breath halitosis and dry mouth. Searching for a bad breath solution To receive your FREE copy of his easytoread Bad Breath Bible visit: http://www.TheraBreath.com/web/art/LFTCBB.asp

Kitten Bad Breath

Kitten bad breath is not a common problem for new kitten owners but some people do find that their kittens breath smells bad. Not surprisingly bad breath in cats and kittens can be caused by the same things that cause halitosis in humans gum or dental problems respiratory problems or underlying disease. There are also a few things particular to cats that can cause an unpleasant odor on the breath.

Feline bad breath is often caused by tartar build up on the teeth. Just like in dogs and humans tartar on the teeth fosters the growth of oral bacteria that produce volatile sulfur compounds airborne molecules that smell very unpleasant. Although tartar has not generally had time to accumulate enough to cause kitten bad breath you should check the condition of your kittens teeth and gums to be sure there is no tartar or inflammation there. If you see signs of trouble a trip to the vet is probably in order.

Respiratory problems can also be a cause of kitten bad breath. This is usually easy to pinpoint because it will be accompanied by signs of respiratory illness. Again like humans and dogs cats can get viral or bacterial infections of the nasal passages throat and lungs. In turn these infections can encourage the growth of bacteria and may cause feline bad breath. If your cat has a respiratory infection accompanied by bad breath the breath problem should resolve as soon as the cat recovers.

Another unusual cause of feline bad breath can be underlying illness some metabolic disorders and organ problems such as kidney disease can cause an unusual odor on the breath. In most cases the odor will not the typical sulfur smell of classic halitosis but may still be quite unpleasant. A kitten bad breath problem that cant be attributed to any other common cause may be a sign that your kitten has a more serious problem that should immediately be assessed by a vet.

One cause of feline bad breath that is particular to cats is feline acne. If your cat has feline acne you will see black specks or bumps on the cats chin. These black spots are a buildup of secretions from the animals glands and the affected area can also be a site for the proliferation of colonizing bacteria. This unhealthy area can be the source of an unpleasant odor around the mouth so part of your search for the cause of kitten bad breath should be an examination of your cats chin. Feline acne can be treated with disinfectants: consult your vet for professional advice. Tags: signs of trouble dogs cats nasal passages bad breath respiratory problems teeth and gums kidney disease dental problems metabolic disorders volatile sulfur compounds breath problem respiratory infection cats and kittens unpleasant odor respiratory illness growth of bacteria oral bacteria

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_118724_17.html     

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to several health care and education websites and blogs. http://badbreathcure.blogspot.com