Gum disease starts as a silent invader, but when it advances it can destroy your pet’s mouth causing chronic pain, bone and tooth loss. It can also lead to life threatening diseases of your pet’s liver, kidneys and heart.

This silent invader is the most common clinical condition in dogs and cats, with most showing signs by age three. Unfortunately, apart from a smelly breath, most owners don’t normally notice any signs of gum disease. This means pets are usually taken to their veterinarian too late to prevent extensive disease or to save teeth.

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case because gum disease is entirely preventable.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Essentially gum disease is a bacterial infection of your pet’s mouth. But here are the details of how it occurs……

Bacteria in the mouth, along with food and saliva, form a substance called plaque which sticks to the surface of your pet’s teeth.  This then hardens into dental calculus (tartar), which is firmly attached to the teeth. You may notice tartar above the gum line, but this is not the cause of disease. The real problem develops when plaque spreads under the gum line, as your pet’s immune system recognises bacteria in the plaque as a foreign invader. White blood cells are then released to destroy the bacterial invader but they become overwhelmed and release chemicals which cause break down of gum tissue. This battle is the cause of the inflamed gums, destroyed tissue, bone loss and ultimate tooth loss that we know as gum disease. Instead of helping the problem, your pet’s own defence system actually makes the disease worse!!

What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

As mentioned, it’s rare for pet owners to notice signs of gum disease until it is very advanced.

These are the top five signs of gum disease:

1.     Bad breath. This is one of the first signs of gum disease. Bad breath may be common and this is simply because so many pets have gum disease – but it is not normal.

2.     Gum redness or swelling otherwise known as gingivitis.

3.     Bleeding. If your pet has any bleeding from the mouth, or if chewing, tooth brushing or touching the gums causes bleeding, this can be a sign of gum disease.

4.     Receding gums. Separation of the gums from the teeth which eventually leads to the gums receding so much that the roots of the teeth are exposed.

5.     Loose teeth. This is a sign of later stages of gum disease.

Others symptoms of gum disease include not wanting to eat, problems picking up food, drooling, chewing on one side of the mouth or not wanting to be touched around the mouth. Advanced gum disease in the upper teeth can destroy the bone between the nasal and oral cavity causing sneezing and a runny nose.

Is Gum Disease Painful?

Most of us have experienced the pain associated with a toothache. Gum disease in your pet is just the same. However, most pets with painful dental conditions do not show clinical signs that are obvious to us. In the wild, animals instinctively hide signs of pain and illness to avoid showing weakness to predators and this is why our pets don’t show pain in the way we recognise. But this does not mean that they are not feeling pain and furthermore they cannot tell you about the pain. Gum disease often develops gradually, meaning your pet may be living for many years with chronic pain without you even knowing. Gum disease is more common in middle-aged and older pets, and can often be interpreted as “grumpy” behaviour which, after a dental treatment, can disappear with the pet acting years younger.

How Do I Prevent Gum Disease in my Pet?

1.     Brushing. Just like the best home care for your teeth is daily brushing, it is the same for your pet. Brushing daily is important. When brushing is performed every other day effectiveness reduces to 90%, every 3rd day reduces effectiveness to 60% and once a week is ineffective. While the task may seem to be a bit of a mission, it doesn’t have to be. Training your pet correctly, some patience and the right tools usually allow the task to be achieved easily. The earlier you begin a dental routine in your pet’s life, the easier the ritual will become over time. But, if you take it slow, even senior pets, will allow you to brush their teeth.

2.     Oral Products. If despite your best efforts, you can’t brush your pet’s teeth and it is beginning to affect your bond with your pet, there are many other products such as gels, wipes and sprays which you use daily to help you look after your pet’s gums. It is important that you choose a reputable product that has scientific studies proving its effectiveness.

3.     Dental Diets. Some pets will benefit from “dental diets” that help scrub their teeth as they chew, or from foods that have additives that prevent plaque from hardening. However, dental diets shouldn’t completely replace other treatments such as brushing or a good quality oral treatment. Talk to your vet about what diet is right for your pet.

4.     Veterinary Checks. Regular veterinary dental checks and dental cleanings are extremely important to the health of your pet. Your veterinary team will remove calculus, clean under the gum line, and polish your pet’s teeth. Dental x-rays should also be taken to detect changes in the structures under the gum line or inside the teeth.

By taking these steps to prevent gum disease in your pet, you will not only be looking after your pet’s health and welfare, but you will avoid the tremendous costs of dental surgery that both you and your pet will suffer through.