Why dental care is so important

More than ¾ of dogs have active dental or gum disease. Few dogs will show obvious signs, so you might not even notice it straight away. But in the long term, poor dental hygiene can have a huge impact on your dog’s happiness. It can, for example, affect their appetite, which in turn influences their overall wellbeing.

What causes dental problems?

It all starts with plaque. After eating, plaque begins to form on your dog’s teeth. Plaque is mainly bacteria, food and fluids, and it will stick to the surface of teeth. The bacteria produce acids that attack tooth enamel and can damage your dog’s gums. Over time, plaque hardens - at which point it mineralises and changes into tartar (brownish appearance).

The formation of tartar causes gum inflammation and bad breath. Eventually, without care, this can lead to dental issues including periodontal disease or gingivitis. And if this is left untreated, it can eventually lead to tooth loss or - even worse - the infection can spread elsewhere in the body, to the kidneys, lungs, heart valves, liver or joints. Daily dental care is therefore of vital importance.

Preventing dental diseases

In an ideal world, you’d brush your dog’s teeth daily, like we humans do. However, if you’ve ever tried to clean your dog’s teeth you’ll know it’s not the easiest task. Lots of dogs see dental care as something unpleasant. And even if your dog doesn’t mind, it’s hard to reach all the spots with a toothbrush. That’s why a dental stick can be a great support for daily dental care.

Dental sticks don’t solve dental diseases, but they can help to prevent them. When your dog chews a dental stick, it activates the production of saliva in their mouth. Saliva contains antimicrobial substances* which mop up harmful bacteria - stopping plaque from becoming tartar. Plaque can be stubborn, so a dental stick with long chew time can be more effective than one your dog finishes in 10 seconds. The Doggy Dental sticks from Edgard & Cooper for example, are air-dried to give a longer chew. More chewing equals healthier mouths.

*Substances that kill bacteria & germs.

Last but definitely not least, a daily dental routine is key. This will help to keep bad breath smells at bay and prevent dental diseases from making an appearance.

We don’t advise giving Doggy Dental to puppies who still have their baby teeth or senior dogs who either have loose teeth or have already lost a lot of teeth.