Ginger Jensen & Her Pearly Whites!

 

 “Ginger,” a Bichon Frise, who will be 10 years old in June of this year is fortunate to have owners like Mark and Mary Jensen.   Ginger has been in for periodontal therapy where she had oral x-rays  taken, tartar and plaque  removed and her teeth polished.  

The Jensen’s have been persistent in brushing Ginger’s teeth.  As you can see in the photograph, her teeth are absent of plaque and tartar and her gums are a healthy pink color.

After your animal receives periodontal therapy which includes cleaning, polishing, fluoride treatment and radiographs, we strongly recommend brushing at   home to help remove plaque before it turns into tartar, causing gum disease and painful root abscesses.  Our website, www.hwy30vet.com , has a short video with tips on brushing your pets’ teeth.  Other methods for helping to maintain dental health include dental chews, mouth rinses and solutions both made to put in animals’ water.

Not only does neglect of tooth care cause problems in the mouth; it also causes problems elsewhere in the body such as heart valves, kidneys and liver. 

Also, think about how important the mouth is to your pet, perhaps your pet’s mouth is used more than you use yours.  He uses his mouth for playing, eating or defending himself.  Pain in the mouth due to gingivitis, tooth abscesses, abnormal growths, unviable teeth and many more conditions can surely affect the quality of life for your pet.

If your pet has any symptoms of dental disease such as bad breath, reddened gums or pain in the mouth, please make an appointment for a dental examination so that we can suggest appropriate diagnostics/treatments to help your pet to be more comfortable and happy!

Definitions:

Plaque-a soft, sticky, whitish matlike film attached to tooth surfaces, formed largely by the growth of bacteria that colonize the teeth.

Tartar-a hard, yellowish to brownish-black deposit on teeth formed largely through the mineralization of dead bacteria in dental plaques by the calcium salts in salivary secretions and subgingival transudates.