{"id":118,"date":"2024-02-08T08:10:40","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T15:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curemvet.com\/blog\/?p=118"},"modified":"2024-02-08T08:10:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T15:10:41","slug":"national-pet-dental-health-month-the-importance-of-oral-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curemvet.com\/blog\/national-pet-dental-health-month-the-importance-of-oral-care\/","title":{"rendered":"National Pet Dental Health Month: The Importance of Oral Care"},"content":{"rendered":"
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February is National Pet Dental Health Month, but you should make pet oral care a part of any pet\u2019s wellness routine<\/a> all year long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Curem Veterinary Care<\/a>, we want pet families to understand the impact that dental hygiene for pets can have on an animal\u2019s longevity and quality of life, so our team is here with a primer on the importance of pet dental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Pet Dental Health Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regular pet oral care protects more than the teeth and gums. Without ongoing dental hygiene for pets, the bacteria in a pet\u2019s mouth will begin to build up and contribute to painful gum (periodontal) disease. But it doesn\u2019t stop there. Eventually, the bacteria will start to circulate through the bloodstream, wreaking havoc on a pet\u2019s vital organs, including the kidneys, heart, and liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without proper pet oral care<\/a>, gum disease can take hold fairly quickly\u2014showing up in pets as young as 3 years old. Senior pets are at an even higher risk of rapid disease progression, so it\u2019s critical to incorporate pet dental health care as early as possible in a pet\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention Holds the Key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Professional pet dental check-ups<\/a> form the foundation of a pet\u2019s lifelong plan for pet dental health. With routine pet dental check-ups, we can help prevent gum disease and also detect and treat dental conditions in their early stages. We recommend annual pet dental check-ups beginning at age 1 (some larger breed dogs can wait until age 2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When performing a comprehensive pet dental check-up, general anesthesia<\/a> is necessary to allow the veterinarian to thoroughly clean and scale every tooth, take digital dental X-rays<\/a>, and perform necessary extractions. Most pet insurance<\/a> plans offer an option for dental health coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At-home Pet Oral Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Consistent at-home dental hygiene for pets is the perfect complement to professional pet dental check-ups. Help protect your pet\u2019s pearly whites with the following tips for pet oral care at home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n