DENTAL HEALTH AND CATS
What exactly does dental disease in cats mean?
To help understand the topic of dental disease let's take a look at a few basic definitions:
Gingivitis... means an inflammation of the gums.
Periodontitis... a general term for a disease of the oral cavity that attacks the gum and bone and delicate tissues around the teeth.
Plaque... is the first buildup of material adhering to the enamel of the tooth and is composed of a mixed colony of bacteria. It is soft and easier to remove. Left untreated, leads to periodontal disease. Tartar (calculus) is a result of accumulated plaque and starts to form when the surface is not clean. It is hard and consists of calcium salts from saliva deposited on plaque. Tartar is difficult to remove without dental instruments. If you don't get plaque, you don't get tartar.
Dental disease in cats is the same as it is in the people. However, the one difference is that cats can't take care of their own teeth. Dental disease (gum disease) is an infection resulting from build-up of soft dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums. The bacteria in dental plaque irritates the gum tissue if plaque is allowed to accumulate, which often leads to infection in the bone surrounding the teeth. Hard dental tartar starts to form within a few days on a tooth surface that is not kept clean. Bad breath is the most common effect. However, that is only the beginning. The gums become irritated, leading to bleeding and pain. The roots may become so severely affected that teeth become loose and fall out. Bacteria surrounding the roots gain access to the blood stream potentially leading to severe damage of the kidney, heart, lungs and even death.
How common is dental disease in cats?
Dental disease is the most common serious ailment in cats! 75% of adult cats have periodontal disease. The incidence and severity of dental disease increases as pets age. In fact, the vast majority of dogs 18 months of age and older show signs of dental disease and are in need of professional dental care.
I thought cat's teeth just take care of themselves?
Cats' teeth are no different than our teeth. Can you imagine the state of your mouth if you never brushed your teeth! But you can, and you do. Cats cannot take care of their own teeth, yet their teeth require routine, daily, home care just like ours. We, as owners must take an active role in keeping our cats' mouths healthy, which it turn will affect their overall good health.
How do the problems begin?
Periodontal disease begins when plaque, a mixture of bacteria and food debris, builds up on the tooth surfaces and works its way under the gum line. Toxins released by the bacteria cause an inflammatory reaction that can lead to destruction of tissue and bone that anchor teeth in place.
What are the early indications of dental disease?
If you notice an odor to your cat's breath (halitosis), your cat likely has dental disease. And please do take a look inside your cat's mouth. If you see a color that's a yellow-brown, that's plaque. Healthy teeth are white with a smooth enamel surface a "knife edge" appearance. Diseased teeth have defects in the enamel. Inflamed gums are red, swollen, have receded away from the crown of the tooth, exposing some of the root surface. Indications of pain in the mouth includes: chewing on one side of the face, or stopping to eat altogether, if he stops grooming himself or becomes less playful or social than usual.
I thought "cat breath" is just normal for cat?
Cat breath is not normal for cats just like chronic bad breath in humans is not normal. There are two principle causes of bad breath in humans and animals; digestive/stomach problems or infection in the mouth.
Is dental disease painful?
Dental disease is very painful. Studies have shown that cats experience pain like we do, but actively hide their pain from observers. This instinct to hide their pain makes it harder for us to help our pets because we sometimes have to look for very subtle signs of pain. Surely, if we could know what pain they experience, we would be much more likely to aggressively treat it. Protecting our pets from the agony of infected teeth and gums is one of the most important things we can do to keep our pets healthy, comfortable and happy.
What is the adverse health impact of periodontal disease on a cat?
The toxins from dental disease are absorbed into the dog's blood stream. As the kidneys, liver, and brain filter the blood, small infections occur causing permanent and at times fatal organ damage.
What is the best protection from dental disease?
Prevention is the best protection from Periodontal disease. While nothing takes place of regular visits to the veterinarian and professional cleaning, ongoing follow-up oral care at home maximizes the benefits of professional cleaning and is just as important in controlling plaque and tartar formation.
Can poor dental health affect the behavior of my cat?
Yes!! Many owners report dramatic improvements in their pet's behavior, playfulness and reduced crankiness after dental care. These behavior improvements are most likely the result of the relief from chronic severe pain.
DENTAL CARE PROGRAM
Why is an ongoing dental care program critical for cats?
There are clear indications that oral health status has a profound effect on a cat's general health. Bacteria starts attaching to a cat's teeth just minutes after a dental cleaning so you can imagine how much bacteria is in a cat's mouth after a day of eating! If you can prevent plaque from being able to adhere to the teeth or at least keep it soft so it can be brushed, wiped or fall off with the aid of a chew on a daily basis, you will be able to significantly reduce plaque buildup that leads to tartar formation and dental disease. If not addressed, dental disease can then cause the bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream with potentially delirious effects on internal organs.
Is it true that ongoing dental care can potentially add years to a cats life?
YES. Studies show and veterinarians agree that proper dental care can potentially extend an animal's life. Tests also prove that 40-60% of animal's deaths from liver problems are due to infection in the animal's gums.
What is the biggest obstacle to home dental care?
Since cats cannot take care of their own teeth, it is up to you to take of their teeth. The biggest obstacle to home dental care is compliance by owners. Every aspect of healthymouthTM was designed specifically to make compliance easy for owners. And compliance means that cats will benefit significantly from dental home care.
Why is it important to have my cat's teeth examined and cleaned regularly?
Like people, cats need regular professional dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup. If not removed, this buildup may lead to periodontal disease and more serious health problems.
Is it dangerous to put a cat under anesthesia for teeth cleaning and oral surgery?
This is a concern that is important to address. Statistically, only one-in-one thousand pets has an anesthetic death. Today, veterinarians take very different precautions and there have been advancements to make procedures as safe as possible. Veterinarians choose the proper cat-patient by screening for common preexisting organ abnormalities through a thorough examination and evaluating blood and urine tests. Veterinarians are careful to select the correct anesthetic protocol and supporting the pet with intravenous fluids and temperature control during the procedure. And during the procedure, monitoring the cat-patient by accurately assigning a technician to monitor vital signs, attaching a monitoring device with alarms to the cat-patient and continuing to monitor the dog-patient after the procedure until it is in recovery. Yes, there are risks associated with anesthesia, but when the appropriate steps are taken to minimize them, the risks are much smaller than those associated with oral disease.
Is the dental cleaning painful to a cat?
The cat will not be in any pain as pain control is provided before, during and after the procedure.
What is the best way to take care of a cat's teeth?
Veterinarians recommend a dental care routine that includes oral exams at least once a year, a yearly professional dental cleaning and an ongoing daily home care program. 96% of veterinarians recommend daily dental brushing unfortunately only 2% of cat owners actually brush. A dental care liquid product, such as healthymouthTM used in conjunction with brushing would be the gold standard. However, if brushing is not possible, using healthymouthTM instead of regular water has been clinically proven in dogs to reduce plaque by 71.9 percent and 76.7 percent effectively in two clinical trials, without chemicals. And...if you don't get plaque, you don't get tartar. Chews, because they work the teeth, are helpful in reducing tartar and well-balanced, meat-based dog food helps keep the mouth environment healthy. A conjunction of dedicated brushing, rinsing, chewing and diet with veterinarian care is the best way to care for a cat's teeth. If it not possible to comply with all home care, doing something is definitely better than doing nothing.
Will daily home care really make a difference?
ABSOLUTELY!! The good news is that dental disease can be prevented from developing by starting professional dental cleaning supplemented by daily home dental care as soon as you bring your puppy home. Even if you are starting dental care when your cat is a senior, it is never too late to give your cat a healthier mouth, which will affect overall health. Optimal results will occur if you start with a professional dental cleaning and follow with daily home care of a combination of teeth brushing, healthymouthTMdental care water and supplemented by chew bones. But if teeth brushing is not possible, then you do what you and your cat will support. HealthymouthTM dental care is simple to administer, simple for your cat to use, and effective on its own or in conjunction with dental care chews or bones.
This is all new to me. Why haven't I heard about pet dental care before?
Medicine has evolved. These medical advances are why pets now live longer lives than ever before. Just a few years ago, most veterinarians often waited until dental disease was very advanced (and irreversible) before strongly recommending dental care. Today we know that we must prevent problems from becoming severe instead of allowing them to worsen before helping. With our new understanding of the importance of dental health, modern veterinarians are rapidly acquiring the knowledge and equipment needed to properly prevent and treat dental disease. Recent advances in veterinary dentistry allow prevention, treatment and the curing of dental disease more effectively than ever before. Generalist veterinarians, who before were limited by training and tools, now are investing in top quality equipment and training. They are now better able to diagnose and treat common dental problems with new technologies to benefit their patients. Today there are also approximately one hundred veterinary dentists who specialize and are committed to pet dentistry.
If daily home care does make a difference, then why is dental disease still the number one problem seen by veterinarians?
We know it's not because owners don't care. Many studies have shown that Americans generally consider pets as members of our families and we want to do what's best for them. And yet, there are still many loving owners whose pets haven't gotten the dental care they need over the years. For sure, these pet owners would be providing better and ongoing dental care if they understood how effective it can be in keeping their pets healthy, extending their lives and making them so much more comfortable. Lack of awareness must be replaced by education. Veterinarians must not only provide information to owners, but communicate this information in a way that can be understood and that they can relate to. It could be as simple as communicating to the owner, "Can you imagine if you never brushed your teeth..." In addition, veterinarians need to make owners comfortable with seeing (perhaps for the fist time) the inside of their dog's mouth. The founder of healthymouthTM was one of those loving owners who, "just didn't know." As a result, her mission through healthymouthTM is to educate owners, like never before by providing access, through our products, website and newsletters to not only leading veterinarians, but to other cat and dog owners who want to share their experiences and new-found knowledge.
At what age should a dental care program start?
Dental Care should begin as soon as you bring your new kitty home with daily brushing (if possible) used in conjunction with healthymouthTMdental care. The earlier you begin, the more quickly your cat will come to accept or even look forward to his dental care. Annual dental care visits are generally neededstarting at the age of one for cats. Caring for teeth early and properly will prevent more severe dental disease from developing.
My cat is eight years old and has had no dental care. Isn't it too late to begin?
Absolutely not. If it's not too late for your cat, it's not too late to take care of her mouth! With proper care, dental disease is both preventable and treatable. Caught early, dental disease can often be cured. Even if caught later, effective treatment is still available to prevent the progression of the disease and prevent complications such as organ damage and further tooth loss. Sometimes owners think their cat is "too old" or "too sick" for anesthesia and dentistry, but usually the benefits of relieving the infection and pain of oral disease far outweigh the risks of the procedure. Owners are often pleasantly surprised by how young and sprightly their older pet can behave after treatment for periodontal disease.
HealthymouthTM
What makes healthymouthTM unlike any other dental care product on the market?
Research has shown that, contrary to popular belief, it is the accumulation of plaque, not tartar that induces an inflammatory response leading to gingivitis and dental disease. Proactive, daily use of the Patented formula, containing 100% natural ingredients and organic actives, has been clinically proven to clean teeth and gums, fight bad breath at its source and reduce plaque accumulation by 85 percent and 88 percent effectively in two clinical trials, Clinical studies also revealed exciting findings that plaque reduction continues to improve, the longer the product is used and that any remaining plaque is significantly softened, making the use of tooth brushing, chew-bones, or even dry wipes easier and more effective. HealthymouthTM is the only dental care water additive on the market clinically proven to reduce plaque, the cause of inflammation leading to dental disease, by 85 percent and 88 percent effectively in two clinical trials, which is remarkable and more so because it does so without the inclusion of chemicals which is truly revolutionary. It is also the only dental care product pre-dosed requiring you to simply add water and pour it in your cat's bowl.
Do you have clinical trials to support the claim that healthymouthTM reduces plaque?
The Kitten Rescue's ever changing population of 150+ rescued SHD, MHD and LHD cats housed in the Kitten Rescue Sanctuary until adoption, needed a better approach for daily oral hygiene care. The collaboration here with Karen Albert allowed The Kitten Rescue to perform clinical trials with her water-based cat::ESSENTIAL healthymouth concentrate which is free of alcohol, synthetic or artificial ingredients. Two independent clinical trials with more than 90 feline subjects were conducted. The clinical trials, following VOHC protocol produced remarkable results of a 85% and 88% reduction in plaque in plaque reduction, with no digestion problems - made even more impressive given the absence of chemical agents, ingredients, and enhancers in the product. The VOHC Board awared cat::ESSENTIAL healthymouth its prestigious Seal of Acceptance in April 2011.
What are the benefits of healthymouthTM?
It is highly effective (by 85 percent and 88 percent effectively in two clinical trials,) at reducing the accumulation of plaque, 100% natural, safe and very easy for owners to administer on a daily basis.
Why do veterinarians recommend healthymouthTM?
Veterinary Dentists and Veterinarian generalists across the country recommend healthymouthTM because it is solves two major problems and addresses two crucial needs.