How To Keep Your Aussiedoodle’s Teeth Clean

Who doesn’t love getting doggy kisses from their Aussiedoodle? But how do you keep your pup’s teeth clean and his breath smelling fresh?

Keeping your Aussiedoodle’s teeth clean is crucial because periodontal disease is a common but preventable problem. Oral health plays an important role in your dog’s quality of life and overall health. Your dog’s oral care routine must be realistic because owner compliance determines success.

If you have ever suffered from a cavity or broken tooth, you know all too well that a toothache can cause significant discomfort. But it can be difficult for us to understand and recognize that oral disease is also a source of pain in our dogs. Dentistry and at-home oral care play a meaningful role in the quality of life and overall health of our dogs the same way as it does for people.

As a veterinarian, I truly believe in the importance of dentistry in your dog’s overall health and quality of life. That being said, I also understand that keeping your dog’s teeth clean is easier said than done. Keep reading to learn what tools are available so that you can cultivate an at-home oral care routine that works for you and your pup.

What Is Periodontal Disease and How Common Is It?

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease in dogs and cats and affects an estimated 90% of pets. However, this may not accurately represent the prevalence of this serious health issue because we are not necessarily monitoring the inside of our dog’s mouth every day.

Periodontal means “around or near the tooth.” Periodontal disease encompasses gingivitis and periodontitis, or inflammation of the gums and surrounding tooth structures, respectively. Gingivitis is preventable and reversible. However, if left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis and eventually tooth loss.

Periodontal disease can be traced back to the initial formation of plaque. Plaque is the soft accumulation of bacteria that causes gingivitis and periodontitis. Plaque then hardens and becomes calculus (or tartar).

Stages and Signs of Periodontal Disease in Dogs

The severity of dental disease is further categorized into stages, which are defined primarily by the degree of bone loss around the teeth. 

Determining the stage of the disease is important because it helps guide treatment options, including anesthetized dental cleaning and tooth removal. In order to see the degree of bone loss, your veterinarian needs to take anesthetized dental x-rays.

Our dogs cannot verbally tell us when they are experiencing a toothache. However, familiarizing ourselves with the signs of dental disease in our pets can foster early recognition and treatment.

Signs of oral disease in dogs:

• Bad breath

• Discomfort or pain upon handling of the face (i.e. vocalizing 

when being pet on the muzzle)

• Decreased appetite

• Changes in eating behavior (e.g. dropping food, hesitance when 

grabbing or chewing food)

• Red or swollen gums

• Drooling

• Blood-tinged saliva

• Discolored teeth

• Fractured or missing teeth

• Lethargy 

Systemic Effects of Periodontal Disease in Our Pets

In addition to local effects, dental disease can also have negative consequences throughout the body, including an increased risk of kidney and heart disease. 

Dental plaque leads to inflammation, which can have widespread effects on the body. Furthermore, bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and lead to issues in distant organ systems, like scar tissue formation in the liver or infection of the heart.

Dental disease can also exacerbate other conditions your dog may have. For example, dental disease makes it more challenging to control diabetes.

Importance of At-Home Oral Care and Available Products

While any frequency of tooth brushing is better than none at all, daily tooth brushing is the gold standard for at-home oral care in both humans and dogs. This is because dental plaque starts accumulating within a few hours of professional dental cleaning. 

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all oral care regimen for dogs. The best at-home oral care routine is the one where owner compliance is best for that specific dog and owner. In other words, choose at-home oral care products that your dog will tolerate and that you can implement consistently.

Although tooth brushing is the gold standard for at-home oral care, there are other oral care products including dental diets, dental chews, water additives, and teeth sealant.

The VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) has a list of approved products that meet “pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats.” Please note that these products may still cause other side effects including diarrhea and fractured teeth.

Dental Diets, Water Additives, and Teeth Sealant

There are dental diets designed to physically abrade the teeth, reduce plaque formation, and decrease bacteria. Some dog food companies conduct research to investigate the effects of different sizes, shapes, and textures of kibble on dental health.

Other veterinary dentistry tools include teeth sealant, meant to act as a barrier against plaque and tartar, as well as water additives designed to reduce oral bacteria.

Many veterinary oral care products contain enzymes to help reduce the formation of plaque and tartar. If available, I recommend choosing products that have enzymatic action, such as enzymatic toothpaste or dental chews with an enzymatic ingredient.

Dental Chews

Many owners like to offer their dogs dental chews because they can help with dental tartar, provide mental stimulation, and serve as a treat. However, dental chews come with their own risks. 

For example, dental chews can break your dog’s teeth, especially if they are too hard. If a dog swallows a dental chew whole or in large pieces, it may become lodged in his intestines, which can be life-threatening and require surgery.

Furthermore, because dental chews are richer than most commercial dog foods, they can cause diarrhea or vomiting, especially if given in excess. 

Raw hides are a popular choice of dental treats. However, because they are raw, they carry an increased risk of food-borne illnesses, such as Salmonella and E. coli.

To more safely incorporate dental chews into your dog’s oral care regimen, I recommend avoiding raw hides and only offering dental chews in moderation. Additionally, observe your dog and ensure he is slowly chewing the dental chew rather than swallowing it whole.

Risks of Non-Anesthetic Dentistry

Even with daily tooth brushing and flossing in humans, we require regular professional dental cleanings. The same is true for our pets. At-home oral care is valuable for our dogs but they will still require professional veterinary dentistry intermittently. 

There is quite a bit of discussion and interest in non-anesthetic (or anesthesia-free) dentistry for pets. However, we must remember that a significant portion of the tooth is below the gum line. To assess the entire tooth, your veterinarian needs to take x-rays. Anesthesia is necessary to prevent your dog from moving during this process.

Even if your dog does not require any tooth extractions, plaque needs to be cleaned from below the gum line. Without anesthesia, only the tooth surface above the gum line can be cleaned, which while cosmetically appealing, will not truly resolve dental disease. 

Some pet owners are wary of anesthesia due to the potential risk of an adverse reaction to certain drugs. Other owners worry about the potential strain that anesthesia may put on an older pet. While anesthesia for any procedure is never without risk, non-anesthetic dentistry may ultimately cause your dog more harm.

AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) summarizes the facts about anesthesia and veterinary dentistry as follows: 

• Non-anesthetic dentistry may ultimately require unnecessary animal restraint that 

causes your dog stress. Furthermore, without anesthesia, any pain your dog may 

experience during cleaning and extraction is unlikely to be managed. 

• Although anesthesia comes with risks, your veterinarian is trained to choose a 

combination of drugs that is safest given your dog’s individual health status. For 

example, there are certain drugs that are safer for dogs with pre-existing heart or kidney 

disease.

• As previously mentioned, anesthesia allows your veterinarian to identify and address all 

dental disease, including any disease below the gum line.

• Any dental disease below the gum line that is not identified or treated during 

non-anesthetic dentistry may eventually become a more severe and costly issue in the 

future.

• 60% of your dog’s tooth is below the gum line and thus, can only be evaluated with 

dental x-rays, which require anesthesia.

There are many products available to help keep your Aussiedoodle’s teeth clean. Finding an at-home oral care routine that is realistic for your family and pup will better set you up for success. Good oral health plays a powerful role in keeping your dog happy and healthy. Therefore, regular, professional veterinary dentistry under anesthesia is a valuable investment.