Although bad breath and unsightly appearance are the most obvious reasons for good dental hygiene they are definitely not the most important reasons.

As plaque builds up on the teeth, bacteria multiply below the gum line creating small pockets of infection. Your pet’s gums become red, tender and swollen. This provides a constant source of bacteria entering the bloodstream. Once bacteria enter the bloodstream, they travel throughout the body and cause infection, especially in the heart, kidneys, and liver. These changes are not obvious at first, sometimes taking months or years before organ failure occurs. Once the damage is done, however, it is usually irreversible. One of the most common causes of death in older dogs and cats is kidney failure and one of the most common causes of kidney failure is chronic, low-grade dental infection.

Dental disease causes pain, abscesses, tooth loss and early death.