Our best treatment for dental disease is prevention. When oral hygiene is performed daily at home, we can prevent periodontal disease! However, oral hygiene does not treat dental disease, so once the disease is present, it is important to have a veterinarian provide professional care before starting oral home care.
Periodontal disease is a combination of gingivitis (inflammation and swelling of the gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of the structures that surround the tooth, resulting in bone and tooth loss). The key to prevention lies in reducing the buildup of plaque (bacteria in a biofilm) on the tooth surface, consequently reducing inflammation within the mouth.