Jeanne explains how often cats and dogs need to have their teeth brushed in order to maintain oral health between professional cleanings.
She is a founding member and former president of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians – A NAVTA Specialty Group which certifies, trains and mentors credentialed technicians to be specialists in dentistry.
For more answers to common dental care questions click here.
TRANSCRIPT:
Teeth need to be brushed twice daily to maintain oral health in people. Plaque bacteria is a factor in dogs and cats, and what removes plaque bacteria from the tooth surface is brushing. If a pet tolerates having their teeth brushed twice a day, that will maintain oral health between professional cleanings. If the pet has limited tolerance, then once a day is sufficient. If a pet has no tolerance having the teeth brushed and you could get bitten, other options exist that will work better with the pet’s tolerance and the pet owner’s abilities.