A common condition in the human mouth and a celebrity in TV advertisement.
But did you know that your furry friend can also suffer from sticky yellow teeth?
Calculus (Cremor dentium, odontolithiasis) is a condition that is presented at our clinic on a daily basis. This yellow or yellow-brown substance is composed mainly of minerals and catches micro-organisms like a web, accumulating them on the tooth’s surface which causes local inflammation. If untreated, the latter may have heavy consequences – dental caries, gingivitis, paradontitis, tooth death and sometimes the inflammation may reach the brain.
does calculus develop?
Depending on the location on which it forms, tartar can be classified as supragingival or subgingival.
Supragingival calculus appears on the crowns and can be either white or brown in colour, the latter being harder and denser than the prior. It can be found most often on the upper molars.
Subgingival calculus is not as common and is located between the tooth and the gingiva. It is characterized as a thick brown uneven plaque that is glued tightly to the tooth and causes mircotraumas to the gingiva due to its edges.
does calculus develop?
The formation of calculus is not restricted by are in animals. The culprits responsible for its appearance are one or a combination of the following factors:
- Oral injuries
Food is an essential part of keeping your animal’s organism healthy, its teeth included. What has the strongest influence on tooth vitality, however, is not the chemical composition of the meal, but its physical properties – shape, form and texture.
Frequent consumption of soft and wet food creates the perfect environment for tartar formation, while large and hard pieces prevent its accumulation. Small-sized kibble has negative effects in large breeds.
Regarding the shape, there have been a number of studies that prove that the difference in jaw structure determines the difference in shape requirements. Many brands have taken this under consideration and have modified their products to fit various breeds.
Saliva plays a role in the formation of tartar when it is overproduced, when its pH has changed or when plaque is already present. The high amounts of salts which it contains, especially those of calcium and potassium, form layer after layer on the tooth’s surface, eventually forming calculus.
Oral injuries that pertain to teeth being incapable of working properly cause favourable conditions for the formation of tartar. Such plights are twisted teeth, milk teeth not falling, jaw trauma and many more. This category also includes diseases of the salivary glands, wounds in the mouth’s mucosa and tumours in the oral cavity.
can I tell that my pet has calculous?
If you perform a weekly check-up at home, you will likely notice how your pet’s teeth steadily change their colour and smoothness. Unfortunately, many owners neglect the dental hygiene of their animals and discover the condition when damage has already been done. With time the pet’s breath becomes foul, they avoid eating hard food or refuse eating at all, their teeth turn dark and loosen. In some complicated cases medication is prescribed after removal of the calculus.
One of the most efficient tools for cleaning your pets’ teeth is the unltrasound scaler. This is a harmless procedure, which does not harm the oral cavity and the organism as a whole. However, the animal must be sedated beforehand.
At M&B Clinic our main priority
If you wish to protect your pets from the formation of tooth calculus, check their oral cavity regularly and do not allow any of the risks mentioned above. At our clinic you can find a number of products for additional dental care, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental water, dental bones and sticks.
In order to make sure that your pet has
no tooth ailments, We recommend bringing it
to the clinic for an examination every 6 months.