Periodontal disease , also known as mouth disease, is one of the most common diseases found in dogs and cats. This is caused by the accumulation of various anaerobic bacteria inside the mouth that form plaque, eventually hardening into tartar on the teeth along the gum line, and is associated with the development of gingivitis. Because small breeds and toys have a much smaller jaw but contain the same number of teeth, crowding allows the formation of higher bacteria and puts them at a higher risk of periodontal disease.
Although daily tooth brushing provides the best preventive measures, feeding a tooth diet or using dog tooth chewing is an effective approach that can be done by pet owners to help prevent and control the accumulation of plaque and tartar to avoid the consequences of severe periodontal disease. Dental diet considers many aspects of oral hygiene such as inflammation, bone health and physical and chemical characteristics of kibble when it is being formulated. Some diets, chews and/or other oral products may also seek approval by the Veterinary Mouth Health Council (VOHC) for validation of their product claims.
Video Dental health diets for dogs
Bone health
Teeth play an important role in the survival of an animal; they are used for eating, grooming and defense. Each tooth consists of a crown, which is above the gum line and enamel coated, and the root that anchors the teeth to the alveolar bone. Below the enamel, there are collagen fibers and inorganic hydroxyapatite which together form dentin. Hydroxyapatite is a form of calcium storage found in bone. Blood calcium concentrations are kept within a narrow range. If deficient, calcium will be mobilized from the bone to compensate for the imbalance. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is very important for bone and tooth health; if there is an excess of phosphorus in the diet, it can produce resorption and alveolar bone reduction as demonstrated in the Henrikson study when dogs are fed low calcium, high phosphorus diets. Vitamin D also plays a major role in the absorption of calcium and bone health as it helps maintain calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Vitamin D deficiency affects calcium homeostasis which in turn has a negative impact on the parts of the tooth including gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone that causes dental and jaw degeneration. According to the recommendation of the American Animal Feed (AAFCO) Association based on dry matter content, the maximum amount of calcium in the diet is 1.8% and the phosphorus content in the diet should not exceed 1.6%. This recommendation ensures that the calcium to phosphorus ratio will be 1: 1, or a maximum of 2: 1. AAFCO also states that the maximum amount of vitamin D in a dog's diet can not exceed 3000 IU/kg.
Maps Dental health diets for dogs
Inflammation
One of the main goals of dental food for dogs is to minimize the accumulation of plaque and gingival inflammation. The dog's oral cavity can be exposed to various bacteria, parasites and viruses from their environment and it is not surprising that this induces an inflammatory reaction in the periodontium. The accumulation of these bacteria, together with extracellular polysaccharides and salivary glycoproteins, leads to plaque formation. This buildup of bacteria in plaque causes gingival inflammation and indirectly stimulates activation of the host's immune system. Severe gingivitis in dogs can progress further into periodontal disease in which periodontal tissue begins to decrease and, if left untreated, can cause tooth loss. Research has also shown that periodontal disease can have a negative impact on systemic health that affects the overall health of dogs, thereby demonstrating the importance of preventing periodontal disease. Using a dental diet may be beneficial for preventive care with regards to periodontal disease. Dental diets not only try to combat the plaque buildup physically, but also try to reduce the plaque that accumulate chemically. Chemical compounds such as anti-microbial elements are added to some dietary teeth to directly target the oral cavity to prevent gingivitis.
Chemical compounds in kibble
Excessive plaque formation can cause severe gum inflammation that can result in tooth loss. This plaque can also mineralize the tooth, creating a crystalline calcium phosphate formation known as tartar. Materials such as polyphosphates, zinc salts, and chlorhexidine have active properties to help prevent or reduce the formation of plaque and tartar. This compound may work throughout the mouth including between the teeth and along the way to the gum line, and not limited to the area of ​​chewable contact surfaces.
Polyphosphates form a variety of compounds that have beneficial effects on oral health, the most effective being hexametaphosphate, tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate and can be attached to alkali metals, alkaline metals, ammonium or salts. Sodium tripolyphosphate, for example, can bind directly to the enamel as well as the mineralized part of the tooth where it takes the calcium binding site to attach, and interact with the calcium bonded to the enamel, to prevent it from forming crystals. The calcium mixed in saliva can also be bonded by sodium tripolyphosphate thus preventing the formation of crystals. Sodium tripolyphosphate is also useful for stain prevention, and can be described in the gastrointestinal tract and provides a source of phosphorus and allows non-deposited calcium to be available for all body metabolism.
Zinc compounds, more specifically zinc ascorbate, also play a role in preventing plaque accumulation due to antimicrobial activity. Zinc salts inhibit bacterial growth by binding sulfur to control plaque formation, as well as reduce bad breath odor. However, research is only done on cats, so the same evidence may not apply directly to dogs.
Chlorhexidine is another example of a non-specific antimicrobial agent. It acts by interfering with bacterial deposition and plaque formation in the tooth, further assisting in reducing gingivitis. Chlorhexidine can also reduce the amount of plaque that has been there before. Chlorhexidine is commonly found in products such as chewing teeth or mouth rinses and may be unsuitable for use in long-term diet because long-term use can cause dye and tongue coloring, and alter food taste.
Such dietary components can help prevent plaque accumulation, thereby reducing the overall inflammatory state of periodontal disease in dogs.
Physical Characteristics of kibble
The physical characteristics of kibble teeth are very important as they contribute to the mechanical cleaning of the tooth surfaces. Kibble must be large and very dense to promote chewing, as more time spent on chewing will help reduce the accumulation of plaque, tartar and calculus. When the kibble is chewed, broken pieces rub against the tooth surface and erode the buildup of bacteria that form tartar, plaque and calculus. Materials that have adequate amounts of carbohydrates and high insoluble fiber (usually about 10%), such as soy fiber, wheat bran fiber or cellulose fiber, are added to increase the kibble density to ensure it is not easily destroyed and promote favorable textures to scratch the teeth. An increase in diameter will also significantly reduce the accumulation of plaque and calculus compared to traditional dog food as it will require more chewing by the molar. Traditional hard snacks will not have the same effect on oral health as it has been proven that the increase in fiber and diameter is what gives these benefits in food. The disadvantage is that mechanical cleansing is more useful for molar compared to incisors and canines. Teeth and canine series are commonly used for grabbing and tearing, whereas molar teeth are used for crushing and chewing, so most contact with broken shards is behind the mouth. The physical characteristics and chemical agents of the kibble work together to delay plaque buildup, and both are equally important for dog tooth cleaning.
Veterinary Oral Health Council
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is operated by American Veterinary Dental College and provides Seal of Acceptance for diet, treating, chewing, water additives and other formulations and products that have been specially formulated for dental health. They should have clinical evidence to reduce the effects of periodontal disease according to their standards and protocols against alleged claims of plaque and/or tartar control.
Trials are not performed by VOHC itself, but by companies that implement Seals and must follow strict protocols and guidelines to minimize errors and biases between experiments. The trials are also specific to tartar or plaque claims. This seal is recognized by various Dentistry Associations around the world.
Reflection
Precautions are necessary to prevent the accumulation of plaque, tartar, and calculus continuously, and to reduce the risk of long-term dental disease. Although dietary teeth are formulated to reduce plaque and/or tartar and play an important role in oral and hygiene care, it is not the only method that can be used to treat dogs' teeth. Chewing the dog's teeth every day and brushing teeth will erode the plaque before it becomes tartar. Routine dental checks by the veterinarian will assess the health of the mouth and jaw, and tell if dental cleaning is necessary. These are all important and important steps to maintain oral health, and contribute to the overall health of dogs.
See also
- Dental Portal
- Dentistry of Dentistry
- Dog smell
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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