Brushing your dog’s teeth without a toothbrush? It’s possible!
Brushing your dog’s teeth daily is an effective preventive measure to limit bacteria accumulation causing tartar buildup, cavities, and gum disease. Unfortunately, we often lack the time or the will power to dedicate ourselves to this task, which can become challenging when the dog doesn’t cooperate.
With practice and a lot of patience, however, it can be done. But what happens if we don’t? Is our dog doomed to have bad breath and rotten teeth? No, rest assured. 1st Choice Nutrition has thought that through! It’s your best ally when it comes to your dog’s dental hygiene!
Thanks to DENTA+ teeth are clean, and the breath is fresh
Because your dog’s oral health is as important as yours, all MAINTENANCE formulas have been created to address this necessity. Our DENTA+ is a combination of elements that support oral hygiene. A blend of key ingredients, known for their beneficial effects
Mint and parsley
Rich in antioxidants, these two herbs also promote fresh breath.
Vitamin C
Known for helping reduce the inflammatory process and supports gum health.
Green tea
Helps control and eliminate “bad” bacteria in the oral cavity. Its anti-inflammatory properties also contribute to the maintenance of gum health.
Optimal kibble texture, for each life stage
The kibbles are shaped to clean the teeth mechanically during chewing, reducing plaque accumulation BEFORE it hardens and turns into tartar. Each 1st Choice Nutrition formula has its adapted texture:
PUPPY formulas
Kibbles are softer and tastier to encourage younger puppies to discover the pleasure of chewing. Check out our entire line-up of puppy formulas here.
ADULT formulas
Kibbles are crunchy on the outside but without being dry. They’re tailored to meet the preferences of adult dogs and to optimize the brushing effect created during chewing that gently cleans the teeth. Check out our entire line-up of adult dogs here.
SENIOR formulas
Older dogs have a less vigorous chewing ability. To keep them interested, we made the kibbles softer, with a mouth-watering aroma. They also benefit from the brushing effect that cleans teeth while chewing. See our formulas for senior dogs here.
The DENTAL HEALTH formula with brushing effect!
- Complete and balanced to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs.
- Especially formulated for teeth and gum health care.
- It can be offered regularly or combined with the usual recipe as needed.
- A simple, all-inclusive option: complete nutrition and dental care!
How can DENTAL HEALTH formula reduce plaque and tartar buildup while improving oral hygiene?
- Big, cubic-shaped kibble: rubs and brushes teeth while chewing! The kibble size has been precisely controlled to allow the tooth to penetrate deeper before it breaks or crumbles.
- Sodium hexametaphosphate: frequently used in toothpaste, it helps slow the demineralization of tooth enamel and reduces the presence of oral bacteria.
- Vitamin C: helps reduce tartar and decrease the inflammatory process.
- Vitamin E: antioxidant properties can help control gum infections.
- Mint, parsley, green tea: promote fresh breath. Green tea helps control and eliminate “bad” bacteria in the mouth and is anti-inflammatory.
Choosing a specialized formula for your dog’s dental health is a simple and effective preventive measure!
Providing your pet with a quality diet can help prevent dental problems caused by a plaque buildup. But what is plaque again? Plaque is a transparent and sticky biofilm that gradually covers teeth’s surface. It’s composed of saliva, food scraps and bacterial deposits, accumulated along the gum line. If this plaque isn’t removed by brushing, it encourages the multiplication of bacteria and becomes thicker. Eventually it calcifies, forming a solid yellowish tartar which is tough to remove.
Plaque
Plaque causes many problems, the most common being bad breath, cavities, excessive salivation, and gum infections. When the gums are affected, gingivitis can set in (pain, redness, swelling, bleeding) and even become periodontitis (a severe disease of the gums that also affects the teeth’s supporting tissues, which can lead to tooth mobility and eventually, tooth loss).
Diseases
Gum disease allows bacteria to enter the body through the bloodstream and affect the health of the animal. These bacteria are usually eliminated by the immune system, but sometimes, they can lodge in highly vascularized organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys or lungs, causing damage and failure.
Eating difficulties
Pain and missing teeth make chewing difficult and may cause the animal to swallow food “whole”. Pain leads to loss of appetite, sometimes to the point of stopping feeding altogether. Ineffective chewing can cause digestive problems and poor absorption of nutrients by the body.
How to take care of your dog’s dental hygiene?
Regular visits to the veterinarian are the best way to ensure your dog’s teeth and gums stay healthy. Only a veterinarian can properly diagnose oral diseases. If he finds excessive tartar buildup, he may suggest scaling. While scaling is an effective procedure, it requires general anesthesia, which can be risky for older dogs, not to mention expensive. Prevention is most certainly the best investment!
Daily brushing remains an effective preventive measure in the fight against tartar buildup. However, we sometimes lack the time or the willpower to devote ourselves to this task, which can be difficult when the animal doesn’t cooperate well. With a little practice and perseverance, brushing becomes easier and well tolerated by most dogs!
What’s the simplest and effective prevention strategy? High-quality food, like our 1st Choice Nutrition dog food! Feeding your dog with balanced healthy food that is specially formulated to promote dental health helps support daily brushing!
Trust our formulas to help your dog maintain good oral hygiene and live a long, healthy life!