The key to choosing foods wisely is not to avoid these foods, but to think before you eat. Not only what you eat but when you eat makes a big difference in your dental health. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. If you are on a special diet, keep your physician's advice in mind when choosing foods. For good dental health, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks.
Canine dental diets reduce the amount of plaque and tartar build-up on a dog's teeth, as well as to potentially remove what is already there. Feeding a dog a dental diet is one of the safest and most effective ways in which to maintain its dental health. According to Dr. Holly Nash of Doctors Foster and Smith, dogs with severe dental disease typically need to undergo a thorough teeth cleaning from their veterinarian. While effective, the dog is usually under anesthesia during this process. Dental diets are not only enjoyable for the dog to eat, but provide dental management that is much safer, as well.
As most dental diets are nutritionally balanced, dogs can use them as their main diet. However, puppies and dogs with special nutritional needs should not use dental diets as their main food source. Owners who want to prevent plaque and tartar build-up can feed these types of diets to their dogs, as well as those who want to do what they can to avoid sedating their dogs for teeth cleanings. Dogs that cannot eat a dental diet exclusively could benefit from receiving the kibble as treats. Consultation with a veterinarian is important before placing a dog on a dental diet.
According to the WebMD Healthy Dogs Guide, dental diets work to prevent and remove plaque build-up in several ways. Some kibble is larger or designed to reduce crumbling, which can help to scrub the build-up off the teeth as the dog chews. In addition, others have a chemical coating that helps to prevent bacteria and tartar formation and reduce plaque.
