Taking Care of Your Golden Retriever’s Teeth and Gums

Clean teeth and gums are very important to the overall health of your Golden Retriever. Below, we discuss some information on the most common dental problems in Goldens, and dogs in general, and ways of treating them. 

Common dental problems: 

- Periodontitis

It is quite common for dogs to have gum disease. At the age of two or three, many dogs have either periodontitis or gingivitis.

The most common dental problem for canines is periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease. The disease is caused by a variety of factors: plaque, food debris, cell mucus, and a mixture of bacteria. This results in a film on the dog's teeth and gums and has a milky-white appearance. When this film gets combined with saliva, the plaque it causes forms tartar, and is very hard to remove.  

- Gingivitis

Gingivitis, also known as gum disease, develops when gum tissue suffers from an inflammation. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, teeth loosening, bone loss, and ultimately, loss of teeth.

- Tooth fractures

Tooth fractures occur when dogs chew hard substances, such as hard rocks and cow hooves. The fractures can cause an infection inside the broken tooth.  This type of infection is known as endodontic disease.

How to prevent dental problems

You and your Golden can fend off these dental problems by removing the plaque before it actually develops as tartar. The most effective way to do this is by brushing the teeth of your dog in a mechanical fashion. The brushing would reduce much of the bacteria presence in the mouth, not to mention making your dog's breath smell better. Make it a habit of brushing your dogs' teeth on a daily basis.

There are toothpaste products made especially for dogs and can be found at all pet stores. It’s important to brush your Golden’s teeth using only dog toothpaste. Human toothpaste is specifically designed for humans, who eventually spit the paste out. Dogs cannot do that, so pick dog toothpaste that is safe enough for dogs to swallow.

It will likely take some time for your Golden to get used to having his teeth brushed. You may want to put some sort of treat on the end of the toothbrush, such as peanut butter, and while holding the brush, let the dog taste and chew on it for a short time. Your dog will start to realize that chewing a toothbrush is OK and tastes good. Do this a few times, until he feels comfortable brushing with it.

You could also use a finger brush instead of a toothbrush. A finger brush is a good alternative, although nothing could replace the good ol' toothbrush. The finger brush just fits onto one's fingertip and can let you brush the dog's teeth without the dog knowing it. Well, at least almost. The disadvantage of getting a finger brush to clean your dog's teeth is that its bristles are quite large for the brush to go under the gum line’s margin as effectively compared with regular toothbrush.

If you don't want to do the cleaning by yourself, you could take your dog to a veterinarian and have his teeth professionally cleaned. A good veterinarian will take additional measures in ensuring your dog's clean teeth by anesthetizing your dog, scraping the buildup of plaque from all over the gum line areas, and polishing the teeth for a sparkling finish.

Try to make it a regular habit of checking the teeth of your dog for any cracked or broken teeth. If you see some problematic teeth, check promptly with the veterinarian.

Of course, cleaning your dog's teeth does not mean you should disregard other areas of concern. Tough substances, such as bones, rocks, hard nylon, or cow hooves should be removed from areas where your dog could find them. Buy your dog chewing toys that are safer such as rubber-made toys. You could also provide bones that are soft enough for your dog to chew.

There are some products in the market that deal very well in helping to kill the bacteria in your dog's mouth and could actually help heal damaged gum tissues. Do not forget to ask your veterinarian on the best products in the market. 

Dental problems do not only happen to humans. Your Golden Retriever can also have dental issues as well. It is up to you, the owners, to help their pet dogs overcome any dental problems they may have.

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