By Royal Canin Scientific Communications

Dental disease in dogs is one of the most common reasons for veterinary visits in the United States.  Traditionally, we've thought of dental disease as a problem with older dogs, but recent data indicates that 80% of dogs begin showing signs of dental problems by age 3.  The signs of dental disease can vary but may involve gingivitis (painful and inflamed gums), bad breath, and difficulty eating.  These signs can progress to gum recession and eventually tooth loss.  While this can affect any dog, small breed dogs are especially susceptible to this problem.  The effects of dental disease are not limited to the mouth.  Other organs such as liver, kidneys, heart, or joints may be affected by problems that start in the mouth.

It's much easier and more effective to prevent dental disease than to treat it once it has progressed.  Brushing the teeth and routine veterinary evaluations and cleaning are an important part of preventing dental disease, but we can also offer a nutritional solution.  Many Royal Canin formulas incorporate unique dental benefits to promote oral health. 

Certain kibbles have been designed especially to reduce the formation of plaque, which is a "film" secreted by oral bacteria.  This film helps catch food particles for the bacteria.  Brushing the teeth helps remove the film and lower the amount of bacteria in the mouth.  However, the film reforms quickly, and we can see evidence of a new film within 1 hour of a dental cleaning! This rapid development underscores the importance of frequent care.  How can we intervene with nutrition?  Royal Canin uses a unique way of forming kibbles called longitudinal extrusion, which, in effect, makes the kibbles more "flaky."  We can also modulate the hardness of the kibble.  The result is further penetration of the tooth into the kibble before the kibble breaks, simulating a brushing effect.  By further adapting the kibble size, we encourage more chewing, and therefore more "brushing."  These innovations reduce the amount of plaque on the teeth.

The oral bacteria incorporate calcium into plaque to form tartar or calculus.  This is the hard brown material that is visible on teeth which forms a protective barrier for the bacteria.  Besides the mechanical action of the kibble, is there any way to reduce the formation of calculus?  By adding the binding agent sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), we can bind the oral calcium so that it can not be used by the bacteria to form tartar.  Once the bound calcium moves into the intestinal tract, it is released and absorbed normally.  The addition of STPP can result in a tartar reduction of up to 55% in dogs.  When combined with longitudinal extrusion mentioned above, the reduction is even higher!

With the high frequency of dental disease in animals, oral hygiene is very important.  Proper veterinary care and brushing at home help maintain dental health, but nutrition can also play a key role. Royal Canin has taken an active approach to formulating diets with features that can help dramatically reduce plaque and tartar formation because the health of the mouth affects the health of the rest of the body.