What are the most common oral and dental diseases in dogs?

The most common oral and dental diseases in dogs are: 1. Dental calculus. Tartar is mainly a mixture of food debris and bacteria, and is the cause of bad breath and periodontal disease, and is difficult to remove once it has formed on a dog’s teeth. Therefore, owners should clean their dog’s teeth regularly and even take him to the vet for a dental cleaning if necessary. 2. Gingivitis. Gingivitis is the precursor to periodontal disease. The area where the gums meet the teeth is called the gum sulcus. As dogs do not know how to clean their own teeth, after numerous meals their gums accumulate a lot of food debris, which causes bacteria to grow in this area. When bacteria invade the gums, they become inflamed and cause pain. 3. Periodontal disease. If the owner does not take care of the dog’s teeth, calculus will develop and if the situation does not improve, the accumulation of calculus will turn into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease causes the flesh of the teeth to swell, become inflamed and bleed, severely damaging the flesh of the teeth and causing significant tooth movement, which can eventually lead to massive tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a very serious dental condition and should be treated by a vet as soon as it is detected.