When it comes to removing plaque and calculus (even in places where we don't see them), your vet is the only person for the job so this will definitely not be a post to 'replace' dental cleanings. Your vet tells you when it should be done but what you can do is extend the time until the next procedure is needed with regular dental care (again, your vet is the one who makes that call).
What you will learn here is how to use homeopathy and aromatherapy (a fusion of homeopathized aromatherapy that I coined as "HOMAROM" ) to boost the efficiency of your dental efforts (that require more than a bit of motivation, I know). Sorry to break it to you if you were hoping for an alternative but the truth is that nothing beats brushing.
The importance of good oral health cannot be overstated: its associated structure contains many nerves and is served by an abundant blood supply so poor dental care can lead to a variety of complications. Waiting until pain keeps your dog from eating is really something a responsible kahu should never allow.
The good news is that there are plenty of 'tools' you can use- once I widened my approach on dental care, it atleast got a bit more diverse and by hating some less than others (i.e. toothbrush in all forms, even the non brush non-sonic one made me into personna non grata within a fraction of a second), I managed to somewhat create a routine with some days that were at least a tad easier than others.
1. Natural tooth brush - the only one that they actually like!
I have to begin with raw bones (i.e lamb and beef bone) that are often referred to as nature’s toothbrush. You can freeze them to maintain freshness. Unfortunately, Maza had quite a sensitive tummy so I never got to fully include this in her routine.
Dr Pitcairn reccomends feeding your dog once a week nothing but one large raw bone. Unfortunately, some dogs have trouble disgesting as their GI tract gets irritated which according to him is a result of weak stomach acid from improper feeding. Unfortunately, in Maza's case a good diet and B complex didn't clear the problem so what you can is simply give it as a treat but limit chewing to 3 min a day. Needless to say, you have to stay present and make sure your dog does not swallow any large pieces (despite being the perfect Lady, when it came to food, she didn't even need one minute - although before my brother's kibble training, she was quite picky).
If you can't go around this, you include hard raw veggies like a carrot or broccoli- again, if your vet approves it as these can also be harder on the stomach (light steaming makes it easier to digest and in some cases, even helps release nutrients).
2. Gum time
While we speak of teeth, we don't speak about gum health that is just as important if you want to prevent periodontal disease. The good news is that as much as your dog can hate brushing, putting a gel on the gums with your finger should be an easier mission - and if even that is impossible, you can flush a specific herbal infusion with a syringe (like a mouthwash) - but please keep in mind your dog's weight as herbs can do harm when taken in excess amounts. In Maza's case, a 7kg cavalier, a teaspoon would be the max amount (when it came to herbal aids, even 1/4 of a teaspoon did the job).
Sadly, "Healthy Gums" from Pet Wellbeing is to be used with caution in cardiac or kidney problems as long-term and excessive use can cause kidney irritiation, water retention, hypertension, and other cortisone-like side effects. What I love about this herbal mix is that it is entirely free of alchohol (a rare find) and other gum-irritating ingredients with plants being based in MCT oil (good as an anti-inflammatory base, but not advisable in case of a sensitive pancreas). It also has added Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin C and Zinc oxide. The good news is that you can use plants (some of which are contained in this product) on their own by making a 'mouth wash' out of it, but careful: each is made differently! But one that is not in this herbal mix is such an easy find superplant that works on many fronts.
- Plantago Major (Plantain, for my fellow Yugoslavians - the almighty Bokvica)
When the condition is not serious enough to require a major cleaning but you start to see minor deposits and gum inflammation. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, turn off the heat and add 1 teaspoon of the leaves, steep for 5 minutes. Once cooled, shower the mouth by using a syringe.
- Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis)
Antiseptic that supports new gum tissue growth. Steep 1 teaspoon of poweredred rootstock in a pint of boiling hot water until cool. Pour off the clear liquid and flush out the mouth with it. Along with Calendula, it is great to use after dental work to speed up healing.
-Myrrh
Indicated for loose teeth. You can make an infusion by steeping 1 teaspoon in a pint of boiling water for a few minutes. Strain and paint the infusion on the gums or flush them using a syringe or cooking baster.
Another product I found for those who are not in the DIY spirit is VEDA Dentavedin, but what I dislike about it is that the herbal extracts are based in PEG 40 (hydrogenated castor oil), with the adition of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose to thicken the gel - in simple words, to expand its shelf life, but 'killing' the power of plants along the way. Based in purified water, phytocomplex has numerous extracts:
chamomile flowers, buckthorn leaves, alder fruits, a number of tripartite herbs, St. John's Wort, St. John's Wort, Thyme, Dandelion officinalis root, Birch buds, Echinacea, Sapurea leaves, marsh wild rosemary shoots, calendula flowers, eucalyptus leaves, licorice roots, nettle leaves, common pine buds, horsetail grass, celandine grass, violet grass, burdock roots, burdock rhizomes and roots, burdock roots and flowers and last but not least- a number of tripartite herbs without naming the exact plant (welcome to Serbia and observe the wonders of its import labels).
While label says to put the product twice daily for 7-10 days, it felt too much so I would put the product once per day and use a moutwash/syringe or vitamin E in the evening (see below). After a little break of several days, you can continue if needed.
3. Vitamin E
Before bedtime, break a capsule and put onto the gums with your fingers for a soothing effect for 10-14 days or as needed (ask your vet). Dr. Pitcairn's dental care advice is to use a herbal flush in the morning and vitamin E in the evening.
4. Dental sprays
Platinum Oral Clean Care spray is a seriously overpriced item. What I severely dislike about it is alchohol. But it contains citrus seed oil that actually works as a natural way to dissolve tartar so if you are in trouble or you want to treat your dog with less stress by pausing brushing for a bit, one bottle shouldn't do harm but I wouldn't use it on a continous basis. It also says to use it 2 times a day, but like above, my choice was once per day - whenever it was most convenient for her to spend 30 minutes before and after without food and water (i.e. before sleep).
The best spray option would be a hydrosol as there are quite a few plants that are safe and beneficial for dogs, including their oral health. But, it would need to be from a reputable source + you still need to test the quality with the pH test. I love hydrolatherapy because hydrolates typically contain around 99% water, with only trace amounts of water-soluble plant aromatic compounds (often less than 1%, sometimes as low as 0.02%). This is because they are literally a byproduct in the essential oil making process (steam distillation). I adore hydrosols for their gentleness (which is what makes them great for animals and kids) but only when I know where they come from and that is why I cannot advise you to get them.
First of all, you need to know how the hydrosol has been stored, preferably in sterilized dark glass bottles and with minimal handling. Then there is the issue of preservatives. Guess what, therapeutic-quality hydrosols are preservative-free, hence their short-lived shelf life. Therefore, they need to be refrigerated at all times as a therapeutic hydrosol will not contain ethyl alcohol, grapefruit seed extract, any synthetic chemicals nor simply any common preservative. Moreover, if you have all these factors checked out (i.e. you bought it in France and from a reputable producer), you should still test the hydrosol’s pH as you go along and use it, as this will indicate the presence of bacterial growth.
This is why I don't feel comfortable writing about hydrosol therapy for oral consumption anywhere outside France, but I will definitely speak more about it as well as canine aromatherapy when it comes to skin and fur care :).
5. Dental paste/ gel + Emmi Pet ultrasonic brush
To be used only 2-3x a week. I did not like Emmi Pet's paste that came with the brush because it had Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) and Sodium Methylparaben. However, these have been removed in the new, updated formula whose first ingredient is silicea (to be discussed in the homeopathic section) so you can try with that. I very much liked the idea of an enzyme-based toothpaste but never found one whose ingredient list pleased me so the best option I found was VEDA's Oral Vet that has a very similar composition of the above discussed gum gel, with the addition of papain enzyme and peppermint.
What I have to tell you about the greatest torture device of all time, the ultrasonic tooth brush, while not needing to brush, Maza hated it anyway (maybe because I brushed with a regular brush for quite a few years beforehand). Even keeping the brush still for a minute or two is a task. Also, while it does a good job at softening tartar, don't expect it to miraculously go away- you get wooden sticks in the package for a reason.
6. Homeopathy
It does a wonderful job in easing dental trouble and considering it is non-harmful, it would be a shame not to use its magic.
Dr. Pitcairn advises to use only one dose of Silicea 30c once a month for three consecutive months to boost oral health.
When Maza entered her senior years, I needed something stronger so I made a 30c mix of:
- Fragaria Vesca (wild strawberry)- helps prevent the formation of new calculus and is also good for stains.
- Calcarea phosphorica - essential for proper growth and development. While it is recommended for teething problems with slow or difficult dentition, I like to use its power for maintenance purposes, to help strengthen the teeth and bones.
- Calcarea fluorica - our remineralizing agent.
You also have a finished product from HomeoPet- Doggy Dental that is made of:
Arsenicum album 12x - working on the gut-oral microbiome axis.
Berber vulgaris 6x - anti-inflamatory and anti-bacterial action.
Cal carb 12x
Calc fluor 12x
Calc phos 12x
Fragaria 6x - see above.
Calendula 6x - healing agent.
Cinchona 6x
Hypericum 12x
Mezereum 12x
Plantago 6x
Silica 12x
Thuja occ 12x.
If you need to "pull out the big guns", there are also more 'serious' mixtures like Dr. Narayani's Tooth Decay. A veterinary homeopath can personalize the remedy composition for you needs.
7. Food enrichments
Parsley is a natural breath freshener - but again, less is more, especially if kidney function is compromised due to oxalates.
Mint does smell good and you can use it in small amounts (but I do advise a food intolerance test which showed me Maza was intolerant to it). Same goes for dill and fennel.
Cucumber would probably be the 'safest' raw veggie but its main benefit would be hydration. Otherwise, you can try broccoli stalks, celery, carrot sticks and raw pumpkin if your pet approves it.
* Dental sticks - beware of the ingredients!
In Maza's case, they were more of a treat considering how fast she would eat them. In almost 15 years, the only one I've like ingredients wise was Zesty Paws- Hemp Elements Probiotic OraStix Peppermint Flavored Dog Dental Chews, and here's why so you get the idea (no mumbo jumbo additives, although citric acid is unfortunately not the natural one when used as an additive and even that can cause stomach upset):
Active Ingredients: Hemp Seed Powder, Ginger Root, Healthy Teeth & Gum Proprietary Blend (Kelp, Peppermint Oil, Rosemary Extract), Turmeric, Bacillus coagulans (BC30).
Inactive Ingredients: Apple Pomace, Bone Broth Powder, Brewer’s Yeast, Chickpea Flour, Citric Acid (a preservative), Coconut Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid (a preservative), Sweet Potato, Tapioca Flour.
REMEMBER, you are not going after perfection, all that matters is consistent effort!
Maza's first DVM, our dearest, Elena, taught me - commiting to it means doing it at least every other day or don't bother. As simple as that. Sometimes, my daily achievent was sometimes even a tooth per day, but every effort counts over the long haul.
Bonus 1 : post-dental work toolkit
1. Detox cleanse
Get one dose of homeopthic Phosphorus 30c immediately after the procedure to help your dog cleanse from anesthesia/sedation and continue with Arnica 30c for a healing and anti-stress effect. Improtant- these are not to be given before the procedure as they can increase the amount of anehsthesia needed. After the procedure, they will help the system flush out the toxins and reduce pain and swelling. If a tooth has been extracted or simply the dog is in pain, give one dose of Hypericum 30c.
2. Herbal infusion of Echinacea angustifolia + vitamin E
If the teeth were infected and your dog is run down and thin. 1 teaspon of fresh leaves is boiled in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cover, letting it steep for an hour. Apply directly to the gums with a swab. If not possible- use it as mouthwash with a small syringe. Don't worry if your dog begins to drool as this herb promotes saliva flow which is essential for healing, as well as protection.
As described above, vitamin E on the gums will have a soothing effect.
3. If needed, enhance your dog's nutrition
You need to help the gums both heal and maintain the necessary resilience as long as possible.
Thererfore, you want veggies rich in niacin, folate and minerals and those are leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, potatoes, etc- discuss with your vet.
Dr. Pitcairn's reccomends fresh liver 2x a week or eggs or plain peanuts (unsalted 100% plain peanut buter) as a source of folate and advises a 3-week-long supplementation of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and B complex (ranges are given in the book but dosage is also best discussed with your vet).
4. Don't forget to brush!
Besides the 'natural' bone brush, don't allow yourself to get lazy, as the routine must go on!
P.S. Special thanks to Dr. Milan Pejčić (DVM) for the least stressful teeth cleanings with as little anesthesia as possible.
As always, your suggestions, constructive criticism and feedback is always welcome- waiting for you in the comments section below!
References:
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats - by Richard H. Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
