How To Prevent Perodontal Disease In Your American Pit Bull Terrier

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Periodontal disease is the most widespread disease among animals and humans. Humans, as well as animals, can benefit from many of the techniques discussed within this article. By the age of the three 80% of dogs have periodontal disease in one state or another. Periodontal disease is best fought through a variety of preventive measures. The mouth naturally harbors a variety of bacteria which causes established periodontal disease to be difficult to combat. If left untreated periodontal disease can injure the sub gingival tissue considerably enough to cause tooth loss. While this is occurring the infection can gain access to the bloodstream, becoming systemic. Infection can spread to the lungs, liver, heart or other organs after becoming systemic. Indeed the entire body becomes vulnerable at this point. The progression of periodontal disease may occur without any noticeable symptoms until the teeth become loose in their sockets.

Plaque is a white film that forms on teeth. Plaque is a composite that is formed of food debris, bacteria, exfoliated cells and glycoproteins. If not removed from the tooth plaque mineralizes into a yellow or brown deposit called calculus.

Preventing periodontal disease is easy and it takes months or years to progress to a point that serious damage occurs. An owner needs to brush his dog‘s teeth daily. Dry food can help prevent periodontal disease as it scrapes the teeth while an American Pit Bull Terrier chews and is not tacky, which causes moist dog food to stick to teeth.

Humans can rinse their mouths with an antiseptic solution, which will help reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. This is not an option with American Pit Bull Terriers as they will try to drink the antiseptic solution. This problem has been combated by chew toys infused with bacteria fighting compounds. Periodontal disease can be effectively combated with the provision of such a chew toy to your American Pit Bull Terrier.

Your veterinarian can provide plaque prevention gels and barrier sealants that will help prevent plaque formation on the teeth of your American Pit Bull Terrier. Bacteria laden saliva is prevented from contacting the tooth by the barrier provided from these tools. By preventing the accumulation of bacteria on and around the tooth plaque deposits do not form and cannot harm the tooth. Your veterinarian may also prescribe a specific brand of food designed to provide additional scraping of teeth which will prevent the accrual of calculus. If he prescribes such a food, he will instruct you to feed your dog nothing but that food.

The establishment of a grading system has enabled the identification of degrees of periodontal disease, which can assist with the determination of the appropriate treatment. Grade 1 periodontal disease is reversible gingivitis and routine dental cleaning can alleviate this condition. Past this point, all treatment should be performed by trained professionals.

Grade 2 periodontal disease is the early onset of periodontitis which is indicated by increased depth of the periodontal pocket; approximately 1 to 2 mm in an adult American Pit Bull Terrier. The increase in the depth of the periodontal pocket stems from the deterioration of the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and other gingival structures. Root planing, the removal of gingival cementum and calculus from diseased tooth roots, is often employed to combat grade 2 periodontal disease.

Grade 3 periodontal disease falls into the category of moderate periodontitis. Loss of sub gingival tissue ranges from 3 to 6mm in an adult dog. Periodontal surgery is often required to improve the condition of the teeth at this stage. Teeth with a diagnosis of stage 3 periodontal disease have a fair prospect of sustaining further damage.

Grade 4 periodontal disease is considered to be severe periodontitis. Sub gingival tissue loss is greater than 6mm. The outlook for teeth in this condition is grim. Many times these teeth are extracted. Efforts to save such teeth advance from periodontal surgery to periodontal splinting.

Consistently using the prevention techniques described in this article will prevent the accumulation of plaque and calculus on your dog’s teeth. Combine these techniques with regular dental examination and your American Pit Bull Terrier will have a lifetime of healthy teeth. A clean tooth prevents the formation of active periodontal disease.

How To Prevent Perodontal Disease In Your American Pit Bull Terrier
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