Can Any Product Eliminate the Need to Brush Teeth?
Hi,
I have two Yorkies, Willie and Jazzi. Willie has lost 12 teeth and Jazzi just had 19…yes, 19 teeth extracted and I didn’t even know they were bad. I sat in the waiting room and cried when they brought her out to me with all those teeth gone. However my vet is a very good one and he explained in detail why he had to take them out and I should be happy instead of sad because she would have become very ill with such bad teeth.
I had heard about a product called [name withheld to avoid giving publicity to product] which is an herbal product and periodontal disease would be prevented by spraying this product into their mouths once a day, waiting 30 minutes without any food or water before and after.
I contacted the company’s web site which has so many testimonials and when I asked them to provide me with the names of the vets who so highly recommended this product I didn’t hear from them again. I am brushing their teeth every night now before bedtime with animal toothpaste and can only hope they will keep the rest of the teeth that they have.
Helen
First, let me say that I am sorry your dogs have lost so many teeth. Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to dental disease, and I know several Yorkies that don’t have any teeth at all. But Yorkshire Terriers are not alone. Dental disease is the most common health issue for all breeds of dogs and cats.
Infected teeth cause myriad problems. Chronic pain and blood, heart and sinus infections are among the many consequences of dental disease. Dental disease may be associated with an increased risk of serious health problems such as diabetes and autoimmune disease.
In the long run, dogs and cats are much better off with no teeth than with infected teeth. But nobody would deny that the ideal situation is for a pet to have a mouth full of healthy teeth.
The best way to keep teeth healthy is to brush them daily. Tooth brushing does not guarantee against dental problems, but it dramatically reduces their incidence.
Sadly, brushing a pet’s teeth is inconvenient at best, and impossible at worst (if the pet does not cooperate). It would be fantastic if there were a product that would make brushing unnecessary.
But, regarding the product that you mention, I must say that I smell snake oil.
If a company developed a product that truly made tooth brushing unnecessary, why would the company waste time marketing it to pets? The real money would come from marketing it to people!
Cats and dogs benefit from tooth brushing for many of the same reasons that we do. The last time I checked with my dentist, she still recommended that I brush my teeth.
I suspect that the product in question is being marketed to pets because of lax regulatory standards for pet products.
In a nutshell, I suspect that the product doesn’t work.
You have questions. 
thank you for this article, my Yorkie has been feeling as you described your Yorkies felt. I will see the vet as soon as possible!
Grateful,
Luna and Cloud’s Mom
I know what product we’re speaking of here and I have a story about it. I have four dogs, three of which were starting to develop bad buildup. So I started looking for things that would help because brushing alone, even every day, wasn’t doing it. So I purchased this product. It worked on two of mine. The third it wasn’t so great for, but it did completely clean one of my chis teeth. My yorkie still has a bit and my lhasa did ok with it too. I don’t think it’s any substitute for regular dentals and brushing, but we did have really good results with it in one case. I’d never just use it by itself, but for a little extra boost it’s been good for two out of three here. I’d think that’s kind of how it goes on a larger scale too. It probably works well for some, good for others and not at all for the rest. Our vet actually recommends it so I felt good about using it on them because he has had clients with good results and some with not so good results. It probably also has a lot to do with how strict you are in applying it in some cases. I used it every night with brushing on the third day which is recommeded. But like I said. One with really good results, one with average results and one very little.
I agree with Lizzy and believe the product in question is one I am using. Poms (and most small breeds) have trouble with their teeth so I wanted to do something more than brushing.
I am not sure how it works, but this product has been amazing!!! I recommend it to everybody I know. We even got to skip a dental last year because the vet didn’t see the need for it. I try to use it regularly and make sure to still brush her teeth. If you decide to get it I hope it works as well for you as it has for us.
OK, I think this has to be one of the most brilliant statements regarding so-called tartar-prevention products:
>If a company developed a product that truly made tooth brushing unnecessary, why would the company waste time marketing it to pets? The real money would come from marketing it to people!<
This is so succinct and accurate that I’d like to thank you for publishing it! I also hope people consider that the ingredients added to these pet formulas might not be safe for humans. Hexametaphosphates is one ingredient I’ve seen — it’s a good pipe cleaner, but I wouldn’t want to feed it to a beloved pet!
I feed raw — especially raw meaty bones. I give my dogs femur bones. I have heard that this negates the need for regular oral care. As much as I love the raw food approach, I have found that to not be completely true (although they do have nice white teeth). I have spent good money on dental care that I probably could have saved a bit on if I had started a regular daily tooth brushing ritual with both cats and dogs in my house. When we ignore daily dental tasks, we miss the early signs of abcesses and other problems.
IMO, when it comes to pet health, there is no better return on investment that daily preventive dental care. OK, so maybe it’s tied with a good diet too…
But I had to comment that I love this comment.