Daily tooth brushing and regular professional dental care prevent the most common health problem in dogs, with dental disease causing chronic oral pain in the majority of adult dogs.
Dental disease in dogs is both the most common health problem and among the most consistently underrecognized welfare issues. The majority of adult dogs live with some degree of periodontal disease, experiencing chronic gum inflammation and pain that owners rarely recognize. Dogs' tendency to continue eating despite significant oral pain contributes to owners underestimating the extent of suffering. Prevention through daily brushing, started from puppyhood, is the most effective way to prevent chronic dental pain throughout a dog's life. The behavioral changes seen in dogs after dental treatment - becoming more playful and comfortable - are often striking evidence of how much chronic pain they were carrying.