Dental disease affects 80% of dogs by age 3 and causes significant chronic pain. Regular preventive dental care is one of the most impactful welfare improvements dog owners can make.
Dental disease causes chronic pain that most dog owners never recognize because their dogs continue functioning through discomfort. The stoic response to oral pain means dogs present for dental treatment only when disease is advanced, requiring multiple extractions. Years of chronic periodontal pain precede this point. Daily tooth brushing from puppyhood prevents most dental disease, but adoption rates are very low despite clear veterinary recommendations. The welfare impact of good dental hygiene is substantial and cumulative - dogs who receive regular preventive care throughout their lives experience less chronic pain, fewer extractions, and avoid the systemic health consequences of untreated periodontal disease.