Why dental care matters more than most owners realise

This is the part that surprises owners most. A painful mouth usually does not stop a pet eating. They adapt instead: chewing on one side, swallowing food whole, taking longer over a bowl, or becoming a little quieter and less playful. Because appetite looks normal, the problem stays invisible.

That is why dental disease is so often found during an examination rather than reported at home, and why the mouth is checked at every wellness visit.

None of these confirm a problem on their own, but any of them is worth mentioning at your next appointment:

• Breath that has developed a strong or unpleasant smell
• Visible tartar, or redness and bleeding at the gum line
• Chewing on one side, dropping food, or eating more slowly
• Pawing at the mouth or face, or resisting being touched there
• A broken, loose or discoloured tooth
• Drooling more than usual

A large share of dental disease sits below the gum line, at the roots and in the jaw, where it cannot be seen by looking into a conscious pet's mouth. Assessing it properly means examining each tooth individually and taking dental X-rays, neither of which can be done safely or comfortably on an awake animal.

Anaesthesia also means treatment can be carried out without pain or distress, and without a pet having to be restrained. Your veterinarian will assess whether your pet is a suitable candidate beforehand and discuss the specific considerations for their age and health.

Brushing genuinely helps. It slows the build-up of plaque, which is the soft film that eventually hardens into tartar. Done regularly, it can extend the time between professional cleanings considerably.

What brushing cannot do is remove tartar that has already hardened onto the tooth, or reach disease below the gum line. The two work together rather than substituting for each other. A realistic routine you can actually keep up is worth far more than an ideal one you abandon after a fortnight.