New pet food helps keep teeth clean
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: DENTAL PET FOOD SCRIPT # 500 SHOOT: 2/24/03 AIRDATE: Monday, Feb. 24, 2003 DHC Master #17 Timecode: SOVT: 1:41
Monday, February 24, 2003
Emmy gobbles up a new formula of dental dog food that contains an ingredient also found in human toothpastes. Companies such as Iams, Eukanuba, and Hills Science Diet worked with the makers of Crest and Colgate to put the tartar control formula in the kibbles. “Many of the newer diets have various kinds of power phosphates, which is just a chemical, hexametaphosphate is one of the common ones that’s used. It helps prevent the plaque, which is the soft stuff that builds up on your teeth from actually mineralizing and becoming the hard tartar,” Dr. Robert Wiggs said. Plaque leads to oral infection and gum disease which is on the rise in dogs, said veterinarians like Wiggs. They blame the increase on owners who feed their pets a steady diet of human food. How can you tell if your cat or dog has gum or periodontal disease? The signs observed in animals are much the same as the signs in humans. You may notice red, swollen gum tissue, bleeding, decreased appetite, bad breath, discolored and even loose teeth. Brushing with special toothpaste, special dog chewies, and regular vet cleanings prevent oral infections. Now try dental food, which scientific research shows prevents tartar build-up In cats and dogs. So if you plan to get a puppy or a kitten, also plan to get regular dental care. And feed your new pet a nutritional diet which means virtually no human food. 
Australian sheep dog Emmy fights tooth decay and gum disease while eating her breakfast.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
