Now that you know how prevalent, and how detrimental, periodontal disease in your pet is, let's talk about how to prevent it.

The gold standard of home care is brushing the teeth. Daily is best, but every other day has been found to reduce plaque build up by 90 percent. Anything less frequent is of doubtful benefit. Brushing is easy to describe, but often difficult to practice consistently over the long term.

TOOTH TRUTHS

Start young — the sooner, the easier. Go slowly; don't force it. Make the experience positive; give rewards to your pet. Use the right tools and technique - for the technique, visit the web site www.dog-vet.com/dental In researching this article, I decided to do some investigative work and visit local pet stores. I was amazed at the number of over-the-counter products claiming to provide dental benefits for pets.

It seems that any hard to semi-hard chew product with dimples or points that can mechanically rub a tooth or gum is considered a dental tool. Also, many diets and treats claim to help control tartar. These products contain chelated agents that bind to calcium and decrease calculus (tartar) formation. But merely chewing regular dry food or biscuits will not prevent tartar build-up.

To help you decide which products work best, I advise you to look for products that carry the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Center) seal of approval.

The VOHC seal is your assurance that a product works. A fairly new way to decrease plaque accumulation is to create a barrier on the tooth by applying silicone or wax onto its surface. OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel is one of these new surface conditioners, which need be applied only weekly. You need to see your veterinarian for these products.

A reminder: February is National Pet Dental Care month. Call your vet for your pet's dental checkup. Your initial effort in beginning a preventive dental-care routine could help ensure a healthier, happier pet.