The mouth, or oral cavity, is a very important part of the digestive system in dogs. This is where digestion begins. As a dog chews, food is broken up into smaller particles for better digestion by enzymes in the stomach and small intestines. Teeth, therefore, play a very important role in digestion. The tongue and front teeth help a dog pick up pieces of food and teeth in the back of the mouth grind food into smaller particles.

In total, a dog has 42 teeth. They are comprised of the incisors and canines which are located in the front, and the premolars and molars which are located in the back. Each of these teeth have a part that is visible above the gum line called the crown as well as a part below the gum line called the root. Enamel covers the crown which is the hardest substance in the body. The dentin is below the enamel as well as the pulp which makes up most of the tooths blood vessels and nerves.

The gingiva is the soft tissue that surrounds the tooth at the gum line. This is also attached tightly to the jawbone. In some cases, a tooth can have only one root or several roots attached to it.

What are Plaque, Tartar, and Gingivitis?

Just like us, food, saliva and bacteria remain on the teeth after eating. This is commonly referred to as plaque. While this is perfectly normal, it does need to be removed which can be done easily with brushing. Plaque releases toxins which can inflame the gum line. When this inflammation occurs, it is referred to as Gingivitis.

When plaque stays on the teeth for long enough, it will harden and turn into tartar or calculus. Tartar allows more bacteria and debris to accumulate. This makes inflammation of the gums worse. As gum inflammation gets worse, the gum recedes away from the tooth, the tooth becomes loose, bacteria and inflammation spread to the jawbone underneath the tooth, and eventually the tooth falls out. Tartar can accumulate above the gum line where it can be seen and also below the gum line where it cannot be seen.