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Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Is Scary, But Not as Scary as the Consequences of Bad Dental Health
The hard truth is that 98% of pet parents don’t brush their dog’s teeth, even though gingivitis and dental disease can lead to serious health problems, and sometimes even death. Studies from Cornell have even shown that 80% of all dogs have some component of periodontal disease by age 3.
That’s why it’s so important to have a consistent dental routine, rather than try to look out for warning signs as they happen. As it turns out, we’ve found the #1 easiest and most effective way to get fresh breath, clean teeth, and great oral health for your pup, with no more effort from you than a “sit” or a “rollover:” the award-winning BARK Bright Dental Kit.
But before we get into the solution, let us set the scene for the five ways that neglecting your dog’s dental health can harm not only their teeth and gums but their overall health and well-being.
1. Lethal Bacterial Infections
Letting plaque and tartar settle at your dog’s gumline and underneath their gums leads to the bacteria in the build-up attacking the bone and ligaments surrounding the teeth. As your dog’s teeth decay, this bacteria can lead to infections that cause the jaw to swell. Signs to look out for could be your dog not eating or not being able to chew.
Left untreated, bacterial infections can lead to all sorts of horrible, life-threatening conditions (like blood poisoning, aka sepsis). So what started as a “harmless” aversion to caring for your dog’s teeth becomes something we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy.
2. Heart Disease
According to a report from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, there is mounting evidence that periodontal disease is linked to heart diseases like endocarditis. In fact, the risk for endocarditis is about 6x higher in dogs with stage three periodontal disease than for dogs without it.
Endocarditis is no joke—this NIH report claims the mortality rate is up to 78%. To keep our furry friends safe and healthy for as long as possible, making sure plaque and tartar don’t build up under their gums is paramount.
3. Diabetes Complications
Diabetic dogs tend to have higher levels of gum disease—in fact, the two conditions can build on each other to create a harmful and hard-to-stop cycle. Inflammation due to bad dental health can fluctuate your dog’s insulin levels and make it especially difficult to regulate their diabetes.
It makes sense, too: chewing is an essential part of the digestive system, as it produces enzymes and digestive hormones that contribute to a healthy, well-functioning gut. Without proper, healthy chewing, it can be nearly impossible to stabilize your dog’s blood sugar levels.
4. Undetectable Pain
Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. It’s like they’re always in a great mood, and they’re always happy to see you. But an unfortunate side effect of their unending positivity is that they don’t alert us to pain very well. Instead of whining or whimpering when they experience tooth pain, they might just refrain from eating, or otherwise suffer through it.
Some dogs with dental problems will show signs like drooling, a lack of appetite, or swelling… but these signs don’t always occur. Veterinary dentists refer to dental disease as the “hidden disease” because it can be so difficult to spot—all the more reason to get on top of your dog’s dental health early.
5. Loss of Teeth or Fractures in the Jaw
Cavities that develop in dogs’ teeth due to poor dental hygiene can decay the entire tooth over time. When our pups go to chew on food or toys, these decayed teeth can crack and cause more injury to the gums.
In particularly severe scenarios, deep tooth decay can even cause a dog’s jaw to fracture, especially if their chompers are on the larger side. As one can imagine, this is incredibly difficult to treat once it reaches this stage.
Okay, Okay, So Here’s What You Can Do About It.
The most effective way to prevent these horrible things from happening to your dog is to maintain a solid dental hygiene routine, which should include annual oral exams. Taking care of your pup’s dental hygiene is much more than clean teeth, in some cases, it’s a matter of life and death.
But don’t let the pressure scare you, because we found an instant hack to optimize your dog’s oral health: the BARK Bright Dental Kit, the world’s first-ever daily toothpaste and dental chew kit for dogs. BARK Bright has already been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions and one of Fast Company’s World-Changing Ideas for a reason… it works.
The kit works by utilizing an expert-formulated toothpaste specifically made for dogs and proprietary nubs and groove technology on treat chews that get into the nooks and crannies of your dog’s mouth to clear out plaque and tartar. The best part? All you have to do is squeeze a line of toothpaste on the chew and give it to your dog. BARK Bright does all the work for you.
This Dog Dental Kit Is Easy, Convenient, AND Effective
This award-winning dental kit comes in small (1-20 lb dogs), medium (20-50 lb dogs), and large (50+ lb dogs)—each for $35 as a one-time purchase, $28 when you subscribe for 6 months, or only $26.25 when you subscribe for 12 months. The small and medium kits come with 30 treats, while the large kit comes with 15.
BARK also offers a Durable Kit option for $40 as a one-time purchase, $32 when you subscribe for 6 months, and $30 when you subscribe for 12 months. The durable treats can last up to 3x longer thanks to proprietary nubs and groove technology. The kits come with ridged chews and a bottle of BARK’s expert-formulated dog toothpaste. You just squeeze a line along the ridge and give it to your dog—the gnawing moves the toothpaste around and breaks down build-up. How’s that for a brush routine?
Both options are highly digestible for your pup, freshen their breath, prevent plaque & tartar, and contribute to overall dental health. The standard toothpaste is made with real chicken, but BARK also offers an allergy-friendly, chicken-free, Berry Mint option.
Avoid Serious Health Problems For Your Dog With This Simple, Less-Than-$1-a-Day Kit
It’s not often you come across a product that’s priced affordably, addresses an overlooked concern, and actually works. BARK Bright isn’t winning all of these awards for no reason—it’s truly a perfect way to prioritize your pup’s safety, cleanliness, and health with nearly zero effort on your part.
It’s worth mentioning that BARK offers free shipping on orders of $30+ and comes with a 100% happiness guarantee, so it can’t hurt to try it out if you’re on the fence. You can see for yourself why BARK is 100% worth the hype.
