How can I treat my dogs gum disease at home? The Ultimate Guide

Heal With Bee Propolis Tincture

Bee propolis is very healing and highly concentrated. It’s sticky, almost like a resin. It’s antibacterial, antiparasitic and antiviral. Bees use it to patch their hives! But you can use it in your dog’s mouth.

I use it to patch over areas of teeth that look really bad. Apply it if your dog looks like he might be getting an abscess, or use it to cover an exposed root. You can use it as a dog swollen gums treatment too.

If you need to apply it to a tooth, hold your dog’s lip out to let the tooth dry before applying the tincture. This will help it to stay on much longer.

Dog Gum Infection Home Remedies: Dental Hygiene Is Key

Dental hygiene is the key to preventing dog gum infections.

Just like humans, dogs can develop dental problems such as tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other infections if their teeth are not properly cared for.

Here are three tips for maintaining your dogs dental health:

Stage 4 of Periodontal Disease in Dogs

In Stage 4 of periodontal disease, greater than 50% of the tooth’s attachments are lost, as seen on x-rays and periodontal probing.

The symptoms of Stage 4 include:

  • Tooth root exposure
  • Loose teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • Pus may ooze from around teeth
  • The prognosis for a dog with Stage 4 periodontal disease is poor. Any tooth with stage 4 disease must be extracted.

    You may also notice some behavioral changes as the disease progresses. Your dog may:

  • No longer tolerate having their teeth brushed due to painful gums
  • Start chewing differently or smacking their gums
  • Flinch or pull away when you try to lift their lips to look at their teeth
  • Act more withdrawn or aggressive
  • Be reluctant to play with chew toys
  • Gingivitis, Stage 1, is the only stage of periodontal disease that is reversible. This is because gingivitis only consists of inflammation, and at this stage, no destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth has occurred.

    With proper treatment, dogs with Stage 2 or 3 periodontal disease may not continue to progress into Stage 4.

    Plaque, that fuzzy white substance that coats our teeth when they aren’t brushed, contains tons of harmful bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Plaque forms in a clean mouth after 24 hours.

    If your dog’s teeth are not brushed daily, plaque will accumulate. After 72 hours, that plaque will become mineralized and turn into dental calculus—often referred to as tartar. Tartar is easier for plaque to stick to than the natural smooth surface of the tooth, so it allows for more plaque to accumulate.

    Plaque on the teeth will cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis, Stage 1 periodontal disease) and then eventually, it will make its way down to deeper structures around the tooth.

    The body’s own inflammatory response to the plaque will then lead to destruction of the soft tissues and bone that support the teeth (periodontitis, Stages 2 through 4).

    The treatment for gum disease in dogs will depend on the stage of periodontal disease your dog has. Here are a few steps your veterinarian will take.

    The first step to treating gum disease is a complete professional dental cleaning, which includes:

  • Scaling the teeth above and below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar
  • Polishing the teeth
  • Taking full mouth x-rays
  • Probing around each tooth to check for abnormal pocketing
  • This procedure must be done under general anesthesia and will allow the veterinarian to determine which stage of disease each tooth is in.

    Home Remedies for Tooth Infection in Dogs

    Keeping teeth and gums in a healthy condition is as important for dogs as it is for humans.

    Gum disease (AKA periodontal disease) is the most common health problem affecting a dog’s mouth. By the age of two, up to 80% of dogs already have some form of dental disease.

    If not treated properly, the advanced stages of gum disease can cause chronic pain, eroded gums, and teeth loss. It can also lead to more serious conditions affecting major organs like the heart, kidney, liver, and lungs.

    Not all pet insurance policies cover dental illness and disease. Our pet insurance policies include dental coverage for accidents and unforeseen illnesses, like those related to periodontal disease.