I will admit that it’s not fun to brush my dog’s teeth. It’s not that he bites, but he certainly isn’t a big fan of having me mess with his mouth. So I completely understand that when you hear something like, “Brush your dog’s teeth for better dental health!” that you put it out of your mind. And when it’s bad enough with dogs, dealing with cat’s teeth can be even more challenging.

But with February marking National Pet Dental Health Month, it’s a good time to look at how improved dental care can really be worth it.

Why is it so important for your pet to have clean teeth? Beyond the nice side benefit of improved breath, clean teeth mean there’s less bacteria in your pet’s mouth and less plaque buildup. If not removed, the buildup can lead to gum disease, tooth loss and systemic bacterial issues that affect the heart, kidneys and liver. These problems shorten life span and decrease from quality of life. If you’ve ever had a toothache, or problems chewing your food, you understand why that would be unpleasant for your pet.

If your pet has gum disease, you’re probably going to see yellow and brown tartar along the gum line, red or swollen gums and nasty breath. You may also notice that your pet is extremely sensitive to your touch or to eating hard foods and may start to avoid things that require chewing. That usually means the problem is painful, and may even include lesions or abscesses back in the mouth or under the teeth.

If you think your pet can’t possibly have any problems to worry about, note that the American Veterinary Dental Society says as many as 80 percent of dogs and cats older than four years have some signs of oral disease. You may not see obvious problems, but it’s a good bet that if your pet is over age 4, it could use some help in the tooth department.

First, make sure your veterinarian does an oral exam as part of your pet’s annual checkup. (Not getting an annual checkup? It’s a good way to save money in the long run, as you’ll catch health problems before they get serious.) If you think there’s a problem, though, like really bad breath or signs that your pet can’t easily crunch its kibble, make an appointment soon. You really do benefit by catching things early, as you may only need to start with a cleaning or a single tooth extraction. Wait too long and you could be looking at multiple tooth extractions, oral surgery, antibiotic regimens and systemic problems that need to be treated with medication.

And don’t think you have to wait until your pet is a few years old to focus on dental care. A pet that is cared for as a puppy or kitten will have better ongoing dental health and, better yet, will be more comfortable having you work in its mouth.

My dog is a Yorkie mix, and as a small and ill-bred dog (he was rescued at 4 years old) his teeth were amazingly bad when I adopted him. He needed to have several pulled and a cleaning done under anesthesia — and I began to learn about all the products on the market to help dog owners keep their pets’ teeth clean. Your vet can share with you about the different products available to help your home dental care.

You can purchase toothbrushes and paste specially designed for pets.

Don’t use a human toothbrush as the bristles are too hard and may cause damage to your pet’s sensitive mouth. And stay away from human toothpaste, as it contains fluoride that can be poisonous to swallow.

Pet toothpastes usually taste like meat or something else desirable so your pet will be more likely to tolerate its use.

My vet recommended OraVet plaque prevention gel. You use a long-handled swab, scoop up some of the gel, and spread it on your pet’s teeth and gums. It keeps plaque from forming and lets you go longer between dental cleanings. First, your vet applies a sealant over the teeth at the end of the cleaning. You get the gel put it on once a week at a cost of about $20 for eight weeks. I like this because it’s a bit easier to use than the brushes and can be done less often. But you still need to keep an eye out for tartar buildup.

The food you choose can have an impact on your pet’s dental health, too. Hard kibble is slightly better than softer foods to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.

Dental chews can also help your pet keep its teeth clean. There are many on the market, and you’ll have to experiment. The most healthy chew won’t help much if your dog won’t touch it. In some cases, a dog has managed to bite off a piece of a chew toy or bone and choke on it, so you should make sure to buy a chew that is size appropriate for your dog. Always supervise your dog while it interacts with a chew.

Speaking of chews, you can get some good stuff this month from Greenies, the maker of a line of pet chews for dogs. The company has started a Chews to Care campaign this month, and dog owners can sign up at chewstocare.com for a free dental care package. It includes a $20 dental care rebate that you can redeem when you take your dog in for a dental cleaning, plus a sample of Greenies’ dental chew.

Jennifer Gardner is a freelance writer and editor and a board member at Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis. She enjoys writing about all animals but specializes in rabbits and other small pets. If you have questions or comments about this column or other pet issues, please e-mail Jennifer at jennifer@visualpeople.com or write c/o The Gazette-Times.