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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dental wax reduces tartar buildup in small dogs after 30 days

By Smith, Mark M & Smithson, Christopher W·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2014·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Dental wax decreases calculus accumulation in small dogs.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A group of small dogs with dental issues like plaque and gum disease had a special dental wax applied to one side of their mouths for 30 days. Owners found the wax easy to use, and while there was no change in gum health or plaque levels, the side treated with the wax showed a significant reduction in tartar buildup. This means the dental wax can help keep teeth cleaner by reducing calculus accumulation. Regular use of this product could be beneficial for dogs prone to dental problems.

People also search for: dog dental care products · how to reduce tartar in dogs · small dog gum disease treatment

Abstract

A dental wax was evaluated after unilateral application in 20 client-owned, mixed and purebred small dogs using a clean, split-mouth study model. All dogs had clinical signs of periodontal disease including plaque, calculus, and/or gingivitis. The wax was randomly applied to the teeth of one side of the mouth daily for 30-days while the contralateral side received no treatment. Owner parameters evaluated included compliance and a subjective assessment of ease of wax application. Gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation were scored at the end of the study period. Owners considered the wax easy to apply in all dogs. Compliance with no missed application days was achieved in 8 dogs. The number of missed application days had no effect on wax efficacy. There was no significant difference in gingivitis or plaque accumulation scores when comparing treated and untreated sides. Calculus accumulation scores were significantly less (22.1 %) for teeth receiving the dental wax.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24902410/