Hygiene and care for the oral he alth of dogs should be a priority for any caregiver, since it will depend on it that the animals are free of all those pathologies that can affect their oral cavity. However, it is common to find dogs with brownish-black teeth, which may be the result of various pathologies or oral disorders.
Are you wondering what happens if my dog has black teeth? If so, join us in the next article on our site where we will explain the causes why my dog has rotten teeth and what to do in each case.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is the most common diagnosis in companion animals, affecting up to 85% of dogs.
This is an infectious disease that always occurs from bacterial dental plaque When dogs do not have good dental hygiene, a deposit of glycoproteins is produced between the gum sulcus and the dental neck. These glycoproteins are colonized by saprophytic bacteria in the oral cavity that go on to form the well-known “bacterial dental plaque”.
As the process evolves, an alkaline pH is formed in the oral cavity that favors the deposit of s alts and gives rise to the formation of “dental tartar” As a consequence, there is an acute inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis, which, if not resolved, ends up causing a chronic inflammation of the gums and the tissue that surrounds the tooth (periodontum).
The deposit of tartar causes dogs with periodontal disease to have brown teeth, more or less dark depending on the severity of the process. In addition, these animals usually present pain in the oral cavity, halitosis, and even loss of teeth when the periodontal ligament is affected.
As we have mentioned, periodontal disease is the most common diagnosis in dogs, but it is nevertheless relatively easy to prevent. Therefore, before asking ourselves what is good for rotten teeth, we must ask ourselves how we can prevent their appearance.
Prevention is based almost exclusively on good dental hygiene.
- From the definitive dentition (at 7-8 months of age) it is essential to prevent the development of dental plaque by correctly brushing the teeth of children dogs To do this, you should use toothbrushes and special toothpaste for dogs, and brush every 2-3 days.
- In addition, it is recommended to offer chewable snacks, as they help stimulate the he alth of the periodontal ligament and prevent tooth loss.
- In the case of animals that have a greater tendency to tartar accumulation, it may be advisable to perform a mouth cleaning every 1-2 years.
In those cases in which dental disease is already chronically established, the most appropriate treatment should be established in each case, which may include:
- Control of causal or contributing agents of periodontal disease: soft food, sweet foods, etc. must be eliminated
- Splitting of mobile teeth: consists of fixing the mobile teeth to those that are still fixed, to try to keep them as long as possible on the gum.
- Extraction of irreversible teeth: and, if necessary, replacement with implants.
- Other dental treatments: such as elimination of periodontal pockets, reinsertion of the epithelium, etc.
Cavities
Cavities in dogs is one of the most common dental diseases in humans, however, its prevalence in dogs is much lower. The composition and pH of its saliva, the conical shape of its teeth and the lower sugar content of its diet make it an rare pathology in dogs. However, some dogs can suffer from it, so it should be taken into account as a differential diagnosis in those animals with teeth with a brown or blackish hue.
Cavities occur when microorganisms in the mouth ferment carbohydratesof the diet. This fermentation gives rise to a series of acids (lactic, acetic and propionic acid) capable of demineralizing the tooth surface and causing what is known as a “carious lesion”. The caries extends and deepens in the dental piece, until it reaches the pulp and causes necrosis of it, which gives the appearance of a rotten tooth. As the dentin is affected, the lesion takes on a characteristic brown or even black hue.
Dental caries treatment can vary depending on how far along the process is:
- In early stages: it may be enough to perform an endodonticsof the affected part. This consists of removing the neurovascular bundle present in the pulp canal of the tooth, occluding the canal and reconstructing the affected tooth.
- In advanced cases: it will be necessary to perform extraction of the part(s) affected.
Injuries
When a trauma occurs at the level of the mouth, it is possible that the blow is not enough to break any tooth, but it is enough to injure the neurovascular bundle that is within thepulp canal of the tooth. The aforementioned “nerve-vascular bundle” is made up of the artery and vein that supply the tooth and the nerve that carries the innervation to the tooth.
As a consequence of the impact, inflammation of the pulp (pulpitis) can occur, which can end up becoming necrotic if left untreated on time. Therefore, in dogs that have one or more blackish teeth, especially if they are contiguous teeth, trauma should be considered as a possible cause.
The treatment in these cases may vary depending on the degree of damage to the teeth. In mild cases, performing a endodontics may suffice, while when the teeth are unrecoverable, extraction will be necessary
Fractures
When severe trauma occurs to the oral cavity, one or more teeth may fracture due to impact. When it comes to complete fractures (those that affect the entire tooth structure and reach the pulp canal), pulpitis (inflammation of the pulp) can occur, followed by infection or formation of abscesses In these cases, in addition to the fracture, it is common to find the teeth blackish in color, due to tissue necrosis.
In dogs with fractured teeth, it is usually advisable to extraction (or tooth extraction) of the affected pieces. However, in those dogs that need to keep all their teeth (such as show dogs, working dogs, etc.) it is possible to perform a endodontics and a reconstruction of the tooth
