The mouth and its associated structures are very important to animals, not only for eating but also for grooming and carrying thing. The area contains many nerves and is served by a plentiful blood supply, making dental problems more serious than you might expect. Mouth pain can keep an animal from eating enough or grooming properly. Three problems are most common: accidents that damage the teeth or gums, congenital or developmental disorders and periodontitis (calculus on the teeth and associated gum disease).

Some dogs, especially toy breeds, have teeth that are simply too crowded, often overlapping in position. Sometimes the jaw is too long or too short. They really have a mouthful of problems.

Dental hygiene is as important for our pets as it is for us, neglecting your dog's oral health can lead to serious problems if you don't keep on top of it. Periodontal disease (gingivitis) affects dogs and cats in the same way that it affects us but the major drawback is that it's five times more common in dogs than humans.