When Morgan brought his seven-year-old golden retriever, Copper, in for his first veterinary dental exam, he admitted he had been putting it off for a couple of years. Copper was eating fine, acting normal, and his breath was only a little stinky. He seemed perfectly fine.

However, what we found under anesthesia told a different story: three teeth with significant bone loss, early pocket formation around several others, and tartar buildup below the gum line that was causing a chronic infection.

Morgan was not a neglectful owner. He just didn’t realize how important dental care can be, or why teeth cleanings matter.

Is It Necessary to Get Your Pet’s Teeth Cleaned Every Year?

Almost every pet owner has asked this question at some point. Many assume that if their pet is eating well and not obviously in pain, their teeth must be okay.

But the truth is that by the time most pets are three years old, they already have early-stage gum disease. The reason that dental disease is so common in pets is that the symptoms aren’t obvious until it has been going on for a long time.

Many pets show no symptoms at all, but that only means the damage is happening in the background, quietly. Everything might seem normal until your pet is suddenly ignoring their food or hiding from you because they’re in so much pain.

Most dogs and cats need to get their teeth cleaned at least once a year to remove tartar buildup and prevent tooth loss. In our opinion, dental cleanings for pets are necessary, not optional.

What Does a Professional Dental Cleaning Actually Do?

There is a big difference between brushing your pet’s teeth at home and a professional dental cleaning. Daily (or even weekly) brushing helps slow plaque buildup, which is genuinely valuable. But once plaque has hardened into tartar, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush. It needs to be addressed by a veterinary dentist.

During your pet’s dental cleaning, we will:

Remove plaque and tartar from the tooth surface
Probe each tooth for signs of decay and gum disease
Take full-mouth dental x-rays to check root and bone health
Polish the teeth to slow down plaque buildup
Conduct complete oral examination to identify any emerging problems

Early intervention is the best way to prevent more expensive, more painful problems later on. If we notice any problems during the exam, we might talk to you about things like restorative dentistry or dental extractions.

How Often Do Pets Need to Get Their Teeth Cleaned?

Professional teeth cleanings should start around age one or two. For most pets, annual teeth cleanings are enough. Others may need more frequent cleanings based on their breed, genetics, and the rate at which their teeth accumulate tartar.

Small-breed dogs are a good example. Dogs like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Dachshunds tend to have crowded mouths that trap more plaque and are particularly prone to serious periodontal disease at a relatively young age. For those pets, we recommend teeth cleanings every 6 to 9 months instead of once a year.

What Happens If Your Pet Doesn’t Get Teeth Cleanings?

Dental disease only gets worse over time. What starts as a little redness along the gum line can progress to gingivitis, then to receding gums, bone loss, loose teeth, and significant pain. By the time many pet owners notice something is wrong, their pet has already been dealing with tooth pain for months or even years.

Going without cleanings makes it more likely that your pet will need multiple tooth extractions and other expensive treatments that could have been avoided entirely. Without professional care, most pets will experience significant dental decay. That is just the reality of how plaque, tartar, and bacterial infection work in a pet’s mouth over time.

And skipping cleanings is not just a dental health issue. Neglecting your pet’s teeth can affect their health in other ways, too. In fact, chronic oral inflammation has been linked to changes in kidney, liver, and heart health. That’s why we say that taking good care of your pet’s teeth is a great way to help them live longer.

Dogs and Cats Need Dental Cleanings. We Make It Easy!

If your pet is due for a dental cleaning, our veterinary dentists are ready to help. We will give your pet’s teeth a thorough cleaning and advise you on any preventive care they might need. For the best pet dental care in the Houston area, contact Texas Veterinary Dental Center to schedule an appointment today.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 4/13/26.