16 Oct How Tartar Buildup Can Make Your Pet Sick
As a board-certified veterinary dentist at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery, I often meet pet owners who are surprised to learn just how much of an impact tartar buildup in pets can have on their health. Many people think tartar is simply a cosmetic issue—yellow or brown staining on the teeth. In reality, tartar is a warning sign of active dental disease that can cause pain, infection, and even affect your pet’s internal organs if left untreated.
Let’s talk about why tartar buildup isn’t just about the teeth—it’s about your pet’s whole body.
What Is Tartar?
Tartar (also called calculus) forms when soft, sticky plaque hardens on the teeth. Plaque is made of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. If it isn’t brushed away, it mineralizes into a rough, hard surface where even more bacteria can thrive. Bacteria love to grab onto irregular surfaces. This makes mineralized plaque an ideal environment for them to propagate.
Once tartar develops, brushing alone can’t remove it. This is why professional dental cleanings are so important for keeping your pet’s mouth healthy. Professional dental cleanings go far beyond just cleaning the crowns of teeth, but most importantly include cleaning below the gumline (gingival margin).
Why Is Tartar Buildup in Pets Dangerous?
While tartar itself is hard and immovable, the real danger lies in the bacteria living within it. These bacteria trigger gum inflammation (gingivitis) and infection, which is the first stage of periodontal disease, the most common health problem in dogs and cats. I’ve always stressed that what goes on in the mouth doesn’t stay in the mouth, but has far-reaching negative systemic impacts.
Left unchecked, this process causes:
- Pain and tooth loss – Infected teeth loosen and may eventually fall out or need extraction.
- Bone damage – Infection can destroy the supporting structures of the jaw.
- Chronic infection – Bacteria don’t just stay in the mouth; they can enter the bloodstream.
It’s important to note that this process is not due to your pet having a weak or suppressed immune system. Rather, this is consistent with an over-reactive, robust immune system response. The immune system simply does not know what to do with an untreated infection, so it starts to break down the surrounding tissues of the tooth.
The immune system is literally trying to get rid of the tooth, which is the source of the infection. While eventually it often has its way, this is a painful process for a pet to go through that stretches out over months and even years.
Beyond the Mouth: Whole-Body Effects
The bacteria associated with tartar and periodontal disease can travel through the bloodstream and affect vital organs. Research in veterinary medicine has linked untreated dental disease with:
- Heart disease (endocarditis)
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
It has been shown that the worse the periodontal disease is, the worse its association with negative tissue changes in these organ systems. What starts as yellow-brown buildup on the teeth can actually compromise your pet’s overall health and quality of life. Fortunately, treating periodontal disease can quite often reverse these negative changes.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Pet
At Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery, we take tartar seriously because we know what it means for your pet’s comfort and well-being. Here’s how you can help prevent tartar-related illness:
- Brush daily – Regular toothbrushing removes plaque before it hardens into tartar. Once plaque is mineralized into calculus, brushing will not remove it, and a professional dental cleaning under anesthesia is needed.
- Use VOHC-approved products – Certain chews, rinses, and diets can help reduce plaque and tartar.
- Schedule professional cleanings – Only a veterinary dental cleaning under anesthesia can safely remove tartar above and below the gumline. In fact, it is not possible to perform a comprehensive oral examination and dental imaging (cone beam CT scans, dental radiographs) without anesthesia.
- Stay consistent – Just like in people, dental care is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.
Tartar Buildup Care for Pets in Colorado Springs
Tartar buildup in pets is more than just “dirty teeth”—it’s a signal that bacteria are putting your pet’s oral and systemic health at risk. By addressing tartar early and committing to preventive care, you can protect your pet from pain, tooth loss, and even life-threatening illness.
At Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery, our mission is to keep your pet’s mouth healthy and their whole body thriving. If you’ve noticed tartar on your dog or cat’s teeth, now is the time to schedule an exam. We’ll work with you to create a plan that keeps your pet smiling—and healthy—for years to come.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/16/2025) Photo by Jordan Durzi on Unsplash
