Cheese and tooth decay I have a six-year-old Bichon - and Bichons like Yorkies are known for bad teeth. I have taken my Bichon to the vet for shots, etc., and several times the vet has commented on how good his teeth look - he said "especially the front teeth -" I have never brushed my dog's teeth. But I do feed my dogs a lot of cheese. They eat cheddar cheese - some almost every day - and love it, of course. Well -- my point is that I read some time ago that cheese helps to prevent cavities (they were talking about people). So - I finally got around to checking this out on the Internet - and I did find many sites that say this is true. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For example (and this is just a short part of one article).... A piece of cheese could help prevent tooth decay. Researchers from the Forsyth Institute say: eating cheese seems to help stimulate saliva flow, which helps prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth. There's also evidence that eating cheese may help restore tooth enamel. Researchers do caution that many cheeses are high in fat, so it's important to consume cheese in moderation. And as always, it's still important to brush and floss your teeth regularly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- There were a lot of articles that went into a lot more detail. But - if this is true - cheese should become our little guy's favorite snack (in moderation, of course). And, I think a couple articles said that cheese should be eaten after we eat our other foods - For instance, your dog should have his meal - and then have a piece of cheese. This will help clean his teeth after meals..... even after other snacks....... Something to think about! You might even want to try this with your kids! Carol Jean |
Thanks! Any cheese or is there some kind that's better for Yorkies (low fat?, is processed cheese like Kraft as good?). I was giving my dog a little cheese every day for a treat but I was told (here...) I shouldn't because it's high in fat... |
I always put cheese in their kongs for their treat and they love it! I stick a little buddy biscuit way down in the kong and hold it in with some old cheddar. It can be packed really tightly in the kong so it makes them work extra hard to get it out. They get it at the same time every night...about two hours before bed (quiets them down before bedtime) I'd heard that about cheese before, too, but never thought about it with the dogs. |
can't they get constipated eating too much cheese? i brush my dogs teeth weekly we brush ours daily so why not take a few minutes to brush our dogs? they can't do it themselves. |
The vet always comments on Mojo's teeth too! He just had them cleaned when he got neutered last week. We don't give him much human food, just the basic chicken, rice, sometimes plain round beef and rice, and cheddar cheese (which vet said was okay, as long as it didn't upset his sensitive tummy). Anyway, we don't give him any of the above often, but as a special treat, he will get some shredded cheddar and just loves it! I don't know if it is true or not, but in Mojo's case, he has great teeth for a Yorkie! YAY! Plus, it is a treat he loves! |
I have been giving mine a little white american cheese when they do their poo poo thingie and only at that time as a "special" treat. I also use it to give any meds in a ball of cheese and the gulp it down before they know it. So of course they get just a little every day. I had no idea it was helping with their teeth as well. That's great to hear! Thanks for posting the information.:thumbup: |
I sprinkle a little grated parmesean cheese on Hootie and Hobbs' food to entice them to eat it all. They love it. Now that I know it's good for their teeth, I don't feel bad about doing it. Thanks for the info! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: |
While cheese has been shown to cut down out cavities, the major loss of teeth is caused by tartar, which can lead to gum disease. The bacteria associated with gum disease can be deadly, and affect every organ including heart. So don’t stop brushing those teeth. Nancy |
I sprinkle this on their food. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...at/101087.aspx ...I also do sprinkle some fine shredded cheese on their food when I need to entice them to eat :rolleyes: BUT it is usally "part skim mozerella" Maybe I should change to cheddar - I just thought it was too oily?? |
Here is some additional information regarding cheese and tooth decay.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Protection Against Dental Caries. Certain cheeses may help to reduce the risk of dental decay (caries). Cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, blue, Monterey Jack, Brie, Gouda, mozzarella, and Roquefort, as well as process American cheese, exhibit a potential protective effect against tooth decay. The chemical or physical characteristics of cheese responsible for its protective action against tooth decay are not completely understood. However, cheese has a number of properties that may help reduce risk of tooth decay. Cheese's beneficial effect may be explained in part by its texture, which increases saliva flow. This in turn reduces the increase in cavity-causing acids by plaque bacteria and increases the clearance of sugars from the oral cavity. Components of cheese such as protein, calcium, and phosphorus may prevent acid demineralization and enhance remineralization of tooth enamel. The protective effect of cheese against dental caries may also be explained by an antibacterial effect of components in cheese (e.g., fatty acids). Eating cheese immediately after meals, or as a between-meal snack in place of snacks that promote dental caries, may be a practical way to reduce tooth decay. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Again - my dog's teeth are in very good condition for their age (so saith my vet) - and cheese has been an important part of their diet - always. I have always fed my dogs Cheddar and mozzarella - because these are what I usually have in my fridge for myself). The key is not to fill your dog full of cheese - but rather immediately after a meal - a bite or two of cheese will help cut down on tooth decay - also an occasional bite or two during the day for a snack would probably be one of the best treats we can give our dogs. Thanks for reading -- Carol Jean |
Interesting! Simon & Hallie LOVE cheese and I give them some as a special reward but maybe I should make that more regular. Thanks for the info :) |
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