"She likes chewing on things," Gluhareff said. "When I noticed one day that one of her upper front teeth was dark, I knew the tooth had experienced some kind of trauma and the nerve was dying. I called my veterinarian and asked him to put her to sleep so I could do the root canal. Next week she will get a little gold crown for that tooth."

Our pet's dental health is something most of us never give too much thought to. Being a dentist, Gluhareff is more aware of his pets' teeth than the average person. That's why he gives all five of his dogs a professional cleaning every month. According to Kevin Stoothoff, local veterinarian at the Companion Animal Clinic, not taking proper care of our pets' teeth will not only lead to tooth loss, but may also lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease.

"The bacteria from the mouth escapes into the blood stream, affecting multiple organs in the body," Stoothoff said. "We particularly worry about bacterial infection of the valves of the heart. It's very difficult to treat once it gets to that point."

White teeth, pink gums and firm gum tissue are all signs of a healthy mouth. Inflammation of the gums and gingivitis – the first stage of periodontal disease, begins when plaque develops on the teeth, and they begin to turn yellow. The animal's breath begins to smell badly and the gums begin to turn reddish. There is also a slight softening and loosening of the gum tissue that encircles the tooth.

If the gingivitis goes untreated over a period of time, the pet may begin to suffer from painful inflammation of the gums that leads to irreversible separation of the gum tissue from the tooth, called periodontal disease. The gums are sore and the pet's ability to eat is compromised. The teeth are yellow and sometimes loose. The pet's breath is unbearably bad and there is red, swollen gum tissue with areas of ulceration. The soft gum tissue will no longer support the teeth and the pet begins to lose them.

So how do we care for our pets' teeth? It's simple – regular check ups and daily brushing. "Regular oral exams are part of a pet's annual examination," Stoothoff said. "We do them when they come in for their vaccinations. Their dental hygiene, however, is the responsibility of their owners."

Stoothoff said our pets' teeth should be brushed every day for best results.

"We have little toothbrush kits that are made especially for pets," Stoothoff said. "And we sell commercially made toothpaste for pets that are poultry and tuna flavored. The toothpaste makes it easier for the owners because the animals like it."

Stoothoff cautions owners to never use human toothpaste on their pets because they aren't able to spit and rinse the way we can. He also said it's best to get pets accustomed to having their teeth brushed at a very young age.

For owners who are unable to brush their pets' teeth, either because of physical limitations or because the animal won't let them, a product called Maxi/Guard can be applied to the insides of their pets' mouths.

Maxi/Guard is a daily oral cleansing product that is rubbed on each side of the pet's back upper teeth and gums. It costs about $15 for a six month supply. There is also a product called T-D, a prescription diet available through veterinarians, that is fed to pets on a daily basis to reduce plaque formation. It is designed to hold together as the pet chews it, and the chewing action cleans the surface of the teeth. T-D costs about $22 for a 15-pound bag, which makes it a little pricey for people with large dogs that eat that much in a day, but Stoothoff said it is also effective in small amounts as a daily treat.

"Ideally you would still want to brush your pet's teeth," Stoothoff said. "But these products are designed for people who can't. They work by cutting plaque that leads to tooth decay and we've had pretty good success with them."

Stoothoff also recommends that pets be fed dry pet food instead of canned food, which is soft and sticky.

Most veterinarians can provide routine dental care such as cleanings and extractions. However, if a pet already suffers from severe periodontal disease, a referral to a veterinarian who specializes in dentistry, will be necessary.

"They can do everything a human dentist is capable of doing," Stoothoff said. "And that includes caps, crowns, and root canals."

But proper preventive measures will go a long way in making sure that your pet never reaches that point.