February is national pet dental health month!  We at the Montgomery Animal Hospital want to celebrate by sharing some facts so you can keep your pet's mouth healthy.

Most dental disease happens under the gum line, where we can't see it. So if you do see tartar (that brown stuff on your pet's teeth) or red swollen gums then professional care is needed.

Other signs to watch for:

• bad breath
• broken or loose teeth
• extra teeth or retained baby teeth
• teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
• abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
• reduced appetite or refusal to eat
• pain in or around the mouth
• bleeding from the mouth
• swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth

Ok, it's time for that cleaning. Curious about what we do for your pets' teeth? This video takes you through what we look for, and how we perform a professional dental cleaning to get a healthy mouth.

Most pets need a professional cleaning every year, just like we go to the dentist every 6 months ourselves. Give us a call at 791-7912 and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

Photo credit Stephen Bowler www.flickr.com