Teeth & Mouth guides
Practical, veterinary-led guidance on Teeth & Mouth, written by vets, free to read. View all guides
Why dental x-rays matter: the disease you can't see
You booked her in for a clean. Then the estimate came back, and there was a line on it for dental x-rays, and it pushed the price up more than you expected. A fair question forms at that point: why does she need x-rays...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Dental disease grades explained: what grade 2, 3 and 4 mean
You were probably standing in the consult room when it happened. The vet had a look in your dog's or cat's mouth, said something like "she's a grade 3", handed you a leaflet about a dental, and moved on to the next...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
What actually happens during a dental (it's a lot more than a clean)
It's just a clean, right? That's how most people picture it when they book their dog or cat in for "a dental". A quick scrub, the teeth come out shinier, she's home by teatime. The word "clean" does a lot of quiet...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 13 min read
The extraction phone call: why teeth come out
Your phone rings, and it's the practice. Your heart lifts for a second, because you've been waiting all morning, and then the vet says the sentence you weren't ready for. "She's doing really well under the anaesthetic....
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Eating after extractions: better, not worse
She's home. The anaesthetic hasn't fully lifted, so she's a bit wobbly and a bit vacant, and when she yawns you can see the dark line of dissolvable stitches where teeth used to be. The discharge notes say "soft food...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (stomatitis): when the whole mouth is inflamed
She's sitting by her bowl again, staring at the food she wants and can't face. Maybe she runs at it, takes one mouthful, then cries out and backs away. Maybe she's pawing at her cheek, or drooling ropes of saliva, or...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Stomatitis "cures" online (Mutian/Mutoral): what the evidence says
It usually happens late at night. Your cat has stomatitis, you have read everything, the vet has said the word "extraction", and you cannot quite make peace with it. So you find the Facebook group, and there, in the...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
Living with stomatitis: managing pain, food and the SDAI diary
By now you know the word better than you ever wanted to. Stomatitis. Maybe she's a few weeks past her extractions and you're watching every mouthful, willing her to eat. Maybe she's on medication and having a run of...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 13 min read
Sore gums in a young cat: juvenile gingivitis and early FCGS
You lifted your kitten's lip, maybe to check a wobbly baby tooth or because her breath had turned, and the gum line stopped you. A bright, angry red rim running along the teeth, puffy in places, perhaps a smear of blood...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
Dental chews, diets and water additives: what works and what's marketing
Stand in the dental aisle of any big pet shop and you're looking at a wall of promises. "Clinically proven." "Reduces tartar by 80%." "Vet recommended." "Cleans as they chew." There are chews shaped like toothbrushes,...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 14 min read
Is my senior dog or cat too old for a dental?
"She's fourteen. Surely she's too old to go under anaesthetic?"
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 12 min read
Does pet insurance cover dental? Accident vs illness, decoded
You've just had the news at the practice desk. The dental went well, a few teeth came out, your dog is groggy but comfortable, and the bill is a few hundred pounds. You hand over your insurance details, quietly relieved...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 12 min read
How to check your pet's mouth at home
You've decided to look. Maybe the breath has been getting worse, or you read that most dogs and cats have some gum disease by middle age and thought, right, I'll actually check tonight. Then you lifted the lip an inch,...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Signs your dog or cat has dental disease, and why cats hide it
You caught a whiff of something when she yawned. Or you noticed she's started chewing on one side, or a single piece of kibble skitters out of the bowl and she leaves it where it lands. Maybe there's a smear of drool on...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Is anaesthesia safe for my pet? The real numbers
If you're reading this the night before a dental, or lying awake after your vet first said the word "anaesthetic", I want to say the most important thing first. Being frightened of putting your dog or cat under is not...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Anaesthesia-free teeth cleaning: why UK vets (and the RCVS) say no
Somewhere between the groomer's price list and a Facebook advert, you've probably seen it: "anaesthesia-free dental", "conscious teeth cleaning", "no sedation needed". Your pet stays awake, someone scrapes the visible...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Do raw bones clean teeth? The honest answer
If you feed raw, you have almost certainly been told that bones are nature's toothbrush. It is one of the most repeated lines in raw feeding, and I understand why it sticks: it makes intuitive sense, it fits the idea of...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
Pre-anaesthetic bloods: what they check and why
You've booked the dental, steadied yourself for the anaesthetic, and then the receptionist adds a line to the estimate: pre-anaesthetic blood tests, another chunk of money on top of a bill that already made you wince....
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Can bad teeth really cause heart or kidney disease? The honest evidence
Somewhere between booking the dental and the night before, a lot of owners end up down the same rabbit hole. You search your pet's mouth, and up comes a headline: "Bad teeth can cause heart disease." Then another: "Gum...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
Dental day: dropping her off and picking her up
It's the night before, the food bowl is going up, and she's looking at you as if you've lost your mind. Tomorrow morning you'll hand her over at reception, drive home to a quiet house, and spend the day glancing at your...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
What a dental costs in the UK (and why quotes vary)
You asked for a rough idea of what a dental would cost, and the estimate came back at something like £300 to over £1,000. Maybe you rang round two or three practices and got numbers that didn't seem to describe the same...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 14 min read
Dangerous chews: antlers, bones and the slab fracture
You're standing in the pet shop, holding an antler. It's marketed as the sensible choice: natural, long-lasting, no additives, keeps him busy for hours. The packet practically pats you on the back for buying it....
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 10 min read
Crowded mouths: small and flat-faced breeds
If you own a Yorkie, a Pug, a Chihuahua or a Persian, you may already have noticed it: the teeth look packed in. They sit tight against one another, some are turned at an angle, one or two overlap like a slightly...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Brushing a dog's teeth (and actually keeping it up)
You've just picked your dog up from a dental. The mouth that smelled like a drain last week is clean and pink, she's brighter than she's been in months, and the vet has said the thing every vet says at discharge: "the...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Brushing a cat's teeth (yes, really)
Let me guess. Your vet mentioned brushing your cat's teeth, you nodded politely, and the whole way home you were thinking one thing: have they actually met my cat? The mental image is a scene of pure chaos. A toothbrush...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Bad breath: when it's more than "doggy breath"
You leaned in for a cuddle, she yawned in your face, and you recoiled. Or the smell reached you from the other end of the sofa and you found yourself typing "why does my dog's breath smell" into your phone, already...
Alastair Greenway, BVM&S MRCVS · 11 min read
Find real-world care
When you're ready to take the next step in person, the PetCare Atlas lists vets who offer dentistry across the UK. Search by your postcode to find someone near you.
Find a vet or specialist near you