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If you own dogs or cats, you’ve probably heard veterinarians suggest that you should brush your pets’ teeth regularly and also schedule periodic cleanings to remove tartar and prevent periodontal disease. Comparing the white, shiny teeth of felines and canines to your horse’s brown-stained incisors, you may wonder if you should be taking a scrub brush to them from time to time. The answer: it’s not necessary.

The teeth of dogs, cats, and humans are covered with an outer layer of enamel, an extremely hard material that resists staining. Equine teeth lack enamel and are instead covered with cementum, a somewhat softer material that stains much more easily. Unlike the situation in many other animals, equine teeth continue to grow throughout the horse’s lifetime, and the exposed surfaces will usually be worn away before decay sets in.

Cementum is somewhat porous, slowly picking up pigments from whatever the horse eats. This coloration is normal and doesn’t need to be removed. Some horses do build up deposits of tartar along the gumline, and an equine dentist can remove this hard yellowish substance if it begins to cause irritation or bleeding. Regular dental exams should be scheduled once or twice a year so that the horse’s teeth can be floated (filed) to remove the sharp points that develop as the horse chews. The equine dentist can also check for problems such as broken teeth or feed material that has accumulated between adjoining teeth.

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