How DentaSure
Removes Plaque

How does DentaSure remove hardened plaque from a dog's teeth?

My Springer is only two years old but has a buildup of plaque on her teeth. I cannot get her to eat rawhide or bones. Brushing does not seem to be the answer. I am interested in Dentasure, but need to understand how it can remove the hardened plaque. What is the active ingredient in this product that can perform this feat?

Does anyone else have this plaque problem?

Editor’s answer:

Hello Mary, and thank you very much for sharing your questions. Since many of our readers have asked these same questions, I would like to offer a detailed answer along with some independent professional medical opinions.

The question is, “Exactly how does DentaSure remove hardened plaque from a dog’s (or a cat’s or a person’s) teeth?”

Let’s first identify the problem. What exactly is plaque?

According to the toothpaste people, Colgate (colgate.com), “Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. It is the main cause of cavities and gum disease, and can harden into tartar if not removed daily.”

Having teeth and having plaque go hand in hand because bacteria thrive on the food we eat along with sugars and starches that convert to sugars. The acids produced in the process constantly bombard our teeth, leading to cavities and eventually gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth loss. Plaque removal is a constant battle.

It is important to note the words “sticky” and “colorless” in the Colgate definition of plaque. Without daily removal, this sticky plaque surface attracts even more bacteria which soon hardens into a buildup of tartar.

Tartar itself is colorless but tends to stain easily. This accounts for the unsightly brownish-yellow coating. The staining is not usually to the teeth but to the tartar, also called calculus, buildup.

Remember, plaque is caused by bacteria on the teeth and tartar is the plaque that has hardened on top.

Conventional dentistry addresses plaque and tartar as symptoms and uses a procedure called scaling. This “scraping away” process is usually performed by a dentist or hygienist, or in the case of your two year old Springer, a vet or vet tech.

Holistic dentistry, on the other hand, offers complementary and alternative medical solutions that combine (1) getting to the root cause of the problem (bacteria) and not just the symptoms, and (2) empowering the patient to strengthen his or her natural healing ability as much as possible.

With this approach in mind, DentaSure uses two of nature’s most powerful antibiotics to destroy pathogens and undercut tartar. These foot soldiers in the bacteria battle are Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) and Propolis.

At Natural Wonder Products we use only organically grown grapefruit seed extract. This natural antibiotic has been trusted by naturopathic physicians, medical clinics and holistic veterinarians for over 30 years. GSE is a multipurpose (broad spectrum) compound with countless uses. Most frequent uses of GSE in humans and animals alike include treatment for oral infections, plaque and tartar, gum disorders/gingivitis, and bad breath.

According to Roger Wyatt, Ph.D. and Microbiologist for the University of Georgia, “The lack of any significant toxicological properties of GSE is also impressive when one views the efficacy data where extremely small concentrations of the product can be used with marked beneficial results.”

Practitioners of natural medicine have sung the praises of Propolis for decades. Gathered by honey bees, propolis is “nature’s ultimate antibiotic” according to the World Health Organization. Propolis combats harmful bacteria without destroying friendly bacteria the body needs. Research in nearly every developed country in the world confirms the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of propolis with respect to human and animal dental health.

“Bee propolis helps prevent the formation of dental plaque. It has very powerful antimicrobial actions and putting it in toothpaste is quite a novel application” says Dr. Joseph Mercola of the Natural Health Center in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Dog and cat lovers using DentaSure report a gradual whitening of teeth with the destruction of underlying bacteria. Tartar becomes unstuck and is left unsupported with no bacterial foundation. First results are usually seen within three to five weeks with progressive improvement as use continues.

It is important to note, however, that DentaSure can sometimes use a little “assist” at the final stage of tartar removal. Bones and cartilage are Nature’s ideal teeth cleaners. But you mention your Springer does not like bones or rawhide. Rawhide is difficult for most dogs to digest and should be avoided, and I’m guessing the bones you refer to are not real bones from a real cow.

Try this: After using DentaSure on your Springer for about three weeks, go to the back of the grocery store and ask the butcher for a fresh soup bone, just cut. Knuckles are tasty too. While you should never give your dog cooked bones (because cooking makes them splinter and get caught in the throat and digestive tract), dogs really love chewing on an actual bone from an actual cow, instinctively devouring their prey like their ancestors the wolves did. And you’ll see that hardened plaque melt away before your very eyes.

Mary, I sincerely hope this information helps. Please keep me posted.

Gary Le Mon