Poor dental health can cause a number of issues for your dog throughout their life. Here are a few of the major ones you’re likely to encounter. Don't be overwhelmed by these either, get some support from your veterinarian at your dog’s annual check-up, or take advantage of the free dental checks by the nursing team many clinics provide for assistance in identifying the below:

• Smelly breath – You’ll definitely know about this pretty quickly! If your dog’s dental health isn’t optimal, it’s important to identify odours and address them immediately. Bad breath in your pet is often a sign that something isn’t right in their mouth, so if you can catch this early, you’ll be doing them a big favour.
  
  
• Yellow teeth/plaque – If your pet’s teeth haven’t been cleaned, this is the next stage to watch out for. The buildup on your pet’s teeth can be the precursor to real dental damage, so getting plaque buildup removed during their next vet consultation is important.
  
  
• Decay/rotten teeth – If the dental problems have advanced to a serious stage, your dog may have cavities in their teeth. Just like in humans, these can cause your dog pain as well as present a serious hygiene issue, so any teeth with cavities will have to be removed by a vet.