Page 6 - Hobe Sound Reflections - October '22

Page 6, Hobe Sound

tIp of the taIl

Periodontal Disease Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to prevent periodontal Once the oral health exam has been performed, at-home

disease and the rules are ones we are all familiar with, whether care becomes important to maintain a healthy mouth.
referring to us or our pets: professional cleaning and at-home Daily brushing is recommended, but studies have shown
care. You can generally expect once your pets reach 3 to 4 years that even twice weekly brushing is enough to significantly
old, they will need a professional teeth cleaning every 12 months. reduce the amount of plaque buildup in your pet’s mouth.
General anesthesia will be necessary for each tooth to receive In addition to brushing, there are dental wipes, rinses,
proper attention and care. Additionally, home care is ideally a and pads, as well as preventative gels, dental treats and
daily part of tooth maintenance but even brushing just twice a diets that aid in oral health. The Veterinary Oral Health
week can remove most plaque before it can mineralize into tartar. Council (the VOHC) is an organization that evaluates
Clearly not every pet is amenable to hands-on oral care though, dental products and their website is a good resource to
nor is every person’s schedule amenable to it, so for those cases, help guide you on available options.
there are some lower maintenance options as well. Too often our pet’s dental health is overlooked and
It should not be surprising that dental health requires attributed to a normal amount of “stinky pet” breath and
regular professional cleanings regardless of whether the nothing more. Unfortunately this can not only affect their
mouth in question belongs to a person, a dog, or a cat. Home oral health, but it can also have serious systemic health
Eighty-five percent of pets have periodontal disease by 3 care of the tooth is never perfect and periodically tartar must consequences. If you have any questions or concerns or
years of age. It is the leading health problem found in our pets be properly removed and the tooth surface properly polished want to discuss this further, your veterinarian can answer
and can pose serious short- and long- term health concerns, and disinfected. The professional cleaning performed at the your questions and help assist you in keeping your pet
beyond just bad breath, oral pain, and a generalized decreased veterinarian’s office is similar to what a person receives at healthy for many years to come.
quality of life. their dentist’s office. Large tartar is removed with specific Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
In a normal mouth, the teeth are clean, pearly white and instruments, then the periodontal sockets are probed and is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
the gums attach smoothly to the tooth. There is no redness measured to assess periodontal disease. The roots are planed, pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
or tartar and your breath smells great! The tooth is bathed meaning tartar is scraped from below the gumline until physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
in saliva, bacteria, and food particles but if this is brushed the roots are smooth again. Then the enamel is polished to extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
away, it never mineralizes into tartar. However, if we do not remove any unevenness left by tartar removal. Finally, the Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
regularly disinfect our mouths and brush away the plaque, the mouth is disinfected and possibly treated with a fluoride care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
plaque will mineralize into tartar. Tartar is solid and gritty and sealer or plaque repellent. After the cleaning, professional For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit www.
covers the crown of the tooth. This creates inflammation and notes are taken on a dental chart, noting abnormalities on palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
blocks oxygen from bathing the outer tooth, which changes each of a dog’s 42 teeth or a cat’s 30 teeth. at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
the nature of the bacteria in the mouth. This new bacteria
eats away at the attachment of the tooth and surrounding
bone. The result is periodontal disease. Even worse, this new
type of bacteria can seed to other areas of the body leading
to infection in the heart, liver, kidney or virtually anywhere
the bloodstream carries it. The body is constantly fighting You’re Retired
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In addition to tracing lineage, a family tree may reveal Financial Advisor M e m b P I S r e C
stories about your ancestors that were unknown to you. 1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106
These family stories often make the names and dates of Jupiter, FL 33458
genealogical research come alive. At the Martin County 561-748-7600
Genealogical Society’s (MCGS) November meeting, in
a presentation entitled “The Joy of Uncovering Hidden
Family Stories,” MCGS Secretary Loren Johns will
discuss how he discovered multiple interesting but
previously unknown stories about his family. “Some
stories can be painful,” he says, “and the people in them
deserve nonjudgmental respect.” Johns also will share
resources and methods for genealogical research on
families with Amish and Mennonite ancestry.
With experience in his 20s and 30s as a pastor,
residential roofer and book editor, Johns received his
Ph.D. in New Testament from Princeton Theological
Seminary. He served as academic dean at the Mennonite
Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., and taught Biblical Studies
there and at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. Johns
and his wife Rachel retired to Stuart in 2019.
Free and open to the public, the meeting will be at the
Blake Library, 2351 S.E. Monterey Road in Stuart, from
1 to 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18. To participate via Zoom, go
to mcgsfl.org and register by Nov. 17.
Earlier in November, MCGS will host a Family
History Fair in partnership with the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Palm City. There will be 18
presentations in four simultaneous sessions ranging from
pursuing colonial ancestors and using DNA Technology to
American lineage societies and researching German, Irish
and Italian ancestors. Lunch and dessert will be offered.
Free and open to the public, the fair will run from 8:30
a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Nov. 5 at the Family History Center,
2401 S.W. Matheson Ave., Palm City. Preregistration is
suggested at mcgsfl.org or by emailing mcgsfl@gmail.
com.
Sunday, Nov. 6
The Genealogical Society offers a variety of services
at the Genealogy Room in the Blake Library in Stuart
including an extensive research library, access to
several genealogy websites and assistance from MCGS
volunteers. For more information about membership,
activities and services go to mcgsfl.org.