Whenever your pup eats, plaque is formed from bits of food and bacteria that collect around the gum line.
If this plaque isn't removed, in just a few days, it will harden into tartar that sticks to your dog's teeth.
Tartar irritates the gums, resulting in inflammation,
also known as "gingivitis". Many times this will first rear its ugly head as bad breath.
(You can also see your dog's gums turning from a healthy pink color to red at this point.)
If the tartar isn't removed it will build up under your dog's gums. This can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth,
creating small open spaces that act as collection points for even more bacteria. This picture below shows you what I'm talking about:
WARNING: If the problem progresses to this point, your dog has developed irreversible periodontal disease.
Causing pain, abscess, infection, loose teeth and even bone loss -
you must have a daily dental plan to help promote healthy gums and prevent this from happening.