"Most of us wouldn't dream of going through the day without brushing our teeth one or more times," he says. "But most pet owners don't brush their dog or cat's teeth at all, and those who do generally only do it once every week or two."
Gething says he understands this, with his own dogs reluctant to have their teeth brushed and the chances of his cat biting him if he tried to clean its teeth.
"This means that the average pet's dental health and dental hygiene leave much to be desired and this is a pity, because dirty teeth can have wide-ranging health consequences." However, Gething says, there are solutions that are simple and can be tolerated by cats and dogs.
Problems arise due to the mouth being a wet environment, with leftover food scraps creating ideal conditions for bacterial growth, which forms a slimy layer called plaque on the surface of the teeth. This can be removed by brushing, eating hard treats and with chew toys.
"The plaque that isn't removed causes a couple of significant problems." Firstly, bacteria in the plaque metabolises food scraps and produces acid, which damages the hard protective enamel on the surface of teeth. Over time, he says, this acid damage will lead to cavities. Secondly, the plaque will harden over time into tartar, a thick, hard, yellow-grey deposit on the teeth.