Tartar removal in dogs with the tomato extract

Relevance. Tartar, a mineralized dental plaque, is formed by the deposition of calcium salts and other minerals from saliva on soft bacterial plaque. Its presence on the dental cervix leads to various oral diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, and, finally, tooth loss, making it an actual problem in veterinary dentistry. The aim. To evaluate the efficacy of tomato fruit extract as an anti-calculus agent in dogs: an in vitro and in vivo study. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in vitro and in vivo. A tomato extract was prepared at a final concentration of 10% based on dry matter. Dental calculus samples and teeth extracted for clinical reasons were obtained from a veterinary clinic. The tomato extract was also used to soften dental calculus on the surface of canine teeth in the following dog breeds: Dachshund (4.5 years old), Pinscher (5 years old), and Toy Terrier (5 and 6 years old). Results. In vitro treatment of tartar pieces with tomato extract led to a 2-fold reduction of the sample size after 10 days and to an 8-fold reduction after 25 days of exposure, whereas tartar samples treated with a 0.9% NaCl solution remained unchanged for 25 days. On teeth, the tartar surface area was reduced threefold after 20 days of treatment, and the tooth surface was completely cleaned after 25 days of exposure. In vivo after 25 days of treatment, plaque was completely removed from a 4.5-year-old dachshund, a 5-year-old Pinscher, and 5- and 6-year-old Toy Terriers. Conclusion. Tomato fruit extract can be used for atraumatic tartar removal in animals, including in home conditions.