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The American Veterinary Dental Society estimates that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats that don't receive dental care have signs of oral disease by age 3. In a 2004 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, only 10 percent of dog owners said they had their dog's teeth brushed and 6 percent of cat owners said they took their pets to the vet for dental services in the past 12 months.

"Many people don't realize that pets need dental care just like people," said Dr. Robert Yelland of the AVDS. "And there's evidence that untreated dental infections can spread to the heart, kidneys and liver."

But there are things you can do to safeguard your pet's teeth — and health:

• Check your pet for dental problems. Pull back their gums and look for yellow or brown discoloration, tarter buildup and red, swollen gums. Other clues are bad breath and a change in eating habits, or a reluctance to eat foods they once liked, especially crunchy or hard foods.

Cats often develop painful dental lesions, although it can be hard to notice because cats usually continue eating. Watch you cat for lethargy, bad breath, depression, teeth stains and a change in eating habits.

• Brush their teeth every day, or at least several times a week. There are a number of different styles of toothbrushes available, from small ones that slide over your finger to electric brushes.

• Use pet toothpaste only — animals don't like the taste of toothpaste for humans. When they swallow it, and they will, our toothpaste can upset their stomach. Also, brushing just the front of the teeth is usually sufficient. Ask your vet to demonstrate the proper technique.

• Start early. It's much easier to get a puppy or kitten accustomed to brushing. If your pet is already an adult, start slowly, make it a game or fun experience and give them treats as rewards when they let you do it. And don't give up. If they know you'll stop if they fight it, they'll keep fighting.

• If brushing is too traumatic, try dental wipes. Other options include plaque and tartar removers that can be mixed with a pet's water, foods that cut down on tarter and treats with plaque-fighting, breath-freshening ingredients. Experts say, look for dental products that are specially treated with enzymes to help dissolve plaque.

• Toys also can help. A number of companies make rubber or nylon chews, usually with bumps or ridges that can help scrape plaque from teeth.

But be wary of chews that are too hard, like bones and cow hooves. Dogs often break teeth on those, leading to more dental problems.

• Use extra care with small dogs. They have the same number of teeth as large dogs, in a much smaller area. That means crowded teeth and more dental problems.

• Pets should get annual veterinary checkups and have their teeth cleaned as needed. Cleaning costs range from about $150 to $400 for dogs teeth, depending on the size and the vet. Cleaning a cat's teeth usually runs $100 to $200. Pets must be anesthetized while their teeth are being scaled and polished.

• Fight bad breathSometimes bad breath is just bad breath. If that's the case, there are a number of breath mints on the market. Breath Fresh comes in a little bottle owners can squirt in their pet's mouth. Spotscent is new oral care breath strips for dogs, like the Listerine strips for people. Yip Yap mints come in a can that looks much like Altoids.

- For more information on pet dental care, check out: www.petdental.com.