Don’t Skip the Float! Why Equine Dental Care Deserves a Spot in Your Wellness Plan

Equine dental care is often overlooked, yet it's a cornerstone of holistic horse health. Just like humans, horses need regular oral care to ensure their entire body stays healthy. Poor dental health can quietly undermine your horse’s digestion, behavior, immune system, and even athletic performance.

In fact, many common health complaints in horses—weight loss, poor coat quality, colic, or training resistance—can be traced back to undiagnosed dental issues. And while equine teeth are uniquely designed to handle tough forage, they also require consistent care to prevent problems that develop slowly over time.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore how your horse’s teeth work, what issues to look for, and why regular veterinary checkups are critical for their total well-being.

Understanding the Nuances of Horse Teeth

Fun fact: Horses have hypsodont teeth, which means their teeth continuously erupt over time. Unlike human teeth, which stop growing after early adulthood, a horse’s teeth push out gradually to compensate for constant wear from chewing coarse forage. This adaptation allows them to effectively grind tough grasses and hay—an essential part of their diet and evolutionary survival.

But eruption is not the same as growth. Horse teeth don't regenerate once they’re worn down entirely. In fact, a horse is born with a limited reserve of tooth crown, and over their lifetime (roughly 25–30 years), the functional surface gradually wears away. This slow, inevitable process can create complications like wave mouth, step mouth, and missing or fractured teeth if not monitored regularly.

A full set of adult horse teeth includes between 36 and 44 teeth, depending on the presence of wolf teeth and canine teeth. The molars and premolars are responsible for grinding food, while the incisors are used for clipping grass.

How Dental Health Affects Your Horse’s Overall Health

Even though equine teeth are built for heavy-duty grinding, they’re still susceptible to uneven wear, infection, or injury. Without regular maintenance, small issues can snowball into major health concerns.

Here are several reasons why dental health plays such a critical role in your horse’s overall well-being:

1. Efficient Digestion Starts in the Mouth

Chewing is the first and most important step in your horse’s digestive process. Horses grind their food in a side-to-side motion that crushes fibers and stimulates saliva production. When teeth are sharp, misaligned, or missing, this motion is compromised—leading to larger particles entering the digestive tract.

These larger pieces are not broken down efficiently in the stomach or intestines, increasing the risk of colic, impaction, and poor nutrient absorption. Over time, horses may also lose weight despite eating well simply because they can’t properly process their food.

2. Horses Lack Digestive Enzymes in Their Saliva

Unlike humans, horses don’t produce digestive enzymes like amylase in their saliva. Instead, their saliva primarily lubricates food and helps buffer the acidic environment of the stomach. This makes thorough chewing essential—without it, feed reaches the stomach too quickly and unprepared, raising the risk of ulcers and fermentation problems.

According to PC-Horse, saliva also plays a vital role in neutralizing gastric acid. A horse with compromised chewing may produce less saliva, exacerbating digestive discomfort.

3. Poor Dental Health Can Lead to Behavioral Issues

Dental pain can be subtle but significant. Horses may resist the bit, toss their heads, grind their teeth, or even become aggressive or withdrawn. In working horses, unexplained behavioral issues may actually stem from a sore mouth.

If your horse suddenly resists bridling, struggles with collection, or reacts when turning, it may be time for a dental checkup. Bit pressure on a sore mouth can be extremely painful and distressing.

4. Oral Infections Can Impact Systemic Health

Unchecked dental infections can lead to sinus infections, jaw abscesses, and even systemic illness. Chronic inflammation in the mouth may suppress the immune system, making your horse more prone to infections, allergies or poor recovery from other conditions.

In severe cases, dental abscesses can cause visible facial swelling or nasal discharge and may even require surgery.

Warning Signs: How to Know When it May Be Time For a Dental Checkup

Horses can experience dental issues at any stage of life. Common signs that something might be wrong include:

• Trouble or slowed eating

• Dropping partially chewed feed (also known as “quidding”)

• Reluctance to drink cold water

• Excessive drooling or foaming

• Refusal to take the bit or discomfort under saddle

• Facial swelling or nasal discharge

• Head tilting or favoring one side while chewing

If you notice any of these signs, schedule a dental exam as soon as possible.

Don’t Sleep on Routine Dental Care!

Dental problems don’t always show obvious symptoms early on. That’s why proactive care is essential. From age two and up, horses should receive dental exams every 6 to 12 months, depending on their needs. Younger horses, those in training, and seniors may need more frequent visits.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), routine dental care can:

• Prevent oral pain and discomfort

• Improve feed utilization and reduce waste

• Lower the risk of colic and other digestive problems

• Enhance performance and attitude

What to Expect During a Dental Visit

A comprehensive dental appointment typically includes:

• Full oral examination using a speculum to evaluate each tooth, gum, cheek, and the tongue

• Floating (odontoplasty), which involves filing sharp enamel points, correcting imbalances, and removing overgrowths

• Wolf tooth or retained cap extraction, if needed

• Assessment of jaw alignment, incisor length, and bite patterns

*Only a licensed veterinarian or qualified equine dental practitioner should perform these procedures to ensure your horse’s safety and comfort.

Holistic Tips for Maintaining Dental Wellness

While professional dental care is key, here are some holistic practices to support your horse’s oral health year-round:

1. Feed a forage-based, high-fiber diet – Long-stem hay and pasture grasses promote natural grinding and keep the teeth wearing evenly.

2. Avoid excessive sugars and starches – These can contribute to plaque buildup, bacterial imbalances, and systemic inflammation.

3. Provide age-appropriate feed – Older horses may benefit from soaked hay cubes, senior feeds, or mashes that are easier to chew.

4. Use slow feeders or hay nets for over night feeding – These mimic natural grazing behaviors and extend chew time, encouraging saliva production and even tooth wear. That said, constant use of a hay night can damage front teeth which is why we suggest serving one meal a day, preferably the largest meal.

5. Regularly observe your horse eating – Watch for signs of discomfort, food dropping, or chewing with only one side.

6. Offer dental minerals – While not replacements for vet care, some natural supplements may support oral pH and tissue health.

Final Thoughts

Dental care might not be the most glamorous aspect of horse ownership, but it’s one of the most foundational. A healthy mouth allows your horse to chew comfortably, digest properly, and feel their best both mentally and physically.

By investing in routine dental checkups and daily management practices, you’re not just preventing toothaches—you’re actively supporting your horse’s immune system, gut health, and emotional well-being. Think of it as a small investment with a massive return.

As always, work closely with your veterinarian to create a dental care plan that suits your horse’s age, workload, and lifestyle.

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1. Kentucky Equine Research. (2018, September 24). *Regular dental care important for digestion in horses.* [https://ker.com/equinews/regular-dental-care-important-digestion-horses/](https://ker.com/equinews/regular-dental-care-important-digestion-horses/)

2. PC-Horse. (n.d.). *Digestion – Saliva.* [https://pchorse.se/en/articles/digestion/digestion-saliva](https://pchorse.se/en/articles/digestion/digestion-saliva)

3. Merck Veterinary Manual. (n.d.). *Dental disorders of horses.* [https://www.merckvetmanual.com/horse-owners/digestive-disorders-of-horses/dental-disorders-of-horses](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/horse-owners/digestive-disorders-of-horses/dental-disorders-of-horses)

4. Kentucky Equine Research. (2021, October 12). *Quidding and teeth dysfunction in old horses.* [https://ker.com/equinews/quidding-teeth-dysfunction-old-horses/](https://ker.com/equinews/quidding-teeth-dysfunction-old-horses/)

5. American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). (n.d.). *Equine Dentistry.* [https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-dentistry](https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-dentistry)