I would like to develop awareness so anyone can inspect the mouth and address some of the problems. I believe that any effort to help the horse is better than ignoring a problem by not doing something.

Horses evolved as grazing animals, and their teeth are perfectly adapted for that purpose. The forward teeth, known as incisors, function to shear off forage. The cheek teeth, including the molars and premolars with their wide, flat, graveled surfaces, easily grind the feed to a mash before it is swallowed.

Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The baby teeth, also called deciduous teeth, are temporary. The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last baby teeth come in when the horse is about 8 months of age. These teeth begin to be replaced by adult teeth around age 2 1/2. By age 5, most horses have their full complement of permanent teeth.

RECOGNIZING DENTAL PROBLEMS

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. That is due to the fact that some horses simply adapt to their discomfort. For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential. Indicators of dental problems include:

Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation
Loss of body condition
Large or undigested feed particles in manure
Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling
Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking
Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth
Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw, or mouth tissues

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. The end result is a healthier, more comfortable horse.