How to Care for Your Cat's Teeth

Did you know that many cats have dental disease by the time they are two or three years of age? It's true—and it only gets worse as they get older.

Plaque and bacteria on the teeth lead to tartar, gum disease, loosening of teeth, and tooth root abscesses. That means pain and suffering for your cat. Not only that, but the bacteria present in the mouth are swallowed and can negatively affect a cat's general health, for example, damaging heart valves.

It's crucial that you place good dental health at a spot of high priority in your feline health care routine.

Basic Dental Care for Cats

Ideally, your cat's teeth should be cared for by brushing at home routinely. If you can do so daily, that is ideal, but at least shoot for two to three times a week.

Brushing a cat's teeth can be challenging, and you shouldn't risk a cat bite to do so. Instead, start your cat off with tooth-brushing at as young an age as possible. Go slowly and be sure to stay positive and reward your cat at each step of the learning process. Here are some tips for teaching your cat to allow tooth-brushing:

• Get your cat in a comfortable position. You can try having the kitty in your lap or on a cat bed on a table that's easy for you to reach.
• Begin by getting your kitty used to having you handle her mouth. You can rub her lips gently with your fingers. Once she accepts that, try massaging her teeth and gums.
• As your cat shows that she's comfortable having you working around her mouth, you can introduce toothpaste and a brush.
• 
  Use a soft children's brush or finger brush that slides over your finger and is gentle on the gums and lips.
• Get some cat-safe, enzymatic toothpaste in a flavor you think your cat will like. Do not use human toothpaste, which can contain xylitol and other toxic ingredients as well as surfactants that can irritate your cat's GI tract if swallowed. You won't be rinsing the teeth off, after all.
• Place a tiny bit of toothpaste on the brush and allow your cat to sniff and lick it.
• Work the brush under the lips and gently rub a tooth.
• 
  As your cat gets more used to tooth-brushing, you can do more of the teeth and work your way up to brushing the outside of all teeth in the mouth. Use tiny circles and take frequent breaks to let your cat rest and receive praise.
• For most cats, brushing the insides of the teeth should not be attempted.

Stay calm and positive during the training process. It might take many sessions of creeping forward little by little, but it will be worth it for your cat's health to keep trying.

Use rewards at every step of the process. These can include both verbal praise/petting and edible treats. Make the experience as positive as possible each time, so your cat begins to look forward to the sessions.

Routine Dental Cleanings Are Necessary

In addition to home dental care, cats need their teeth periodically professionally cleaned under anesthesia. That is the only way to clean plaque out from under the gum-line and off the insides of the teeth. It also allows an extremely thorough exam of the mouth, x-rays of the roots of the teeth, and extraction of diseased teeth.

At your cat's routine veterinary visits, the doctor will examine your cat's teeth and help you decide how often she should have professional cleanings done. Annual dental cleanings beginning around a year or two of age are ideal for most, but some cats require them more frequently, especially as they get older.

Remember, humans floss once a day and brush twice a day and still require professional dental cleanings twice a year for maximum dental health.