Also, your vet can assess the overall oral health of your cat and should be able to tell you if it is safe to brush the animal’s teeth. Your vet should also be able to recommend oral health care products that will be safe and effective for your cat.
Any toothpaste with xylitol (a sweetener) can be deadly to a cat. Cat toothbrushes can will either be a fingertip type (one you slip over your fingertip) or one that looks like a child-sized toothbrush that is specifically designed for a cat’s mouth. You can actually buy a pet dental kit, including the right toothpaste and toothbrush, at a pet store or from your vet.
To start, put a little bit of the pet toothpaste on your fingertip and let your cat lick it off. The next day, do the same and then run your finger along the gums of your cat’s upper teeth. The following day, put the toothpaste on the toothbrush and let your cat lick it off. Cats, like people, have flavor preferences. To make your brushing session go as smoothly as possible, it may be wise to buy multiple types of toothpaste to see if there is one your cat may prefer over another.
Let your cat mark the toothbrush as his and get him used to having it around his mouth before you try to use it in his mouth. Allowing him access to the brush at least once a day for twenty minutes for two to three days beforehand should allow him to become more comfortable with the cleaning apparatus before use. If you have more than one cat, be sure that each individual animal has his or her own toothbrush and do not use the same toothbrush on multiple cats.
If your cat seems reluctant or fearful of the toothbrush or toothpaste, do not give him a treat, as this can reinforce negative interactions with the toothbrush and toothpaste.
It should take you less than 30 seconds to brush your cat’s teeth. It is also wise to wear long sleeves or even gloves if your cat is likely to struggle or will try to escape the cleaning.
Repeat this daily until your cat lets you run the toothbrush gently along the gum and teeth. Work the bristles of the brush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slightly up, so the bristles get under the gum line.
You should know that oral health treats, toys, additives or foods are not a substitute for daily brushing. Also, if your cat experiences a high or unusual amount of the stress when taken to the vet, you will need to consider this in relation to the stress your cat causes you during the brushing process.
Look for food labeled “dental care” or “tooth care” when purchasing a food designed to control plaque. These foods won’t work if there is already tartar on the teeth. This will need to be removed by a dental cleaning prior to starting the food. You should talk to your vet before trying this type of food with your cat as there can be conditions under which cats should not eat this food (including mouth pain, kidney disease, etc. ).
Check with your veterinarian if these additives would be beneficial to your cat and if your cat has any existing medical conditions. These products can’t remove tartar from teeth but instead control the amount of bacteria in the cat’s mouth.
Tartar will appear as a light tan substance on the teeth along the gum lines. As it keeps accumulating, it will become a thicker layer darkening to a darker brown or sometimes grey.
There are a number of conditions that can develop if you don’t properly care for your cat’s oral hygiene, so keep a close eye on plaque and tartar buildup.
In addition, there are a number of conditions that can develop if you don’t properly care for your cat’s oral hygiene.
