Dental Care for Your Cat
Provided by Purina
Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth
If possible, accustom your cat to having its teeth cleaned on a regular basis at
home.
To begin, just gently rub her teeth with your finger. As she learns to accept this,
use a soft cloth or a child's soft toothbrush dipped in a solution of baking soda
and water, or use a toothpaste specially for cats. Do not use toothpaste formulated
for humans — because cats swallow rather than spit out the preparation, this can
cause stomach upset.
Caring for Kittens’ Teeth
By four weeks of age, kittens have their incisors, the 12 small teeth in the front
of the mouth. At six weeks, all 26 deciduous (baby) teeth are in.
Kitten teeth should be white and clean, with the upper incisors meeting the lower
incisors evenly. The gums and mouth tissue should be pink, or dark if pigmented;
a pale color is a sign of anemia.
Occasionally a kitten will retain some deciduous teeth after the permanent teeth
have appeared. This may damage the soft tissues of the mouth and may even accelerate
wear of permanent teeth. A veterinarian should be consulted to determine whether
or not removal is necessary.
Oral Hygiene
Inspect your cat's mouth regularly for tartar buildup or a condition of the gums.
In addition, brush your cat's teeth with the proper brush and toothpaste (made specifically
for cats) once or twice a week. Consult with your veterinarian about the correct
home-cleaning process or professional cleaning.
Dry, crunchy foods can be helpful in keeping teeth clean by scraping against the
teeth and acting like a toothbrush to help remove plaque. Still, there is no substitute
for regular dental care.
Dental Problems
Lesions on your cat's gums or foul-smelling breath can be early warning signs of
a potential problem. The most common dental problems cats experience result from
plaque and calculus buildup. If left unchecked, plaque and calculus buildup can
eventually cause inflammation of both the gums (gingivitis) and the membrane lining
of the tooth socket (periodontitis). The infection resulting from these conditions
may spread to other parts of the body such as the kidneys or the valves of the heart.
Dental problems may also result from injury, foreign bodies such as porcupine quills
or foxtail, malnutrition or systemic health conditions that infect the mouth as
well as other parts of the body.
Common warning signs of dental problems in cats include:
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Drooling
- Bad breath
- Loss of appetite
- Dark spots on molars
- Raised sores in mouth
Oral Issues From Dangerous Greenery
A cat who nibbles household plants may suffer from oral problems not related to
a periodontal health condition.
Diffenbachia, or "dumb cane," for example, can cause severe irritation and ulceration
to a cat's mouth. The cat may salivate and have trouble swallowing. If your cat
eats diffenbachia, prompt veterinary attention is needed.
For a more complete list of plants that are dangerous to cats, consult your veterinarian.
