Cat Dental Care & DiseasesClean teeth and healthy gums aren't just cosmetic concerns, they are extremely important to the overall health of your cat. Proper dental care is an important part of helping your cat live a longer and healthier life. Bacteria from the teeth can enter the cat's blood stream and affect vital organs like the kidneys, liver and heart, and can cause endocarditis (heart valve infection). Cats can get a variety of dental diseases, including:
Gingivitis, otherwise known as gum disease, happens when gum tissue suffers from an inflammation. If it isn't treated, it can lead to periodontitis, teeth loosening, bone loss, and ultimately, loss of teeth.
The most common dental problem for cats is periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease. The disease is caused by various factors: plaque, food debris, cell mucus, and a mixture of bacteria. The result is a milky-white film on your cat's teeth as well as on the gums. When this film gets combined with saliva, the plaque it causes becomes tartar, which is very hard to remove. Here's how to prevent cat dental problems: Brush your cats teeth: Unfortunately for most cat owners, brushing their cat's teeth is a very difficult task. To get cats used to the idea of having their teeth brushed, there are a few steps you should take first. Step 1: For cats that aren't comfortable with having their mouth touched, here's what you need to do. While you are petting your cat, rub the area around your cat's mouth, including around the lips. Make sure to give out treats during this process so your cat associates this with a positive experience. Step 2: Once your cat is okay with this, the next step is to begin rubbing your cats teeth and gums with your finger. Do this on a regular basis until your cat is used to it. Step 3: After a day or two of doing this successfully, get a small rubber 'finger toothbrush' from the pet store and some toothpaste specially formulated for pets. (Human toothpaste is dangerous to pets because they will swallow it – pet toothpaste is safe, and it's much tastier! Most pet stores have a variety of different flavors) Put some pet toothpaste on the finger toothbrush and begin by softly and slowly brushing the canine (“fang”) teeth. Until your cat is completely comfortable with this, don't attempt your cat's mouth or brush the back teeth. Get them professionally cleaned:
Home Checkup: Make a regular habit of checking your cat's teeth. If any are cracked or broken, schedule a visit with the vet. Cat Mouthwash: If your cat simply refusese to let you brush her teeth after following these steps, there is a very good cat mouthwash that you can get online called Pet Kiss. Nothing is as good as brushing, but it's much better than not using anything at all. It can also be used in combination with a regular teeth brushing for even better results. You just add a few drops to your cat's water (it's flavorless so even a picky cat won't notice it) and it dissolves plaque and tarter from your kitty's teeth.
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