Brushing your cat's teeth: is it necessary or not?
Pets do not lead the same lifestyle as their wild counterparts, so it is important to follow certain tips and recommendations when caring for them. More than half of cats over three years of age suffer from periodontal disease - inflammation of the bone tissue of the teeth to which the crowns are attached. First, the gums become inflamed (gingivitis) due to plaque accumulating on the teeth, because bacteria develop there. When plaque persists, tartar is formed from it, and microbes develop many times more actively in it. When a stone comes into contact with the gum, it greatly irritates it, which often causes inflammation. A pet with advanced disease often loses teeth.
Cats whose owners do not brush their teeth may develop other problems:
- Bleeding gums;
- Caries;
- Decreased appetite;
- Unpleasant odors from the mouth;
- Your pet's mood may become depressed;
- Diseases of the digestive organs occur because putrefactive bacteria penetrate there from the oral cavity.
If compared with wild cats, then the situation is radically different. They constantly hunt and eat solid food, so the enamel is naturally cleared of deposits. Tough pieces of meat do not usually get stuck in the teeth like the soft foods that indoor cats eat.
Signs that your cat is in pain
It's worth noting that many common dental problems can cause significant pain. But, as the staff at the Vetwest Animal Hospital note, the wild ancestors of cats did not show their poor health so as not to be vulnerable to predators, which means that to this day your pet will try to hide the fact that he has a toothache or another ailment. .
According to experts at Harmony Animal Hospital, bad breath, or halitosis, is the most common sign that a cat needs oral care. Other signs include:
- Difficulty eating
- Damage to gums
- Stains on teeth
- Loose or broken teeth
- Tumors on the gums
- Paw touching or drooling
Since you know your cat best, you will immediately notice any of these unusual signs. Contact your veterinarian if your pet's eating habits change or if you think he is in pain.
Cleaning a cat's teeth at home: with what?
To clean your pet's mouth, you can use a special toothbrush for animals. On sale are:
- Toothbrushes with curved handles for ease of cleaning the mouth;
- Brushes that fit well and comfortably in the hand;
- Finger guards are brushes that can be placed on your finger.
If you don’t have a special one, you can use a soft children’s toothbrush. The bristles should fall just below the gum line. In extreme cases, it is appropriate to use gauze or a cotton swab.
Cat Teeth Cleaners
Pet pharmacies and veterinary stores sell special toothpastes for cleaning cats' teeth. They contain harmless substances, and cats really like the smell of the products.
Is it okay to use human toothpaste?
It is strictly forbidden to use the products on people, as they contain substances that should not be swallowed. A person can resist swallowing, but a cat can’t do that. If such a paste is swallowed, the pet may suffer, as its digestive system will receive substances harmful to it.
Is baking soda good for cleaning?
Baking soda contains a lot of alkali, which disrupts the acid balance in the stomach, so it should not be swallowed. The pet may not like the taste of the product, so it will break out and will not allow its teeth to be brushed.
Liquid paste for cats
Veterinary stores also offer a product such as liquid toothpaste. If your pet does not agree to mechanical cleaning, it is better not to injure him and not spoil his nerves. The liquid paste simply dissolves in ordinary water, and the cat drinks this water.
Along with this paste, it is recommended to include solid food in the animal’s diet. Or let the cat chew the bone with the rest of the meat.
There are also special vitamin sticks for cleaning teeth. This is the easy way, but also the least effective. Cats quickly lose interest in them, and their teeth still require more careful care.
Rules for brushing teeth for cats
There is a proven scheme for manipulation:
- A gel for cleaning teeth is applied to the brush;
- The pet’s head should be held at an angle of 45 degrees, the cat’s lips should be carefully lifted, the mouth may not be opened;
- First you need to clean the large back teeth and fangs, since plaque forms there most often;
- Actions must be slow and careful;
- Gradually you need to clean all the crowns;
- Cleaning takes approximately 30-60 seconds on each side;
- You should not rush through the procedure; caution is important so that the animal does not get scared.
Using a fingertip to brush your teeth
If you don't have a brush, you can use a fingertip. It is recommended to proceed according to the same scheme. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to accustom the cat to the fact that the owner’s finger can be in his mouth. To do this, you can do a slight massage of the gums.
How to brush your teeth correctly
Before starting the procedure, the pet must be in a good mood, well-fed and well-rested. Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a damp toothbrush. For the first cleaning, it is advisable to swaddle the cat and hold it between the legs. But remember about the safety of your pet: do not squeeze it too hard.
Take the animal by the head, pressing the ears with your palm, place your index finger in the corner of the mouth (to fix the open jaw). Start brushing your teeth by brushing them up and down, and then left and right, both from the outside and from the inside.
The molars are brushed first, gradually moving to the front teeth. All movements must be careful so as not to harm the pet. The procedure takes no more than one minute.
At the end of the procedure, calm the cat by stroking it and be sure to reward it with its favorite treat.
We teach your pet to brush its teeth from a kitten
It is easier to accustom a small kitten to the procedure. If the cat is an adult, the procedure will take more time. At first this will cause certain difficulties, but then the pet will get used to it, so it will not pay attention to the procedure.
There are certain recommendations that, if followed, will help accustom your kitten to brushing its teeth:
- You need to find a quiet place where you can place your pet. The door should be closed so as not to leave him an escape route. You can carry out the procedure on your knees or by placing your pet on a table covered with a towel.
- A cotton swab should be dipped into the tuna liquid. Cats love the taste and it will be a good association with brushing their teeth in the future.
- It is necessary to lift the animal's lips; the teeth need not be opened.
- Use a cotton swab to rub your lips and the edges of your gums.
- If your pet is nervous, you don’t have to try to treat all the teeth; you can start with a few.
- When the kitten gets used to it, you can start brushing procedures.
Preparation and carrying out the procedure
It doesn’t matter how your cat sits in your arms, the main thing is the result. You shouldn’t immediately start active actions - let the cat try the paste and get used to the brush.
The entire process of brushing your teeth should take no more than a minute. Brush your teeth one at a time with gentle pressure at an angle of 45 degrees. Start with the front incisors and gradually increase the number of teeth, capturing the edge of the gum, but not the gum itself. If you started to accustom a kitten to this procedure, then an adult cat may well even enjoy this procedure.
After you have brushed your cat's teeth at home, you can wipe them with a swab dipped in warm water.
Professional teeth cleaning for cats
Once a year, it is recommended to bring your pet to the veterinary clinic to evaluate the condition of the oral cavity. If inflammation or other problems with the gums are detected, appropriate treatment will be prescribed to stop the disease in a timely manner.
Stones on teeth
If the pet is shown to a specialist in a timely manner, the stones will be detected and removed on time. When they occur, you should immediately take the cat to the appropriate specialist. The means by which it is proposed to remove the stone at home do not show any effectiveness at all. They help prevent its appearance, but will not help remove solid formations.
To clean teeth from stones, the cat is put under anesthesia or the procedure takes place without it. The second option is suitable for pets who behave calmly, open their mouths and do not resist.
The most commonly used technique is ultrasonic teeth cleaning. The procedure is quite expensive, but the enamel is preserved without damage. For cleaning in this way, anesthesia is required.
Before anesthesia, the pet must be examined and the necessary tests are done to determine how the injection will be received. This is especially important for kittens and older pets. The dosage must be selected correctly.
Caries
Caries is a dental disease that must be treated. This is done through a filling or crown removal. The second option is more common.
Like a tiger, like a kitten
Our domestic cats are a biological species of the cat family. And all representatives of this species are real predators and actively hunt for their prey. Accordingly, the structure of their teeth has clear features of adaptation to precisely this method of nutrition. The question of why and how to brush a cat’s teeth arises due to the fact that our pets often eat food that is not at all natural. And this weakens their natural mechanisms for cleaning teeth from tartar and bacteria in the oral cavity.
Ways to support oral hygiene
Cleaning your cat's teeth is possible not only with brushes, but also in other ways. There are special dry foods on sale that are suitable for cleaning cats' teeth. They contain substances that prevent the formation of tartar on the teeth. Their structure is such that mechanical cleaning of the crowns is ensured.
You can buy teeth cleaning treats that cats like to eat. Teeth cleaning pads for pets have a hard surface that cleans the canines. The composition contains active components that destroy plaque and help eliminate bacteria.
There are special oral fluids on the market. They have a cleansing effect and also the ability to eliminate unpleasant odors. They are added to cat drinks. Manufacturers say that the composition of the drugs is harmless to the gastrointestinal tract of cats.
Prevention of plaque and tartar formation
Tartar prevention is always more expedient and financially beneficial than regular cleaning, which primarily injures the cat’s nervous system.
The main preventive measures include:
- regular compliance with the rules of hygiene of the cat’s oral cavity, cleaning soft plaque,
- proper and balanced nutrition, lump feed, reducing the amount of soft food,
- monitoring the state of the gastrointestinal tract, timely treatment of emerging pathologies that change the acidity of the gastric environment and mouth,
- periodic introduction to the Murok diet of a special food containing polyphosphates that cover the teeth with a protective film that prevents the formation of plaque and stone.
Useful tips
- There are a lot of bacteria in the animal's mouth, so it is recommended to wear gloves when brushing teeth;
- The toothbrush should be washed thoroughly after the procedure;
- The brush needs to be replaced every 3 months;
- If there are several cats in the house, then each one requires a separate brush;
- Animal feed must be of high quality;
- Before cleaning, you need to let the cat smell the paste;
- The procedure should be accompanied by praise.
If it is not possible to remove plaque regularly, then you can buy special treats - sticks, pads for cleaning cats' teeth.
