Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your Cat’s Teeth Clean

“Addressing gum disease is crucial for your pet’s oral health and overall wellbeing,” says Dr. Anthony. Periodontal disease leads to swelling and damage to the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Chronic inflammation produces by-products that spread throughout the body, contributing to diseases such as arthritis, and heart, kidney, and liver disease. 

But as every cat person knows, brushing a cat’s teeth can prove difficult. Here are our top five tips for keeping your cat’s teeth clean.

#1. Check Out Your Cat’s Gums.
Red and inflamed gums are a sign of dental disease. Gums should normally be pink and healthy. To address, massage your cat’s gums with a bit of gauze. Try dipping your finger into tuna water to make your cat more cooperative.

#2. Start a Daily Dental Care Routine.
Daily brushing is by far the best way to prevent dental disease. This is easiest if you start young. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends getting cats used to the process while they’re kittens by using gauze along with toothpaste made specifically for cats. Do not try to brush your cat’s teeth with “people” toothpaste. If fluoride toothpaste is ingested, it can make your cat severely ill. Once your cat tolerates the brushing, slowly transition to a cat-specific toothbrush.

#3. Get your cat a chew toy.
Cats in the wild eat the bones of animals, which helps to scrape the plaque and tartar off their teeth. Chew toys designed for cats can help do the same thing. Just make sure it’s a chew toy designed for cats and not too hard or it could fracture your cat’s tooth.

#4. Try a water additive, such as Oxyfresh Pet Dental Water Additive. It’s vet-recommended and clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar.
Simply add to your cat’s drinking water.

#5. Dental diets (feed exclusively or use as treats) are also beneficial, says Dr. Anthony. Look for Vet Oral Health Council (VOHC) on the label. The size, shape, and texture of dental kibble is designed to clean the tooth as your cat chews.

OUR PICKS

A Toothpaste for Cats
Oxyfresh’s five-star-rated Premium Pet Dental Gel Toothpaste is formulated to deliver cleaner teeth, remove plaque, condition gums, and freshen breath. Plus, it’s tasteless and odourless! ($12, oxyfresh.com)

Plaque-Reducing Sprinkle
The ProDen PlaqueOff Powder for cats is a 100% natural pet food supplement containing the natural kelp ingredient A.N ProDen shown in clinical trials to help reduce plaque and tartar and improve bad breath. Results are usually seen between three to eight weeks with continued use. Just sprinkle the tasty powder over your cat’s food once a day. ($17, swedencare.com)

Water Additive
TEEF for Life Protektin 30 Dental Kit is a powder water additive for cats. It uses clinically validated molecular nutrition to selectively favour the growth of beneficial microbes in the mouth, and to stop the growth of destructive bacteria that cause dental disease. All you need to do is a add a scoop of the powder to your cat’s drinking water! ($30, teefhealth.com)

A Better Brush
Made strictly for cats, Ryercat’s dual-sided cat toothbrush makes a dreaded task easier. The curve of this toothbrush allows you to clear the front teeth, so you don’t hit the sensitive Jacobson’s Organ. Use the soft, round head for everyday brushing and the pick side to get food out from the back molar groove. Bristles infused with charcoal help neutralize bacteria. ($20, ryercat.com)

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!