Cat Dental Care: How To Care for Your Cat’s Teeth

Cat dental care is an important part of your kitty’s health care regimen. Just like humans, cats can suffer from a range of dental health problems, from gum disease to plaque buildup, from bad breath to discolored teeth, from tartar deposits to gingivitis.

Plaque can deposit on cat teeth, which may harden to form tartar. As a result, your tabby may experience irritation in gums and suffer from gingivitis. Unfortunately, this may eventually cause tooth loss.

Preventative oral hygiene can help keep your cat dental health in good condition, keeping their teeth pearly white and gums pink.

Cat Dental Care: Know About Common Diseases

One of the most common cat health problems, dental disease may affect the quality of life of your furry friend. Without proper preventative dental care in cats, oral disease begins with plaque and tartar buildup. This results in periodontal disease in the form of swollen gums, which may redden and become tender and could even bleed.

Left untreated, the infection of periodontal disease may spread to other organs, such as liver, heart, and kidney, leading to serious health problems. In severe feline dental disease cases, it may be an indicator of problem with the immune system.

Cat Dental Care: Symptoms of Dental Problem

Reddened and swollen gums, yellowish-brown tartar and bad breath are some of the common symptoms of poor dental health.  If you notice an unusual bad breath, this indicates an advanced dental disease. To be sure about a dental issue in your kitty, check if the cat is

  • unable to eat the food she would usually pounce upon
  • tabbydropping food from their mouth and unable to chew it completely
  • losing weight as they’re unable to eat
  • reluctant to play?
  • experiencing pain on teeth examination
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Well, these are just a few signs of gingivitis in cats.

Common Signs of  Poor Cat Dental Care

Cats have an uncanny habit of masking their pain, which means even severe cases of dental disease may be left undiagnosed, as the cat may not give you any hints at all that their teeth hurt.

A few common signs of feline dental disease include:

  • Foul breath
  • Bleeding gums
  • Gum redness and swelling
  • Calculus/tartar buildup
  • Pus discharge
  • Loose teeth
  • Excessive salivation
  • Fur stains

Diagnosing Cat Dental Health Problems

Any buildup of tartar under the gums is a sign of periodontal disease, which may further cause all sorts of dental problems for the kitty. Left untreated, bacteria continue to compromise with the feline’s oral health, releasing toxins that irritate the gums, ligaments, and teeth bones, cause inflammation, and result in tooth decay and loss.

However, there are some conditions that cannot be detected by the naked eye and require professional intervention. It’s a good idea to make trips to the vet every six months to detect any oral hygiene problems with your pet. The vet will look for common signs, such as tartar and plaque buildup, and do an exhaustive examination under a general anesthetic to look for signs of cavities, tooth resorption, or plasma cell stomatitis.

The vet will clean your cat’s teeth with an ultrasonic scaler. They have the tools to remove any damaged tooth and polish smooth the remaining ones, so plaque cannot adhere to them.

Caring for Your Cat’s Teeth: Feline Oral Hygiene and Regimen

Additionally, make it a habit to regularly brush and floss as part of their oral hygiene to reduce the risk of painful diseases. It will help you identify any problems with your tabby’s mouth. When you bring a new kitty home, introduce her to dental care at an early stage, so they get used to the process and do not get irritated when you touch their teeth.

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Toothpaste: You may start with cleaning their teeth with a finger cot or gauze, making cat oral hygiene a priority and habit. Avoid using fluoride toothpaste for cleaning feline teeth, as its ingestion can make your kitty seriously ill.

Diet: Diet is an important factor to keep your cat’s teeth healthy. It’s a good idea to feed them a combination of wet and dry foods. Raw bones knock off tartar and are less likely to splinter, helping in the upkeep of the cat oral hygiene.

Treats: Try using healthy chews and treats to reward your furry feline for good behavior.

Left untreated, tooth decay and gum disease may cause liver, kidney, and heart problems. Don’t wait for your kitty to shows distress signs to take your cat to the vet. This could translate into a serious illness for many cats that are shy enough to show signs of discomfort.

Preventive caring for your cat’s teeth is the best way to ensure their oral hygiene and keep them from dental problems. A good diet, proper oral hygiene, and yearly dental checkups hold the key to keeping your cat teeth healthy.

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