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How to Easily Clean Your Cat’s Teeth

Writer's picture: V CarpioV Carpio

85% of cats over the age of 3 in the UK show signs of dental disease. This is horrifying.


To prevent dental disease we need to brush our cat’s teeth. That sentence alone is enough to give goosebumps to most cat owners because brushing cat’s teeth requires:

·        Cooperation from the cat (good luck finding that!)

·        Technical ability from the owner

·        Motivation from the owner.


This can feel like a heavy burden to most cat owners. To follow vet guidelines and brush our cat’s teeth daily can seem impossible and puts us between a rock and a hard place – do we choose between our feline-human bond or; our cat’s health?


We’re here to take away that burden. Looking after your cat’s teeth does not need to be stressful for you or your cat!


There is a cat-friendly way to do everything. We’ll guide you to encourage cooperation from the cat; you won’t need any technical ability; and your actions will motivate you to do it consistently.


Looking after your cat’s teeth requires two things:

Monitoring and action.


Cats front teeth being shown, looks clean and like the cat is smiling.

Think of it like being in a rowing boat. To move forward, you need to use both oars at the same time – using just one will leave you going in circles. The same applies to feline dental care: monitoring and action go hand-in-hand.


Monitoring consists of carrying out a conscious oral exam at home and looking out for visual & behavioural cues.


While action is incorporating a cat toothbrushing routine.


Don’t stress – everything you’ll read are cat-friendly practices.


Monitoring

Monitoring is one of the fastest and easiest things you can do right now to help your cat start winning the battle against dental disease.


Cats are experts at hiding pain, and they will often continue eating even when they have dental issues. That’s why it’s very common to first hear of these issues when cats are 6/7 years old.


Imagine what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth for 7 years!


The Feline Grimace Scale

The Feline Grimace Scale, created by the University of Montreal and Zoetis, is a valuable tool for detecting general pain in cats. It helps you recognize the visual cues of pain and track them to assess the level of discomfort your cat might be experiencing.


Visual cues

Most visual cues are visible when looking inside your cat's mouth. Unfortunately, the cues spotted outside your cat’s mouth indicate that the dental disease has already progressed.


Uncharacteristic drooling or visible swelling of the face are a couple of the cues visible outside the mouth. Drooling is not always related to dental disease however, if either of these are visible you’ll need to take your cat to a vet right away.


Halitosis, or bad breath, is another red flag. It’s caused by a build-up of bacteria in your cat’s mouth. While not all oral bacteria are harmful, the more bacteria accumulate, the greater the chance that anaerobic bacteria will form (the bad bacteria), releasing harmful toxins and creating an inflammatory response known as gingivitis.


Turning our attention to cues visible inside your cat’s mouth. Redness and swelling of the gums are signs of gingivitis. Tartar build-up and any broken or discoloured teeth are also indicators of dental disease.


Spotting the visual cues inside your cat’s mouth may seem impossible but, we’ll show a video that’ll explain the cat-friendly way of checking inside your cat’s mouth.

brown cat with eyes closed, head slightly tilted forward.

Behavioural Cues

Behavioral cues are often easier to spot, especially once you know what to look for. By combining these cues with the Feline Grimace Scale, you can get a clearer picture of whether something’s wrong.


Pay attention to changes in your cat’s behaviour. For example, do they seem reluctant to let you touch their face or are they excessively pawing at their face?


Notice if they’ve become more aggressive or less receptive to playtime.


Speaking of play – does your cat no longer want to bite or chew their toys? Do they now prefer softer, plush toys instead?


Check whether your cat is avoiding cold water—this could indicate tooth fractures or exposed dentin.


When your cat eats, observe whether they favour one side of their mouth or seem to "hoover" up their food to avoiding any chewing.


These behaviours suggest that your cat is trying to minimize stress on the structures that hold the tooth in place due to pain or sensitivity. If you spot any of these it is important to investigate further with your vet.


Conscious Oral Exam at Home

A conscious oral exam is a procedure that allows veterinarians to assess the condition of a cat's mouth without the need for anaesthesia.


This is invaluable in detecting dental issues early, preventing pain and discomfort, and ensuring the overall well-being of your cat.


The exam consists of three parts:

  1. Observe your cat

    Look for any signs of asymmetry, which could indicate swelling or oral tumours. If you notice anything unusual, it's important to rush your cat to the vet right away.


  2. Gently touch the facial muscles and bones

    You can do this by petting your cat with the intention of feeling for any lumps or bumps. Be mindful of any areas that seem sensitive to the touch.


  3. Lift the lip

    This is where you’ll need to take your time. Again, use the concept of petting to desensitize your cat to you touching their mouth.


    Choose a moment when your cat is relaxed and receptive to being petted, like when they want affection. Start by stroking areas they enjoy, like behind the ear or under the chin. Once they’re comfortable with that, try stroking the side of their mouth for a moment before returning to the "safe zone."


    Gradually increase the duration of stroking the mouth, and once your cat is comfortable, try gently stretching and lifting their lip.


Be patient and take things at your cat’s pace. Over time, your cat will become more accustomed to the touch, making it easier to check their teeth.


For a more in-depth guide to step 3 Lifting the lip you can watch the video below. If you’d like a comprehensive explanation and how-to of the whole conscious oral exam then check out our YouTube video.



Action – Feline oral home care

Now that you understand what’s going on with your cat’s teeth, it’s time to take action.


While we don’t know the exact causes of some dental diseases, most can be prevented by brushing your cat’s teeth daily.


Cat Toothbrush

If you decide to use a cat toothbrush or finger brush, start by introducing the cat toothpaste first, like a treat. Get excited, place some on your finger and let your cat lick it off. This helps your cat form positive associations with the brushing experience.


After a few days, repeat the previous step but this time begin gently touching your cat’s incisors with your finger, rubbing them softly if possible. Remember: the key is to never force anything. Always aim to make the experience as positive as possible.


The next step is to move onto the toothbrush. Let your cat lick the toothpaste off the brush first, then gently touch the brush to their teeth. Over time, your goal is to gradually increase the amount of time you can spend brushing their teeth.


Dental Wand

The Dental Wand is the world’s first cat-friendly toothbrush. It engages your cat’s instinctual behaviours to hunt and applies those behaviours to express the actions of brushing teeth.


You open it up, fill it with enzymatic cat toothpaste and then begin to play with your cat.


Your cat will go through their predatory sequence which ends with them biting. When they bite the Dental Wand, the toothpaste inside is expelled across your cat’s mouth, while the bristles disrupt the daily build-up of plaque.


The Dental Wand uses interactive play to clean your cat’s teeth but also keep your cat happy. Reducing stress-related behaviours while boosting your bond and fighting plaque.

two white and grey cats biting the Dental Wand

Conclusion

Caring for your cat’s teeth doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or stressful task.


To beat dental disease you must both monitor and brush your cat’s teeth. Choose the tools that are right for you and your cat, speak to your vet to help you formulate an oral care routine.


By consistently monitoring your cat’s oral health and taking small, manageable actions, like regular brushing, you can help prevent dental disease and maintain your cat’s overall well-being.

 

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