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Dental Care For Cats


Feline Dental Care

Tartar buildup

Cats, like humans, have tartar buildup on their teeth called plaque. An
accumulation of plaque can lead to peridontal (gum) problems, and the
eventual loss of teeth.

Plaque is a whitish-yellow deposit. Cats seem to accumulate plaque
primarily on the exterior face of their upper teeth. Reddened gum lines can
indicate irritation from plaque.

Some cats are more prone to plaque buildup than others. Some never need
dental care, others need to have their teeth cleaned at regular intervals.
Many vets encourage you to bring your cat in annually for teeth cleaning,
using a general anesthetic. The cost, which can be considerable, and the
risk of the anesthesia itself are both good incentives for doing some cat
dental care at home.

If you must have the vet clean your cat's teeth, see if your vet is willing to try
a mild sedative (rather than putting the cat under entirely) first when cleaning
the teeth. If your cat is an older cat (5 years or more) and it must be put
under, see if the vet will use a gas anesthesia rather than an injected form.

What you can do:

Brush your cat's teeth once a week. Use little cat toothbrushes, or soft
child-size toothbrushes, and edible cat toothpaste (available at most vets or
pet stores).

Cats often hate to have their teeth brushed, so you may have to use a
bath towel straightjacket and a helper. If you are skilled and have a
compliant cat, you can clean its teeth using the same type of tool the human
dentist does.


Rootwork

Cavities in cat teeth often occur just at or under the gum line.

If your cat has an infected tooth, you will have to have root work done on
it. It is typical to do x-rays after such a procedure to ensure that all of the
roots have reabsorbed. If the roots haven't done so, then the infection can
easily continue on up to the sinus and nasal passages and from there to the
lungs.

Such infections require long-term antibiotics.


Smelly breath

If your cat has smelly breath, there are various possible causes.

Teething: at about 6 months of age, cats will lose
their baby teeth and get permanent ones. If the gums are red and puffy and
you can see the points of teeth breaking through here and there, the cat is
just teething and the odor will subside as the teeth come in.


Gingivitus: if the gums appear red and puffy and
you've ruled teething out, your cat may have a gum infection of some sort.
Take the cat to the vet.


Diet: certain foods, usually canned foods or
prescription foods, can make your cat's breath smell. If possible, try
changing your cat's diet.


Abscessed tooth: may show no symptoms other than
smelly breath.

Drooling sometimes occurs in conjunction. The cat must be taken to the vet
to have the abscess drained and possibly the teeth involved removed. If this
is not done, the infection can easily spread to the sinuses and cause the face
to swell, especially just under the eyes.


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Cleaning A Cat's Teeth
By: Jane R. Bicks, D.V.M.

Place your cat on a counter or table, with his head away from you just as
you do for grooming.

Take a cat toothbrush or finger cot and put feline toothpaste on it.

Slowly lift up your cat's upper lip and rub the back teeth. Then do the other
side.

If your cat rebels, that's to be expected; you will try again tomorrow.

Many cats love cooked corn on the cob. It's not fattening and helps clean
your cat's teeth and gums, although it's a bit messy.


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