Why Dental Care Is So Important For Cats

Regular dental care is just as important for cats as it is for humans. In fact, unkempt teeth can also have serious consequences for cats. Find out here why dental care is so important for cats, how it works and what happens when tartar and gum pockets have formed.

After each meal, food remains stuck between and on the cat’s teeth. These residues are fodder for bacteria. They decompose the leftover food and feed on the released nutrients. The result is not only the development of unpleasant bad breath but also the formation of acids and plaque:

• The acids primarily attack the gums. The sensitive gums react with inflammation. It swells and gets a rough surface. If the inflammation is not stopped, the gum will separate from the tooth over time. A pocket forms between the tooth and the gum. These gum pockets are an ideal breeding ground for other bacteria – a vicious circle begins that can eventually lead to tooth loss.
• Bacteria and food residues from greasy deposits on the tooth itself. Minerals from the saliva combine with the plaque and tartar forms. These hard yellowish to brown deposits aggravate the inflammation of the gums, especially if periodontal pockets have already developed.

Around 70 percent of all cats over three years old suffer from tartar. Cats are particularly prone to these unaesthetic “fossilizations” because they drink relatively little and their saliva is rich in minerals.

The Consequences Of Tartar And Gingivitis In Cats

Tartar and gingivitis can lead to serious health consequences for cats:

• Cats with tartar and mouth sores suffer from pain.
• In acute processes, cats salivate profusely and refuse to eat.
• Tartar and gum pockets are constant herds of bacteria from which germs can constantly be swept through the bloodstream into all organs of the body. In particular, they endanger the health of the heart and kidneys.
• The cat’s teeth may fall out.

This Is How Cat Teeth Brushing Works

To prevent tartar and gum pockets from forming in cats in the first place, regular dental care by brushing your teeth is necessary. However, cats need to be trained to brush their teeth. This is easiest to do with young cats. You proceed carefully step by step:

• Use it when your cat relaxes and cuddles with you. By the way, you touch her lips while caressing.
• During the next cuddling session, playfully and tenderly pull up one lip and then the other and gently massage your gums with a finger. Watch your cat closely – at the slightest sign of protest, stop and pet her favorite spot instead.
• After a few times, most cats even enjoy the gum massage. Then they can take it a step further and smear a little cat toothpaste on your finger. At the vet, there are meat-flavored pastes. If that also works well, you can try it with a soft brush. There are also special brushes, especially for cats.

When The Cat Refuses To Brush Its Teeth

If you didn’t get your cat used to brushing its teeth from a young age, or you didn’t take care of your cat until it was older, you probably won’t be able to get your cat into the habit of brushing its teeth again. However, there are alternatives:

In these cases, tooth-cleaning food or treats, for example, help to clean the teeth to some extent. There is also toothpaste for animals at the vet, which is either given directly to the gums or in the feed. These pastes contain cleaning particles that practically clean the teeth while eating.

Treating Tartar And Gum Pockets In Cats

Once tartar and gum pockets have formed, neither brushing your teeth nor the best food will help. The veterinarian must clean the teeth with ultrasound and possibly remove the periodontal pockets. Most of the time he has to put the cat under anesthesia in order to thoroughly remove all deposits with ultrasound. However, this is still less dangerous than the possible consequences without this intervention.

You should then regularly clean your cat’s teeth to prevent the formation of tartar and periodontal pockets. At the annual vet check, you can have it checked to see whether your care measures are effective.​

These Cats Suffer More From Tartar

The formation of tartar depends on several factors, which is why some cats suffer more from tartar than others:

• Cats that feed on mice rarely suffer from tartar build-up – but with a variety of other health risks.
• Cats that drink a lot of milk build-up significantly more tartar than those that quench their thirst with water. Those who only eat wet food are more likely to risk plaque than cats who nibble on dry food or other chews with their teeth.
• The breed and hereditary factors also play a role in the disposition to have too much or little tartar: With extremely narrow-headed Orientals, also with Abyssinians and Somalis, the teeth are often very narrow or incorrect, which promotes food residues in the gaps and thus bacteria formation and gum inflammation. The flat-headed Persians sometimes have feeding problems and/or malformations or missing teeth. Here, too, oral cavity problems are inevitable. After all, kittens inherit the predisposition to early tooth loss from their parents.

Despite these factors, regular dental care is important for all cats!