Dental Care for Cats

Pink and White

Pink and white are the colors you want to see when you look inside your cat's mouth. No brown tartar on the teeth. Healthy pink, not red, gums.

I am a cat, not a veterinarian, so make sure your check with your vet about dental care for your cat.

How To Keep Those Dental Colors

A little training and daily attention go a long way to keeping your cat's teeth healthy. Good, old-fashioned brushing is the best way to keep maintain your cat's dental health.

What you need:

• cotton swab
• feline toothpaste
• feline tooth brush

Do not use human toothpaste! It makes us very, very sick.

Here's what the ASPCA recommends.

Brush your cat’s teeth at home by following these simple steps:

• First get your cat used to the idea of having her teeth brushed. Start by gently massaging her gums with your fingers or touching a cotton swab to them.
• After a few sessions, put a little bit of cat-formulated toothpaste on her lips to get her used to the taste.
• Next, introduce a toothbrush designed especially for cats—it will be smaller than human toothbrushes and have softer bristles. Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger are also available and allow you to give a nice massage to your cat’s gums.
• Finally, apply the toothpaste to her teeth for a gentle brushing.
• A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your cat’s gums are inflamed. Many cats have mild gingivitis and brushing too hard can hurt their gums.

When to see The Vet

If your cat has brown patches at the base of her teeth, it's time to get a professional cleaning from the vet. Healthy teeth lead to a long and healthy life. 

If your kitty's gums are red, he may have a gum inflammation. Usually this is from irritation from tartar collection. 

The ASPCA has some guidelines for mouth problems in cats. Here's their list of when to see the veterinarian.

If your cat suffers from any of the symptoms mentioned below, please see the vet right away:

• Gingivitis: This inflammation of the gums is mainly seen in older cats. It may start as a dark red line bordering on the teeth. If left untreated, gums may become sore and ulceration may occur. May be a sign of FIV or other infection.
• Periodontitis: If gingivitis invades the tooth socket, the tooth may become loose and an abscess may form.
• Stomatitis: This inflammation of the mouth lining may result from a foreign body in the mouth, a viral disease or dental problems. The cat will have difficulty eating and the inside of the mouth will appear red.
• Rodent Ulcer: A slowly enlarging sore or swelling on the upper lip.
• Salivary Cyst: If salivary glands or ducts that carry saliva to the mouth become blocked, a cyst may form under the tongue.
• Mouth Ulcers: Ulcers on a cat’s tongue and gums are sometimes caused by feline respiratory or kidney disease.

Here's to happy cats with healthy gums and teeth.

Max