If your veterinarian has observed that your cat has
poor dental health, if you have smelled an
unpleasant odor coming from your cat's mouth, or if you just want to do everything you can to keep your cat's mouth healthy, you will want to learn to
brush your cat's teeth.
Just as we must brush our own teeth on a regular basis to keep them healthy,
regular brushing improves the health of your cat's teeth as well.
Many cats will allow brushing if a routine is introduced slowly and somewhat early in life.
You will need a
toothbrush that is comfortable to use in the small areas of the mouth. You will also need
special cat toothpaste. And if your cat has
painful teeth, tartar, and/or
gingivitis or if you've noticed a foul odor coming from your cat's mouth, its teeth should be
professionally cleaned before you begin a home-care routine.
ONLINE RESOURCES
This
video produced by the
Cornell Feline Health Center is a great place to get started. The video is divided into clearly labeled chapters—Introduction, Preparation, and so on—that can be individually viewed. This is a useful option for cat owners who have a dial-up connection (over which the full video might be slow to download) or who want a quick review of just one or two parts of the video.
"A Guide to Feline Dental Care" from VeterinaryPartner.com is a short article explaining what to look for when examining your cat’s mouth.
The Feline Advisory Bureau, a British charity dedicated to feline well-being, has created an
info sheet with detailed information about the anatomy of the feline mouth and oral diseases. A second
info sheet covers feline tooth anatomy, types of teeth, diseases of the teeth, and home dental care.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition has created a
website to support the "Pets Need Dental Care, Too" campaign (the campaign is a partnership between Hill's, the American Veterinary Dental Society, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, the American Veterinary Dental College, and the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians). The website includes a
section on home dental care and addresses both canine and feline dental care. In addition to providing information on how to brush your cat's teeth properly, this site promotes prevention through the use of prescription diet food.
The Cat Doctor
Portland, Maine