According to statistics, 70% of cats over 2 years old are troubled by periodontal disease, and how to prevent and maintain dental diseases (cat stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontal disease) is also a major challenge often encountered by veterinarians and owners. We all know the importance of brushing teeth and oral health care, but I believe that many cat owners have the same problem: “How to brush the teeth of cats smoothly and continuously?” Today we will discuss the two key points of cat brushing teeth and tool selection methods, and learn how to brush cats’ teeth together!
Understanding cat tooth structure
Kittens have a total of 26 teeth. At about 6 months of age, the milk teeth will fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth. There are 30 permanent teeth, 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars and 4 molars.
Unlike us humans and dogs, cats are “carnivores”. Like lions and tigers, cats have sharp triangular teeth, which make it easy to pierce and tear food, and cats that live in the wild mostly feed on mice, birds, and other small animals. Since cats’ teeth are more suitable for tearing food and their grinding function is relatively weak, if fed high-fiber food, cats may swallow it without grinding it completely, resulting in indigestion, so slaves should pay special attention to this!
When cats are still young, dental checkups can be used to detect and treat misaligned teeth or congenital diseases. In addition, due to the head shape and bone structure of some breeds of cats, it is easier for food residue and saliva to accumulate in certain parts of the teeth, which can lead to periodontal diseases over the years. In order to prevent your beloved master from suffering from inflammation and pain in the gums, your slave must get him used to brushing his teeth from a young age and bring him to the veterinary hospital for regular oral examinations, so that he will not develop a serious periodontal disease, which will bring a burden to the body.
2 Keys to Your Cat’s Dental Care｜Tips and Precautions for Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth
Next, we will tell you the 2 keys to brushing your cat’s teeth, and help you learn the tips and precautions for brushing your cat’s teeth, so that you can do a good job of your cat’s daily oral care together!
Brushing your cat’s teeth Key 1: Minimize stress
If your cat is reluctant to brush her teeth at first, we recommend that you adjust the following four aspects to minimize the pressure of brushing and help your cat develop the habit of brushing.
– Environment: Choose a quiet environment with soft lighting. For example, a small corner in your home is a good place to approach your cat. The wall allows your cat to lean on it and we don’t have to tie it up.
– Adaptation: The habit of brushing teeth should be established at a young age. If you start practicing at a young age, most cats can gradually get used to brushing their teeth, and it is recommended that you start to cultivate the habit of brushing teeth at 8 to 12 weeks of age, when the permanent teeth have not yet grown out.
– Mentality: Unlike dogs, cats tend to be more independent and do not like to be touched, so cat owners should remind themselves that “a little progress every day is more important than a perfect brushing”. Start as soon as possible, but don’t rush it, and keep at it.
Brushing your cat’s teeth Key 2: Establishing a Positive Connection
Make brushing and cleaning part of your cat’s play and life by following the “3 Dos and 1 Don’t” rule.
🐱1. “To” follow your cat’s habits: Start by massaging around the mouth, rubbing from the front to the back (this action mimics the natural behavior of cats), just like when a cat rubs its face against people or objects to try to leave saliva behind.
After stroking and rubbing the chin and cheeks to make the cat feel comfortable and relaxed, slowly touch the mouth and try to open the cat’s lips. If the cat refuses, return to rubbing the chin and cheeks to soothe the owner. Remember to do this in a gradual and unhurried manner to prevent fear and disgust from developing the first time you brush your cat’s teeth. After you get used to turning your cat’s lips, you can then move on to touching the incisors and even the teeth deeper in the mouth.
🐱 2. “To” build up the habit step by step: Before each brushing, rub your face, rub your ears, and put your hand between your lips and teeth to simulate the brushing action before you start using the toothbrush, so your cat will be more receptive to the feeling of brushing her teeth. In addition, using your fingers to press on your kitten’s gums can also help your cat get used to brushing her teeth.
🐱 3. “To” make tooth brushing associated with favorite things (positive encouragement): Every time you brush your cat’s teeth, or when your cat makes small progress, remember to give appropriate rewards, such as head rubs, chin rubs, stroking ears, cheeks, and body, or small snacks as an incentive for brushing, so that your cat will have a good impression of brushing her teeth. In addition, using different flavors of toothpaste for dogs and cats can be a great way to refresh your cat’s brushing experience.
So, when can you reward your cat for brushing? Don’t be too hard on your cat, but focus on progress and making your cat love brushing. Whether your cat achieves the action intentionally or unintentionally, you can provide positive encouragement! Here are some moments when you can reward your cat:
Turning your cat’s lips over with your finger.
Your finger touches the incisors and back teeth.
Your cat approaches the toothbrush
The toothbrush lightly touches your cat’s cheek or lip.
The toothbrush gently touches the cat’s teeth.
The toothbrush brushes the cat’s teeth twice
As long as you take your time and don’t force your cat to do anything, you’ll probably see improvement as you practice brushing your cat’s teeth more often, and your cat will no longer resist brushing her teeth. At this point, you can also reward your cat with a few more brushes, gradually raising the threshold of reward, and eventually reaching the point where you can reward your cat for brushing its teeth.
🐱 4. “Don’t” turn brushing into a nightmare: Keeping your cat’s own boundaries is the only way to prevent your cat from associating brushing with negative experiences. Therefore, when practicing brushing, if your cat shows signs of instability, such as pushing away or dodging, it is recommended that you pause and take a break before continuing.
Points to note when choosing toothbrushes｜How to choose toothpaste and toothbrushes for cats and kittens?
In addition to learning the correct way to brush your cat’s teeth, it’s also important to choose the right brushing tools. Here’s what you need to know about choosing brushing tools, and what veterinary dental authorities have to say.
Before choosing a brushing kit for your cat, recognize the VOHC certification.
VOHC stands for Veterinary Oral Health Council and was established by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) to objectively review veterinary dental products on the market and certify those that can effectively control plaque and tartar. A Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) was established by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) to objectively review veterinary dental products on the market and certify them as effective in controlling plaque and calculus.
How do I choose a toothbrush for my cat? Choose the right size and replace it regularly
Toothbrushes are the most important tool for cats when brushing their teeth. Cats and dogs should choose the right size of toothbrush according to their body type, and the dual-head toothbrushes, mini toothbrushes, and dual-action toothbrushes (with double-layer bristles) available on the market are all effective products that can be used according to the size and personality of the furry child in your home. In addition, you should remember to change your toothbrush regularly and avoid sharing toothbrushes between different animals to ensure effective cleaning and hygiene.
CET Dual Enzyme Toothpaste maintains your cat’s oral hygiene
Dr. Jan Bellowy published a textbook on feline dentistry in 2011, which mentions CET Dual Enzyme Toothpaste and mini toothbrushes for dogs and cats. CET Dual Enzyme Toothpaste can help control plaque and tartar, and it also has a cleansing effect even when applied alone. So if your cat owner is having a bad brushing day or is not used to a toothbrush, dabbing toothpaste on the side of the mouth is a great brushing exercise.
If you’re using regular cat toothpaste, it’s not recommended to cover uncleaned teeth. Instead, it will allow anaerobic bacteria to proliferate on the surface of the teeth, which not only fails to replace the cleaning effect of brushing, but also jeopardizes the health of your cat’s teeth. If you want to maintain your cat’s oral health, you need to brush your cat’s teeth diligently!
Recommendations for your cat’s teeth and oral health｜Vick’s Oral Care Solutions
Below are 3 recommended oral health care products for cats from Vickers, France, to help you maintain your cat’s oral health.
1.Yikouqing canine and feline drinking water cleaning liquid: for cats who are not used to brushing their teeth, the use of cleaning liquid is a good way to maintain good oral health, Yikouqing canine and feline drinking water cleaning liquid using a unique formula of refreshing technology, can be used to solve the problem of bad breath from the digestive tract, eliminating the bad taste of the oral cavity, drinking water can achieve the effect of freshening the breath.
2.Pet-specific soft dual-action toothbrush: Japanese dental veterinarians recommend the pet-specific soft dual-action toothbrush, is the highest level of pet-specific toothbrushes on the market, gentle cleaning does not hurt the gums and the grip design ergonomic, so that the hair parents easily clean the cat’s teeth and mouth, guarding the oral health of cats.
3.C.E.T.® Dual Enzyme Toothpaste: Developed by a European dental veterinarian, C.E.T.® Dual Enzyme Toothpaste not only reduces the rate of plaque and tartar formation, but also has a high palatability that makes it easy to use without having to rinse after brushing. In addition, if your cat is not accustomed to brushing, it can be simply applied to achieve the cleaning effect.
How often do cats need to brush their teeth? Top 3 Cat Brushing FAQs
Here are the answers to the most common cat brushing questions!
🐱 Cat Brushing Question 1: What are the effects of not brushing my cat’s teeth?
Food and saliva accumulate around the gums for a long period of time, which can harbor bacteria and cause inflammation, redness and swelling of the gums, or even bleeding of the gums, affecting their appetite and mood. If they do not receive proper professional treatment in time, it will lead to periodontal disease, calculus and eventually tooth loss.
In addition, when oral bacteria continue to grow, they will also burden the cat’s body when it swallows food, and if there are wounds in the mouth, the bacteria will travel with the blood circulation to all parts of the body, posing a threat to the organs and health of the cat’s entire body.
🐱 Brushing your cat’s teeth Question 2: When is the best time to clean your cat’s teeth?
It is recommended to brush your cat’s teeth with a cat-specific toothpaste after she has eaten her meal, making sure she will not eat or drink for half an hour, so that the enzymes in the toothpaste can effectively break down plaque.
🐱 Cat Brushing Question 3: How often should I brush my cat’s teeth?
Plaque builds up on your cat’s teeth whenever she eats, so the more often you brush your cat’s teeth, the better you can keep your mouth clean and prevent periodontal disease. It is generally recommended that you brush your cat’s teeth at least 3 times a week, i.e., every 2-3 days. However, if your cat is a wet-food eater, and often eats canned food and pureed meat, plaque is more likely to build up on her teeth, and bacteria will grow there, so it is recommended that you brush your cat’s teeth diligently every day!