All About Your Cat`s Dental Health; Brush Those Teeth!

Many cat owners don`t even think about their cat`s teeth and therefore many cats are suffering from severe dental disease. The owner`s attention gets drawn to the cat`s mouth only after their breath gets very bad and their mouth becomes extremely sore.

Though cats can have a variety of dental problems, one of the most common is called a FORL lesion or Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesion. These are like cavities that humans can suffer from but are formed a little differently. It can happen to any tooth but most commonly affected teeth are the lower premolars.

Another common condition is Gingivitis, which means an inflammation of the gums where they meet the teeth. It can however, be a reaction to a bacterial infection or also as a result of a viral infection like Feline calicivirus.

Some cats are more prone to dental disease than others, like the Brachycephalic or short-nosed breeds such as the Persian. Older cats will have more problems than younger cats because of tartar build up. Outdoor cats tend to have less problems with their teeth as hunting and chewing up bones helps clean their teeth. 

It also depends on the cat`s diet as cats that get a dry food or biscuit treat have less dental issues than a cat that eats only canned food because the hard, crunchy food helps clean their teeth.

You still should brush your cat`s teeth and you can find toothbrushes like the finger brushes and pet toothpaste at the pet store. Try to get the paste between the bristles instead of on top of them for better cleaning.

Most kitties will accept a brush if you are gentle as the pastes are meaty flavored. Even older cats can get used to a brushing. Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and move in an oval pattern. Try for ten short back & forth motions in one spot, then move to another area. It will get better as time goes on.