A guide to cat dental care: Tips for healthy teeth and gums

With tooth and gum problems present in 80% of cats over the age of 3, implementing a good oral health routine early on is important for your furry friends’ overall health and quality of life.

Advanced dental disease isn’t just about stinky breath, it can be downright painful and even impact vital organs. Keeping those chompers clean isn’t just for show, it's the key to a happier, healthier cat who will meow for years to come. Additionally, untreated dental issues such as gingivitis and periodontal disease will cause what is commonly known as ‘stinky cat breath’!

Read on for our professional tips on keeping your cat’s pearly whites looking and feeling their best.

Why is cat dental care important?

In the wild, the natural feline diet (which includes the bones of small prey) would help to keep your cat’s teeth clean. However, with domestic cats usually eating dry biscuits and/or tinned food, there is less of a mechanical brushing effect on their teeth, allowing plaque (a clear, sticky bacteria-containing biofilm) to accumulate. If plaque is left to build up unchecked on your cat’s teeth, they will start to develop dental disease.

As dental disease becomes more advanced, pets experience pain, infections and the loss of teeth, and bacteria from their mouth can also enter their bloodstream and affect the health of organs such as the kidneys and heart.

That’s why regular dental care is a must for your feline friend! Keeping plaque in check helps slow down dental disease, meaning fewer veterinary visits and more time for your cat to do what they do best – rule the house with a perfectly healthy, whisker-approved smile.

Common dental problems in cats

Although the formation of plaque is natural, an excessive build-up of plaque below the gumline can potentially trigger the progression of dental disease in your cat.

At first, dental trouble starts small. Tartar (hardened plaque) begins to stick to the teeth, and gingivitis makes their gums red and inflamed. You might spot yellow-brown crusts on your furry mate’s teeth and irritated gums. The good news? Catch it early, and a professional vet dental clean can turn things around, leaving your pet with a fresher, healthier smile.

Watch out! If early dental disease isn’t kept in check, it can sneak its way into more serious issues like periodontal disease – meaning more discomfort for your pet and bigger vet bills for you. A little care now keeps those pearly whites (and tails) happy! Periodontal disease involves inflammation, infection and permanent damage of the gums, teeth and surrounding jawbone. Affected cats will show red, swollen gums (which will start gradually receding to expose tooth roots), and will often have very smelly breath.

Eventually, pets will suffer a significant loss of the supportive jawbone around affected teeth, which leads to the loosening of teeth and eventual tooth loss (which may also be associated with pus-filled pockets around the roots of some teeth – painful for your four-legged friend!). At this point, cats will often show discomfort for any handling around their mouth and may have foul-smelling saliva that is cloudy or blood tinged. Cats will usually continue eating despite their dental issues (as their alternative is to starve!) but may show pickiness or difficulty chewing harder food types.

How to check the health of your cat’s mouth

Although your cat may not appreciate the experience, it’s a good idea to monitor their oral health by checking their mouth once every couple of weeks or anytime they show discomfort – keep a look out for abnormal chewing or pawing at their mouth. Ask your vet for help if you need someone to do it for you.

Start by smelling your cat’s breath. Although it might not smell minty fresh (especially after meals!), it shouldn’t smell bad.

Next, try to gently feel around your cat’s cheeks and jaws with your fingertips, so you can check for any asymmetric swellings or discomfort. Cats with comfortable mouths will usually enjoy this if you include a few pleasant cheek scratches too!

Then, try to gently part your cat’s lips on each side, so that you can visualise their teeth and gums. Teeth should appear clean and white, with no brown discolouration or red spots (which could indicate resorptive lesions). Their gums should appear smooth and be a uniform salmon pink colour, with no redness along the gumline to indicate inflammation.

And lastly (provided your cat is cooperative), try to gently open their mouth to check that there are no visible lumps or sores on their tongue or near the back of their throat. If you notice any of the symptoms of dental disease, it’s recommended to have your cat assessed by your vet.

How to keep your cat’s teeth clean

The most effective way to keep your cat’s mouth clean and healthy is with once or twice daily brushing . This creates a gentle ‘mechanical abrasion’ effect to disrupt and remove the sticky plaque biofilm that will progress to dental disease if left unchecked.

Kittens and friendly adult cats with comfortable mouths can be gradually trained to tolerate teeth-brushing with the use of treats (small flakes of springwater tuna, cooked chicken breast, or ‘lickable’ treat pouches) and appropriate equipment.

The best way to get your cat on board with brushing is to start slowly. Begin with a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger, and once they’re comfortable, you can upgrade to a soft finger brush or even a toddler toothbrush. Patience (and maybe a few treats) will go a long way!

Tilt your cat’s chin upwards to encourage their mouth to relax, and then use one hand to gently part their lips whilst the other hand brushes. Keep sessions short and reward your cat frequently for their good behaviour! You can use water or a pet-safe fluoride-free toothpaste (as human toothpaste can be toxic to your pet, so should never be used).

If your feline friend has an existing dental disease, they will naturally resist brushing due to discomfort. In this case, it’s best to consult your vet on how to settle their current issues first and foremost.

Other ways to keep your cat’s teeth in top shape include:

• Prescription dental dry cat foods
• Chewy cat dental treats
• Vet-approved food and water additives, such as seaweed extract
• Dental hygiene mouth sprays, wipes or gels

To help select the most effective dental hygiene products, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), Seal of Acceptance on the package. You can also get more personalised recommendations on what will be best for your pet from your vet.

Professional dental cleanings: What to expect

Just like us, our feline friends usually need some professional help every now and again in the form of veterinary teeth cleaning and assessments.

At the start of a dental procedure, your vet will do a thorough assessment of your cat's oral health, recording everything on a dental chart. This check-up may also include dental x-rays to get a sneak peek at those hidden tooth roots and jawbones – key players in your cat’s overall oral health.

If your furry friend needs it, a dental clean (aka scale and polish) will be done, along with any other necessary treatments, like the removal of damaged teeth that just can’t be saved. It’s all about keeping that purrfect smile in tip-top shape!

It’s important to note that feline dental procedures are performed under general anaesthesia. This helps to minimise your cat’s stress and discomfort, and allows your vet to check and clean properly above and below the gumline where plaque can hide.

Simple steps for maintaining your cat’s oral health

The best way to maintain your cat’s oral health is by performing regular dental hygiene routines at home (with brushing and other dental aids), combined with 6-12 monthly assessments by your veterinarian and professional cleans when recommended.

With proactive dental care, you can prevent the progression of dental disease in your cat, and therefore minimise the amount of intensive dental treatments (such as extractions) they require in the long run. This not only helps to ensure your feline companion’s optimal comfort and health, but also works out better for your wallet too!