Veterinarian looking at cat mouth for dental issues.

Cats are loved companions who bring joy to our lives. However, many pet owners don’t recognize the importance of maintaining their cat’s oral health. Just like humans, cats need their teeth brushed and should undergo professional exams and cleanings. Neglecting dental care can lead to serious health issues, so it’s crucial to understand what is involved in cat dental care. Here at Vintage Heights Veterinary Hospital in Lincoln, NE, we value providing the highest quality service to pet owners. In this article, we’ll discuss what cat dental care entails, how it impacts the overall health and well-being of cats, and how to care for your cat’s teeth at home between appointments. We will also explore the signs and symptoms of dental issues, how veterinarians diagnose dental problems in cats, and what conditions may arise from inadequate cat dental care.

Dr. Jim, why is dental care important for my cat?

It's important for your cat just like it's important for us. The teeth are used for chewing, and if they get disease, they can cause pain and discomfort. If teeth are allowed to rot or decay to a certain point, then they can start to affect other parts of the body like the kidneys and the heart valves, and things like that. So again, it's important for us—we brush our teeth every day, or most of us do. With cats, that can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but they develop tartar, gingivitis, and other anomalies, so they require dental care, too.

Dr. James Himmelberg

How often should I brush my cat's teeth?

Well, if you can do your cat's teeth—and I will be honest, my cat is not a fan of it—but if you can, I encourage it at least once a week. Generally, what we try to tell people is there are six arcades: the top and the bottom on each side, and then the front, too. We try and have you brush those sections for about 10 seconds each, and you move around, and then it takes you roughly about a minute to do the whole mouth. You don't do the flat surfaces, and you don't do the inside surfaces. You don't want to get bit, and your cat won't like it if you do.

What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should I use for my cat?

There are feline toothpastes available, and those are probably more palatable. You can also buy feline toothbrushes, but you can also buy a soft-bristle pediatric brush and that will do just as well. Sometimes, some of the commercial feline brushes I found are a little bit soft for what we need, but you don't want something that's medium or hard like for us—that's just too much. Your cat's mouth is delicate, and you have to treat it as such.

What are the signs of dental problems in cats?

Sometimes, there are none. Other times, there are symptoms of bad breath and drooling. Sometimes, you might see that your cat is reluctant to chew on one side and might drop hard food. Other times, sometimes owners will come in and they're not aware that there were any issues, and we'll show them that the gums are red or angry, and they're like, "Wow, I didn't even—I never noticed that."

What are the common dental diseases in cats?

Probably gingivitis, periodontitis—which is a loosening or a decay of the periodontal ligament, that's like little strands of fiber that hold the tooth into the gum. And then cats have a tendency to get what we call odontoblastic resorptive lesions, which we call cavities. It's not because your cat's eating a Snickers bar; it's just a genetic and immune-mediated issue, and so they tend to sometimes lose the crowns on the top of their teeth because of the cavities that develop.

How often should I have my cat's teeth professionally cleaned?

It kind of varies from cat to cat. Some cats will develop things that need care every six months, and some cats may need dental cleaning once every three years. So, it varies depending on the bacteria in the mouth, the saliva composition, what they eat, and how much they chew. There's not a hard and fast rule, but it kind of gives you a guide somewhere between every six months to every three years.

Can my cat's diet affect their dental health?

Absolutely. Obviously, if you're feeding something that's of lesser quality, you certainly can have more buildup. Sometimes canned foods, for some cats, can cause more buildup—that's not always the case. The harder foods tend to have a little bit more of a scraping ability, but again, sometimes it comes down to genetics and the composition of the saliva and the bacteria that are present. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with what you're feeding whatsoever.

What should I expect during a professional dental cleaning for my cat?

Well, your cat's going to be anesthetized—they don't like to stay still—so they will be here for a few hours. If they're old enough, they're going to have some blood work, an IV catheter placed, some IV fluids on, connected to monitors, and we're going to scale the teeth, which means removing the tartar. That's the stuff that you can see visually, sometimes it's kind of a gray-brown color. Then we'll polish those teeth because when we clean them, we make little imperfections that we want to smooth out. Of course, during that procedure, we're going to look for issues like cavities or decay, and a lot of times we end up putting fluoride on just like for us—it will strengthen the enamel and slow down periodontitis and cavity development.

How are cavities then treated?

Unfortunately, for most cats, it generally means extraction of the tooth. In earlier times, we would try and fill those, but unfortunately, those fillings just don't hold up and we found that the decay would continue despite what we had done. So generally, if we find a cavity, it's just best to remove it and let things heal, and we're good.

Good oral health is essential for cats to live long, happy lives. Pet owners should be aware of the signs and symptoms of dental issues in cats, know how to properly care for their cat’s teeth at home, and schedule regular checkups. Poor dental care can lead to serious health problems, so it’s important to have a good understanding of what is involved in cat dental care. At Vintage Heights Veterinary Hospital, we understand the importance of providing the highest quality and best service to pet owners. We offer comprehensive services tailored to each cat's needs and emphasize prevention as the key to minimizing serious dental issues. Give us a call at (402) 489-0501 today to set up an appointment for your feline friend!

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