How To Brush Your Cat's Teeth?
''I don't need to brush my kitty's teeth daily because I have been bringing her to the vet every year". Is this statement a myth or fact? This statement is a myth. Ideally, your cat should go for a professional veterinary dental cleaning once a year and have her teeth cleaned daily.
Just as you and I need to brush our teeth at least twice daily, cats too, need to have their teeth brushed every day to get rid of tartar that can accumulate daily. This dental guideline applies to all cats regardless of age, size and lifestyle.
Now that we are all on the same page in understanding the sheer importance of brushing our cats’ teeth, let’s get to the crux of the matter. How exactly do we brush our cats’ teeth? How can we make this challenging dental procedure — which many kitties find unnatural and intrusive at first — more enjoyable for both hoomans and kitties? Let’s find out.
General golden rules to cat dental training
(1) Use positive reinforcement to reward your kitty directly after each dental training/ brushing session. Some rewards include treats, verbal praise, pets, etc. This reward system motivates your kitty to cooperate with you, so, over time, brushing your kitty’s teeth will become easier and more hassle-free.
(2) Although some kitties may become aggressive or/and anxious during the dental training, you should always remain calm and treat them with loving kindness. Never scold your cat if she doesn’t cooperate because you want her to grow to like (or at least tolerate) having her teeth brushed.
A simple step-by-step guide to introducing your kitty to tooth brushing
1. Make your kitty comfortable with you touching her face and mouth
As teeth brushing can potentially be a distressing experience for many kitties, it’s best to start slow. Kickstart the process with baby steps to help your furbaby get used to you touching her face and mouth.
You can do so by dipping a cotton swab into water drained from a can of tuna fish. Although the tuna water has no pro-dental benefits, most kitties adore its flavour.
Gently rub the applicator tip along the area where the gum tissue touches the tooth surface. Start with rubbing along only a few teeth, then increase the duration of the training gradually until your kitty is used to it.
2. Start by using a cat finger brush
After your kitty is comfortable with you touching her face and mouth, purchase a tube of pet toothpaste and pet finger brush (designed to fit over the tip of your finger). Warning: never use human dental products on your kitty, even in small amounts, as they could harm your kitty. For example, human toothpaste can cause gastric irritation in cats.
Not sure which brand of cat toothpaste to choose? We highly recommend Bio PetActive Biodent Enzymatic Toothpaste. Rest assured, the vet-formulated, non foaming toothpaste is safe to swallow, which is especially important since cats can’t spit and rinse. It leverages the power of Glucose Oxidase enzyme to help kill bacteria responsible for tartar formation, providing anti-plaque protection, alleviating bad breath and strengthening the gums. It helps kitties to look and feel pawsome.
Finger brushes are the ideal beginner toothbrush to help pets get familiarised with the tooth brushing experience, as they may be easier to use than a traditional bristle toothbrush with finicky cats.
Begin by applying some toothpaste to the finger brush. Put the palm of your hand on top of your cat’s head. Tilt your cat’s head upwards a little and use your thumb to gently pull up your cat’s upper lips or pull down your cat’s lower lips. Continue to maintain a firm but gentle grip throughout the brushing process.
Start brushing from the back teeth moving in small circular motions for approximately 10 seconds on each side but gradually increase the time to 30-45 seconds on each side. Continue until you've cleaned all her teeth.
Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly before putting it away.
Recommended products:
- Bio PetActive Biodent Enzymatic Toothpaste for Cats 100ml
- Everydent Soft Finger Brush
3. When your pet is ready, you may want to progress to a traditional bristle toothbrush
Buy a soft-bristle toothbrush specially designed for cats, as some researchers found out that traditional toothbrushes can remove plaque buildup more effectively than finger brushes. Repeat the procedures in step 2 but use a traditional bristle toothbrush instead.
Recommended product:
- CattyMan Gentle Toothbrush
Start taking care of your cat’s teeth today
Although brushing your cat's teeth is the most effective way to prevent dental diseases, other dental products can provide supplementary dental care.
For example, water additives can be added to fresh drinking water to help your kitty attain cleaner teeth the easy way. Bio PetActive Biodent Hexidine Oral & Dental Care For Cats is a superb water additive to consider because it’s tasteless, odourless and non-toxic, so you don’t need to worry about your kitty rejecting it. Its antiseptic properties contribute to the reduction in tartar buildup on the teeth and prevention of bad breath, helping you to optimise your furbaby’s oral wellbeing conveniently.
In addition, providing dental treats is an excellent strategy to optimise your kitty’s oral hygiene. A meow-tastic choice is the Brit Care Functional Snack for Dental. The soft, semi-moist snacks contain vitamin C which lowers plaque formation and stimulates the production of collagen, which promotes gum healing.
Recommended products:
- Bio PetActive Biodent Oral & Dental Care Water Additive For Cats 50ml
- Brit Care Functional Snack For Dental 50g
Read this article to learn more about some brilliant dental products that can help kitties to attain a dazzling smile.
Invest in your beloved furbaby’s oral wellbeing today to cut down on hefty vet dental bills in the long run.