Cat Dental Care

Tartar Buildup

Cats, like humans, have tartar buildup on their teeth called plaque. An accumulation of plaque can lead to periodontal (gum) problems, and the eventual loss of teeth. Plaque is a whitish-yellow deposit. Cats seem to accumulate plaque primarily on the exterior face of their upper teeth. Reddened gum lines can indicate irritation from plaque.

Some cats are more prone to plaque buildup than others. Some never need dental care, while others need to have their teeth cleaned at regular intervals. Many vets encourage you to bring your cat in annually for teeth cleaning, using a general anesthetic. The cost, which can be considerable, and the risk of the anesthesia itself are both good incentives for doing some cat dental care at home.

If you must have the vet clean your cat’s teeth, see if your vet is willing to try a mild sedative (rather than putting the cat under entirely) first when cleaning the teeth. If your cat is an older cat (5 years or more) and it must be put under, see if the vet will use a gas anesthesia rather than an injected form.

What You Can Do

Brush your cat’s teeth once a week. Use little cat toothbrushes, or soft child-size toothbrushes, and edible cat toothpaste (available at most vets or pet stores). Cats often hate to have their teeth brushed, so you may have to use a bath towel to help hold them and a helper. If you are skilled and have a compliant cat, you can clean its teeth using the same type of tool the human dentist does.

Rootwork

Cavities in cat teeth often occur just at or under the gum line. If your cat has an infected tooth, you will have to have root work done on it. It is typical to do x-rays after such a procedure to ensure that all of the roots have reabsorbed. If the roots haven’t done so, then the infection can easily continue on up to the sinus and nasal passages and from there to the lungs. Such infections require long-term antibiotics.

Smelly Breathe

If your cat has smelly breath, there are various possible causes.

Teething

At about 6 months of age, cats will lose their baby teeth and get permanent ones. If the gums are red and puffy and you can see the points of teeth breaking through here and there, the cat is just teething and the odor will subside as the teeth come in.

Gingivitis

If the gums appear red and puffy and you’ve ruled teething out, your cat may have a gum infection of some sort. Take the cat to the vet.

Diet

Certain foods, usually canned foods or prescription foods, can make your cat’s breath smell. If possible, try changing your cat’s diet.

Abscessed tooth

Your cat may show no symptoms other than smelly breath. Drooling sometimes occurs in conjunction. The cat must be taken to the vet to have the abscess drained and possibly the teeth involved removed. If this is not done, the infection can easily spread to the sinuses and cause the face to swell, especially just under the eyes.

Source: Dental Care for Cats, Pet Care Tips