A Stress Free Guide to Cleaning Your Cats Teeth

For many owners, brushing their cats’ teeth is a laughable concept. After all, cats are not known for enjoying having items poked into their mouth. However, dental care is critical for our felines’ health.

Research from the Royal Veterinary College has found that 1.8 million cats are affected by periodontal disease annually, with many others remaining undiagnosed.

Supporting your cat’s dental health doesn’t have to feel daunting, here is our easy guide to cleaning your cat’s teeth.

How to Brush Your Cats Teeth

The key to easier teeth cleaning is to ensure your cat is desensitised to the process. Sticking a toothbrush into your tabby's mouth with no forewarning is likely to result in an unhappy cat.

Step 1

• First get your cat used to having their mouth touched. The easiest way to begin this process is when your cat is relaxed, and you are stroking them.
• While stroking your cat, move your hands and stroke up their cheeks, lightly lifting them. Do this every day to desensitise your cat to the feeling of their cheeks being lifted.
• Once your cat is used to this sensation, introduce your fingers and rub gently over their teeth at the same time as stroking. Continue doing this, alternating teeth until your cat seems fully comfortable with the action.

Step 2- Introduce Pet Safe Toothpaste

• Following the same guidelines as before, wash your hands and apply a small amount of toothpaste to the tip of your finger.

• Put your finger gently into your cat’s mouth and allow it to slide over the teeth and gums. It’s important to stop if your cat seems uncomfortable or starts to react negatively. Try again tomorrow, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Step 3 – Introducing the toothbrush

Once your cat is fully comfortable with the taste and sensation of toothpaste and your fingers, it is time to introduce the toothbrush!

• Wet the toothbrush with water and add some toothpaste then push it down into the bristles.
• Lift the top lip on one side of the mouth whilst holding your cat’s head and gently brush the canine teeth (the longest fang teeth).
• Do the same on the opposite canine tooth. At this point avoid touching the incisor teeth between the canines as these are very sensitive.
• Praise and reward your cat with some tasty natural treats. This helps cement the act as a positive experience- once your cat is used to the teeth-cleaning process you won’t have to continue offering treats, only praise.

Step 4 – Brushing the teeth further back

• To get to the molar teeth you will need to slip the brush past the corner of the lips inside the cheeks.

• Brush the upper teeth first and then allow the mouth to open slightly to be able to brush just along the gum line of the lower teeth.

• Increase the brushing gradually and stop if your cat starts reacting more than a little bit.

Step 5 – Brushing all the teeth

• Brush the canine and back teeth on both sides (as before).
• Now lift the top lip at the front of the mouth (still holding your cats head steady) and brush the incisors.
• You are now brushing the outside of all their teeth. You may want to brush for a little longer to do a more thorough cleaning.

For the best results brushing should be at least once a day. Remember even when you are feeling frustrated, be patient with the above process, it may take a few weeks for your kitty to feel comfortable with the strange sensations.

Signs of Cat Dental Disease

Regular vet check-ups are important to assess your cat’s teeth and their overall health. However, being able to spot problems with your cat early on is important for reducing the chance of an issue disease developing.

Here are some signs of dental disease to watch out for:

1. Inflamed red or bleeding gums
2. Wobbly teeth or missing teeth
3. Bad Breath
4. Excessive Drooling
5. Loss of appetite or change in eating habit
6. Pawing at face
7. Visible tartar build-up on teeth (brown or grey coating)
8. Receding Gum Line

If you are spotting these symptoms, it is important to book a check-up with your vet ASAP.

How Else Can I Support Cats Teeth?

Alongside brushing there is much you can change or introduce to your cats lifestyle to support their dental health.

Give Your Cat Chews!

Cats need to chew just as much as dogs, so invest in some high-quality safe chews.

Chewing on appropriate items will help loosen and remove plaque from the teeth and of course, indulge your cat’s natural need to chomp!

Watch our Guide to Cat Chewing.

Use A Specialist Dental Diet

Your feline friends’ daily dinner can provide wonderful dental support.

Use a specialised dental diet to help clean teeth and freshen breath.

Explore our Trusted Dental Foods

Use Supplements

Supplements can be incredibly powerful and important for reducing the risk of dental disease.

Dental Deep is a natural long-lasting supplement powder designed to support all aspects of your cat’s mouth. From freshening breath to promoting healthy teeth, gums and bones.

I wish you (and your cat) luck on your teeth-cleaning journey!