Brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging, as many cat parents face resistance when their feline friends see a toothbrush. How can we help our cats get used to brushing their teeth? Many cats are prone to dental issues, and if their teeth are not properly cleaned, it can lead to swollen gums, tartar buildup, and periodontal disease. In more severe cases, it may even result in tooth loss. Often, it’s difficult for us to notice dental health problems in cats, but maintaining their dental hygiene is not difficult. By getting cats accustomed to brushing from a young age, we can regularly check their teeth and ensure their overall health. If your cat is already an adult, do not worry. This article will introduce a complete step-by-step guide for stress-free cat brushing, allowing adult cats to gradually get used to the process. In this article, we will inform cat parents about why cats need to brush their teeth, how often they should do it, what tools are needed for brushing, how to practice before brushing to help cats adapt, and the complete 6-step stress-free cat brushing method. In addition to learning stress-reducing brushing methods, it is also crucial to choose tools that do not harm the cat’s teeth and oral cavity. Learn more below. Why do cats need to brush their teeth? Cats need to brush their teeth how often? How to choose cat brushing tools? Why can’t cats use human toothbrushes and toothpaste? Can baking soda replace pet toothpaste? Practice brushing before formal brushing: brushing practice time and frequency, step-by-step brushing practice tutorial, and the formal 6-step brushing method. According to research, over 50% of cats over the age of three suffer from periodontal disease. Plaque that is not removed and thickens, then calcifies, turns into tartar and accumulates at the junction of the teeth and gums. Long-term accumulation can cause gum inflammation, leading to destructive periodontal disease, infecting the gums and surrounding tissues, causing chronic gum inflammation, and resulting in periodontal disease. Severe periodontal disease not only causes severe pain and discomfort for cats, but it can also lead to tooth loss. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it can lead to mouth ulcers, oral inflammation, and cats may refuse to eat due to the pain in their mouths. If cats do not brush their teeth, they are prone to oral inflammation, which is extremely painful and inflamed in their mouths, making it easy for bacteria to breed. Additionally, bacteria can follow the blood vessels in the gums and circulate throughout the body, causing serious diseases such as heart-related infections and sepsis. Oral inflammation in cats makes eating difficult, and the severe pain can be unbearable. What is cat oral inflammation? Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) causes chronic inflammation of the gums or oral mucosa, either locally or extensively. Due to the severe pain in the mouth, cats may make strange noises while eating, stop eating, refuse to eat, or suddenly scratch their faces. If left untreated, in addition to the risk of blood infection, it may worsen into osteomyelitis, and the only treatment may be to extract all the teeth. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate the habit of brushing teeth from a young age. If you have not been brushing your cat’s teeth before, cat parents must first understand the importance of brushing! Ideally, cat parents are advised to brush their cat’s teeth once a day and have them professionally cleaned by a veterinarian once a year.
If your cat has never had its teeth brushed before, or if it already has symptoms of gingivitis or stomatitis, it is recommended that cat parents take their cat to a veterinarian for a full-mouth dental cleaning and oral hygiene care, as well as any necessary treatments. Cats need daily dental care to prevent the calcification and accumulation of plaque. Although it is important to get your cat accustomed to the process of brushing its teeth, it is highly beneficial for their dental health. If it is difficult to brush your cat’s teeth every day, it is suggested that cat parents should brush their cat’s teeth at least three times a week and have a regular dental check-up every six months. Regularly performing routine checks while petting your cat is a crucial tip for preventing feline dermatophytosis! How to choose cat brushing tools? Before brushing your cat’s teeth, it is essential to prepare the right tools. Never use an adult toothbrush directly, as it can cause injury to your cat. Here are the brush tools that cat parents can choose from: Pet-specific toothbrushes: Available at pet specialty stores; inquiries can be made directly. Infant toothbrushes: They are better if they feel very soft when touched. Sponge toothbrushes: Toothbrushes that use sponges instead of bristles. Finger toothbrushes: Toothbrushes that can be worn on the finger. If your cat dislikes brushes, we can use cotton balls, cotton cloth, or gauze pads as alternatives. And please use pet toothpaste, never use human toothpaste. Look further down to see how we can address the challenge of cats not drinking enough water and the common knowledge about how much water cats need to intake for their health! Why can’t cats use human toothbrushes and toothpaste? Cats can use infant toothbrushes because these brushes are relatively small and have soft bristles, but if possible, using pet-specific toothbrushes would be the best choice. Human toothpaste should not be used because it contains xylitol, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort or digestive disorders for cats and dogs. Extended reading: What should pet owners avoid feeding their pets? The calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid found in human toothpaste can also make pets sick. Can baking soda replace pet toothpaste? No. Because baking soda has a high alkaline content, if cats accidentally ingest it, it can disrupt the acid balance in the stomach and digestive tract, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort. More on high-quality intestinal probiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort. Moreover, the taste of baking soda is very unpleasant for cats, which may cause them to be uncooperative during their first attempt at brushing. Practice before brushing your cat’s teeth: If you directly use a pet toothbrush with toothpaste and force it into your cat’s mouth, you will scare your cat and make it reject brushing in the future. Adapting to brushing requires gradual practice. Before that, cat parents can use cotton swabs, small treats (canned soup juice, catnip water, meat puree, etc.) to do some preliminary adaptation exercises for brushing. Brushing practice time and frequency: If possible, practice once every 1 to 2 days, for 1 to 2 minutes each time. Cat parents can first choose a quiet time and place, ensuring that the cat can comfortably lie on your lap and try to block any escape routes. Reminder from the pet owner: Brushing practice should still be gradual. If the cat clearly shows unhappiness, let it rest for a while, observe the situation daily before taking action. When practicing brushing with your cat, if it shows signs of unhappiness, you should not force the cat! Hand-by-hand brushing practice step-by-step tutorial: After securing the cat, we can start with a simple brushing practice: If possible, let the cat come to you on its own initiative, and then we can soak the cotton swab in meat juice water or squeeze a little meat puree on it.
Brushing a cat’s teeth can be challenging. Many cat owners face the issue of how to brush their cat’s teeth with the cat resisting the toothbrush. Cats are prone to dental issues, and if their teeth are not cleaned properly, it can lead to swollen gums, dental calculus, and periodontal disease. In severe cases, it may even cause teeth to loosen and fall out. It is often difficult for us to detect dental health problems in cats, but dental care for cats is not difficult. By getting cats accustomed to brushing from a young age, we can regularly check their teeth and perform dental care. If your cat is already an adult, do not worry. This article by the pet care expert will introduce a complete step-by-step stress-free brushing method for cats, allowing adult cats to gradually get used to brushing without stress. In this article, we will inform cat parents: why do cats need to brush their teeth? How often should cats brush their teeth? What tools are needed to brush a cat’s teeth? How should we practice before brushing to help the cat adapt to brushing? The 6 complete steps of the stress-free cat brushing method! In addition to learning the stress-reducing cat brushing method, it is also important to choose tools that do not harm the cat’s teeth and oral cavity. Learn more below～OPEN article table of contentsWhy do cats need to brush their teeth?How often should cats brush their teeth?How to select cat brushing tools?Why can’t cats use human toothbrushes and toothpaste?Can baking soda replace pet toothpaste?Pre-brushing practice for catsPractice timing and frequency of brushingStep-by-step tutorial on brushing practice for catsThe 6 complete steps of formal brushing for catsIn summary, why do cats need to brush their teeth? According to research, over 50% of cats over three years old suffer from periodontal disease. The thickened and calcified dental plaque that has not been removed for a long time becomes tartar, which accumulates at the junction of the teeth and gums. Long-term accumulation can lead to gum inflammation, thereby becoming destructive periodontal disease, infecting the gums and surrounding tissues, causing chronic gum inflammation and forming periodontal disease. Severe periodontal disease not only causes intense pain, making cats uncomfortable, but can also cause teeth to fall out. If periodontal disease is not treated, it can lead to oral ulcers, forming stomatitis, and cats may refuse to eat due to oral pain. If cats do not brush their teeth, they are prone to stomatitis, which is very painful and inflamed, prone to bacterial growth, and bacteria may also circulate throughout the body through the blood vessels in the gums, causing heart-related infections, sepsis, and other very serious diseases. Cats with stomatitis have difficulty eating, and the intense pain is hard for them to bear. What is cat stomatitis: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) causes chronic inflammation of the gums or the mucous membranes inside the cat’s mouth, either locally or extensively. Due to the intense pain in the mouth, cats may make strange noises while eating, eat intermittently, keep refusing to eat, or suddenly scratch their faces, etc. If left untreated, in addition to the risk of blood infection, it may worsen into osteomyelitis, and in the end, all teeth may have to be extracted for treatment. Therefore, the habit of brushing teeth should be cultivated from a young age. If there has been no brushing before, cat parents should first understand the importance of brushing now! How often should cats brush their teeth? Ideally, it is recommended that cat parents brush their cat’s teeth once a day and have a dental cleaning at the vet once a year.
If a cat has never had its teeth brushed before or already has symptoms of gingivitis or stomatitis, it is recommended that cat parents take the cat to the veterinarian for a full-mouth dental cleaning and dental care as well as related treatments. Cats need to have their teeth cleaned every day to prevent the calcification and accumulation of dental plaque. Although cats need to get used to the toothbrushing process, it is very beneficial for cat dental care. If it is a bit difficult to brush a cat’s teeth once a day, then it is recommended that cat parents brush their teeth at least three times a week and take the cat for a dental checkup every six months. Performing regular checks while petting the cat is an important tip for preventing ringworm in cats! How to choose cat toothbrushing tools? Before brushing a cat’s teeth, appropriate tools should be prepared first. Never use an adult toothbrush directly as it will hurt the cat. The cat keeper has sorted out the selectable brush tools for cat parents: Pet-specific toothbrush: Available at pet specialty stores. You can inquire on your own. Infant toothbrush: It would be better if the bristles are very soft when touched. Sponge toothbrush: A toothbrush with sponge instead of bristles. Finger toothbrush: A toothbrush that can be put on a finger. If a cat doesn’t like brushes, we can use cotton balls, cotton cloths, and gauze pads instead. And please use pet toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste. Scroll down quickly to see how we can solve the problem of cats not drinking water and learn about the health knowledge of how much water cats need to intake! Why can’t cats use human toothbrushes and toothpaste? Cats can use infant toothbrushes because these toothbrushes are relatively small and the bristles are soft. But if possible, it is best to use pet toothbrushes. As for not being able to use human toothpaste, it is because human toothpaste contains xylitol, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort or digestive disorders for both cats and dogs. Extended reading: What things can’t pets eat? Calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate contained in human toothpaste can also make pets sick. Can baking soda powder replace pet toothpaste? No. Because baking soda has a very high alkaline content. If a cat accidentally swallows it, it will disrupt the acid balance in the stomach and digestive tract, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort. More high-quality intestinal probiotics can reduce gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, the taste of baking soda is not pleasant for cats, which may cause cats not to cooperate when trying toothbrushing for the first time. Practice before brushing a cat’s teeth. If you directly put a pet toothbrush dipped in toothpaste into a cat’s mouth forcefully, it will scare the cat and make the cat reject toothbrushing from then on. Adapting to toothbrushing requires gradual practice. Before that, cat parents can use cotton swabs and small snacks (canned food juice, catnip mixed with water, meat puree, etc.) to do small adaptation practices for the cat before toothbrushing. Toothbrushing practice time and frequency. If possible, toothbrushing practice can be done every 1 to 2 days for 1 to 2 minutes each time. Cat parents can first choose a quiet time and place to ensure that the cat can lie comfortably on your lap and try to block the escape routes as much as possible. Reminder from the cat keeper: Toothbrushing practice still needs to be gradual. If the cat is obviously unhappy, let it rest for a while and observe the situation every day before taking action. When a cat is practicing toothbrushing and has an unhappy emotion, the cat should not be forced! Step-by-step teaching of toothbrushing practice. After fixing the cat, we can start a simple toothbrushing practice: If possible, let the cat come to you spontaneously. Then we soak a cotton swab in meat juice water or squeeze a little meat puree on it.
Treats can help cats develop a positive impression of the brushing experience. Gently touch your cat’s cheeks with your hand to help them relax slightly, and allow them to slowly eat some treats from a cotton swab. Next, fix your cat’s head, gently lift their lips (the cat’s mouth can be closed as long as it exposes the teeth), and practice brushing the teeth at a 45-degree angle. Gently wipe along the gum line with a cotton swab, without applying too much pressure, as this is usually where plaque accumulates, and then slowly extend to the surface of the teeth. Initially, you can practice wiping a few teeth, and if the cat does not resist, gradually wipe all the teeth. You can feed a little treat after wiping one or two teeth to encourage the cat. Once the cat is accustomed to having their teeth wiped with a cotton swab, we can start brushing the cat’s teeth properly! It is important to remind cat parents that if the cat shows resistance or anxiety during the process, do not force them too much. If the entire practice cannot be completed, you can take them to the vet for a dental cleaning and then consult the vet for a dental care strategy specific to your cat! After practicing brushing with a cotton swab to clean all the teeth, we can proceed to use a toothbrush with toothpaste. The steps are very similar to brushing practice, except we replace the cotton swab with a toothbrush and treats with toothpaste. Step 1: Interact with the cat as usual, or wait for the cat to approach you, and gently touch the area around the cheeks. Step 2: Apply some toothpaste to the toothbrush, allowing the cat to sniff or lick it off. Step 3: Gently pull back the lips, try to keep the cat’s head at a 45-degree angle, and attempt to brush a few teeth, preferably the large molars (the large teeth on both sides of the cheeks) and canines, as these are the teeth where plaque tends to accumulate most easily. Step 4: If the cat does not resist, you can gently brush a few teeth at a time, without brushing all at once, and take appropriate breaks in between. Step 5: It is sufficient to brush the surface and the roots of the teeth, as the cat’s tongue will naturally clean the inside of the teeth, so there is usually little plaque accumulation on the inside. Step 6: You may not be able to brush all at once initially, so do not rush to avoid scaring the cat. In summary, have cat parents learned the complete steps to brush their cat’s teeth? Dental hygiene for cats is truly essential. Although cats do not often use their teeth to chew food and usually swallow it whole, removing all teeth for treatment will not significantly affect cats eating modern food. However, cat parents would not want to see their cats in pain due to gingivitis or stomatitis. Therefore, brushing your cat’s teeth is an extremely important daily health care activity! The cat gardener says: In addition to brushing your cat’s teeth, regularly taking your cat to the vet for dental health care and teeth cleaning is also an important part of dental care! Have cat parents learned the complete steps for brushing their cat’s teeth? Feel free to leave a comment and share! Limited experience set, only 50 yuan, with free shipping coupon code, click to use. The latest article from PetDaddy: [Cat Posture Meaning] Understand 18 Types of Cat Body Language in 3 Seconds 2023-02-03 [What to Do About Fighting Cats] Preventing Cat Fights + Emergency Peacemaking Guide for Multi-Cat Households 2023-01-26 Essential Knowledge for New Dog Owners: 7 Must-Have Items, Care Tips, and Essential Knowledge 2023-01-23 [What to Do About a Cat That Keeps Meowing] 3 Minutes to Understand Why Your Cat Keeps Meowing and How to Handle It 2023-01-08 [Foods Cats Can Eat] 20 Human Foods That Can Also Provide Supplemental Nutrition for Cats! Cats Eating These Foods Live Longer! 2022-12-24 Thank you for watching. If you find the gardener’s articles very useful, you can click the share button below and share it on LINE, FB to all those in need of information.
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