Answer: Cleaning a cat’s teeth is unusual, but if the cat will allow you to do it, it can be useful in preventing or minimizing the accumulation of tartar.
The build-up of tartar on the teeth is responsible for most of the dental problems of cats; they don’t often suffer from pitting of the tooth enamel (cries) which is the main problem for humans. The teeth most commonly affected are the upper and lower canines, the premolars and the first upper molars.
Tartar form naturally from the growth of oral bacteria on the teeth, from the trapping of food debris (plaque) precipitation of salt, principally calcium hydroxyapatite, from the cat’s saliva. In cats who use their teeth a lot frequent ribbing on the tooth surface minimizes tartar formation. Therefore cats who catch and eat their own food (mice and birds) usually have little tartar, and the same is true of cats fed on large chunks of meat and dry cat food are given meaty bones from which to tear the flesh. Unfortunately, the teeth receive little wear if the cat is fed soft foods, such as tinned pet foods, fish are finely chopped or minced meat, and cats regularly fed this way soon accumulate tartar.
Tartar is deposited first where the tooth is rubbed least where it meats the gum. This rough material traps further bacteria and food and irritates the gum, which becomes inflamed and cause a bright pink or red line above the teeth. The tartar is first looks like a yellowish-grey upper rim on the teeth, but in time large masses accumulate which if not removed can eventually become large then the tooth itself. As more and more tartar is deposited, the information gets worse. As the gum swells away from the tooth, the roots are exposed and bacteria are able to get into the tooth socket. Ultimately, this can result in massive infection, a loosening of the tooth and sometimes even abscess formation. This condition, known as periodontal disease, is very common in cat.
The irritation produced can cause excessive salivation and old cats often sit with long ‘drools’ of thick saliva hanging from their mouth and wetting the hair on their chest. There breath has a foul smell (halitosis) and the pain of a loose tooth may prevent them eating except very gingerly or on one side of the mouth; sometimes not at all. Often they rub or paw at their mouth.
To remove tartar (by cracking it with dental forceps and using a dental scraper or ultrasonic scaler) and any loose teeth requires the use of a general anesthetic. Obviously, it would be batter to avoid tartar accumulation, ideally by changing the diet and providing vinyl chew ‘toys’; but there are some owners who also regularly clean their cats’ teeth.
A small, soft child’s toothbrush, moistened and dipped into tooth powder, is probably best. Cats seem to object more to toothpaste because of its flavor and the detergent content which makes it froth in the mouth. A good alternative is to use moistened sodium bicarbonate powder or hydrogen peroxide. The noise of electric toothbrushes renders them unsuitable.
The cat should be held by its scruff on a table, ideally in a sitting position with his feet held by a helper. The brush should be moved firmly, but not too vigorously, up and down and from side to side. Clean both top and bottom teeth at the front and the back, paying particular attention to the teeth at the back of the mouth at the point where each tooth meets the gum, but stop if any bleeding occurs. If the cat will not permit use of a brush, a finger warped in soft rag may be used, though take care not to get bitten.
Daily cleaning is preferable for preventing the recurrence of calculus, but weekly brushing is probably adequate.
