It’s important for all cat owners to pay attention to their cat’s dental health. Unhealthy teeth can lead to other serious health problems. Consider that if it’s painful for a cat to eat, their diet will be affected because they may not eat a sufficient quantity of food to maintain a healthy weight.
Cats may suffer from a wide range of dental conditions if they are not properly cared for. That is why it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make sure that his or her pet cat follows a regimen of good dental hygiene. It may be work, but it well serve you and your feline friends well in the long run.
One of the problems that cats experience with their teeth is plaque. Just like humans, cats also have tartar buildup in their own teeth called plaque. This is due to the many types of food that cats eat with some of the substances accumulating in their teeth that may further lead to the tartar buildup. If the accumulation of plaque continues on, it may lead to gum problems and eventually the loss of your cat’s teeth.
Not all cats have the same experience with plaque. Their seems to be some cats who are prone to tartar buildup while there are others that seem to do well even with little dental care. Some cats may require regular teeth cleaning in order to remove the plaque build up from their teeth. Plaque is a whitish yellow deposit that gradually develops on teeth.
In cats, the plaque usually develops in the exterior face of the upper teeth. If left to accumulate, plaque can cause gum problems in cats. This can be seen in reddened gum lines which can indicate that the plaque is already causing some irritation.
In order to prevent the build up of plaque in your pet cat’s teeth, an annual teeth cleaning may be suggested. Veterinarians usually put the cats under general anesthesia to have their teeth cleaned. But this service can come at some considerable cost. The next best thing would be to have your cat’s teeth cleaned at home.
It might take some getting used to when trying to clean your pet cat’s teeth at home. Cats do not usually like to have their teeth cleaned. In order to do this, you might need to have your pet cat placed in a bath towel straitjacket, and a having helper is a good idea too.
A child-size tooth brush would work well when cleaning your pet cat’s teeth. Or you can purchase pet dental care kits, which include brushes that fit over your finger. You can also make use of some edible toothpaste available in pet stores to make the task easier for you. Sometimes cats can get used to tooth brushing if done on a weekly basis.
In the course of examining your cat’s mouth, you might find that the cat breath smells bad. This can be caused by a number of things. It may occur when a young cat is teething. At around six months of age, cats start to lose their baby teeth with the permanent ones replacing them. The odor on your cat’s breath will eventually subside once the teeth come in.
Otherwise, foul breath could be the sign of potentential health problems. A call to your vet is in order, before things get too bad.
