Maintaining Healthy Teeth, Gums And Mouth Of Your Cat

It is important to take care of a cat's dental health. This would require a regular checkup of teeth, gums and the mouth. The checkup can be done at home by cat owners themselves. It takes only a few minutes to do it and needs to be performed two or three times a month.

Step By Step

Here are a few tips for those who have recently brought a cat home.

1. Engage your cat in mundane distraction. Gently push its head back and open its mouth with your thumb and index finger. Ensure that you are working under good light.
2. Now check the cat's teeth for plaque or tartar. Plaque is yellow in color while tartar is black. Also there shouldn't be any broken or chipped teeth. The gums should be a healthy shade of pink and not pale pink or red.
3. Check the front teeth and then move to the back teeth.
4. On opening the mouth of the cat if you notice foul smell it could mean infection of the gums or bones. This would definitely need a visit to the vet.
5. Check the back of the cat's throat with the help of an angled dental mirror. If you spot a red stone like object in the throat, it means that the cat has stomatitis. This is a very painful condition and requires immediate medication.
6. Once you are through with the examination of teeth, gums and mouth, treat the cat with a dental chew. The cat will remember the treat and perhaps make the next examination easier.

Take someone's help when you check your cat. The person would be able to keep the cat's mouth open while you do the checkup. Make sure that you are in a comfortable spot and have adequate lighting. If your cat isn't willing to undergo this checkup, don't force it to. Try the examination the next day. Once the cat gets used to it ensure to check your cat's teeth, gums and mouth on a regular basis. Also take your cat to a veterinary doctor at least three times a year especially if the cat has had previous dental problems.

Taking good dental care of your cat is necessary to maintain its overall health. Cats are likely to suffer from diseases of teeth, gums and mouth after three years of age. Ignoring dental health and can even lead to diseases of kidney and heart. Giving your cat proper dental care would include a healthy diet as well as using a baby toothbrush to regularly clean the teeth. Use toothpastes or gels that are exclusively meant for pets. Some of these also help keep the bacteria at bay. Though cats do not require a rinse after brushing, however, before attempting to brush you cat's teeth, ensure that your hands are clean. This way you will be unlikely to introduce bacteria in your cat's mouth.