Cat Dental Scaling Medications & Prevention Tips
As cat owners, it's crucial to pay attention to your feline's oral hygiene, as neglecting their mouth can easily lead to dental and oral issues such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and stomatitis. Dental calculus is another common problem in cats' mouths.
The normal color of a cat's teeth is pure white. If you notice their teeth starting to turn yellow, it's time to be concerned about dental calculus.
Feeding your cat soft food frequently can easily lead to a buildup of food residue and bacteria on their teeth. Most cats over two years of age have dental calculus, and this is often more prevalent in cats that consume a lot of wet, soft food. Cats are more prone to dental calculus at the ages of five or eight.
Cats' teeth typically start with dental plaque—a soft, translucent, or milky white substance on the tooth surface that can be easily scraped off with a gentle nail scratch. If plaque is not removed, the minerals in saliva can turn it into calculus.
Dental calculus can affect a cat's eating, digestion, and absorption, leading to weight loss and a weakened immune system. Most dental calculus occurs on the premolars, with the incisors being the most affected. The molars and canines are less likely to be affected.
When dental calculus begins to form, there may be no unusual behavior or eating habits. However, if you open your cat's mouth, you might notice a layer of beige calculus on the incisors and other teeth.
As dental calculus accumulates, it can cause gum damage and periodontitis. This may lead to a decrease in appetite, reluctance to eat hard food, and even dropping food while eating, along with bad breath. When you open your cat's mouth, you may see varying sizes of calculus on the incisors, with the gums around them red and slightly swollen. In severe cases, teeth with dental calculus may become loose.
If your cat has a significant amount of dental calculus, a professional teeth cleaning is recommended. This procedure requires general anesthesia and proper postoperative care. Many veterinary clinics now have ultrasonic dental cleaning machines, making the process more accessible.
During teeth cleaning, an ultrasonic vibration machine is used to clean the teeth while also spraying water to cool the area. It's important to avoid water inhalation to prevent aspiration pneumonia. Veterinarians are usually aware of this. Cats with severe dental calculus may have decayed and loose teeth, and these should be removed to prevent infection and other oral diseases.
How can we prevent dental calculus in cats?
1. Start checking your cat's mouth and brushing their teeth when they are young. Pet stores offer special cat toothpaste and brushes; never use human toothpaste or brushes.
2. Feed your cat a diet of specialized cat food. It's important to establish a habit of feeding your cat cat food from a young age, as this not only helps prevent dental calculus but also prevents other diseases. Some cat owners prefer to make their own food or feed their cats human food due to concerns about additives in commercial cat food, but this can lead to malnutrition and various health issues.
3. If you can't find catspecific toothbrushes and toothpaste or your cat is not used to antimicrobial toothbrushes and toothpaste, there is another method to clean your cat's teeth. Wrap a medical gauze around your finger, dip it in tea or saltwater, and gently rub the teeth, especially the incisors. The friction from the gauze can easily remove dental plaque.
