On average eight out of ten cats over the age of three are affected by tooth and gum problems, so it's important to figure out a brushing routine early on and choose one that your cat can stick to. Cats tend to accumulate plaque on the outside of their teeth but not on the inside. This plaque then hardens to form tartar, which can then irritate the gums, which can cause gingivitis and loss of teeth. Bacteria can even enter the blood stream and damage the internal organs.
So how can you notice the signals?
The signs of dental disease include bad breath, red gums, and a yellowy-brown tartar build up on the teeth. The sign of severe gingivitis is when your cat drops food from its mouth, when they chew on only one side of their mouths or if they begin to lose weight due to not eating. But it's important to remember that cats with severe dental disease may not show any signs at all. Cats have a reserved and sneaky nature, and can do a good job of hiding their illness. But just because they do a good job of hiding it, it doesn't mean that they're not in pain. This is why it's important to check your cat's teeth and make regular vet appointments, particularly for older cats. If you notice any kind of problems make an appointment with the vet, you may think that the problem can be eliminated if you begin to brush, but it won't. Your vet can recommend a special dental care to remove any damaged teeth or they can provide a de-scaling treatment using ultra-sonic vibration, which removes plaque and tartar without damaging any teeth.
The signs of dental disease include bad breath, red gums, and a yellowy-brown tartar build up on the teeth. The sign of severe gingivitis is when your cat drops food from its mouth, when they chew on only one side of their mouths or if they begin to lose weight due to not eating. But it's important to remember that cats with severe dental disease may not show any signs at all. Cats have a reserved and sneaky nature, and can do a good job of hiding their illness. But just because they do a good job of hiding it, it doesn't mean that they're not in pain. This is why it's important to check your cat's teeth and make regular vet appointments, particularly for older cats. If you notice any kind of problems make an appointment with the vet, you may think that the problem can be eliminated if you begin to brush, but it won't. Your vet can recommend a special dental care to remove any damaged teeth or they can provide a de-scaling treatment using ultra-sonic vibration, which removes plaque and tartar without damaging any teeth.
If your cat has had any veterinary treatments, then you must follow their instructions on how long you should wait before you begin to brush. It is possible to train a cat to accept cleaning after time, buy you need to be patient as it won't happen straight away. Home tooth cleaning is easier if it's introduced into the cat's life early on. The following tips could help you start brushing your cat's teeth:
Ask your local vet to give you a demonstration to ensure that you'll be brushing them correctly.
-You can get a toothbrush suitable for a cat from your vet, if you have multiple cats its important to ensure you have one tooth brush per cat.
-Human toothpaste isn't appropriate for cats. There are special tooth pastes available in chicken or malt flavour, which your cats will find extra tasty.
-Choose a certain time of day that you can stick to daily, this make it more of a routine event.
-Be careful of finger brushes, if your cat accidentally bites down then it could leave you with a damaged finger.
-You should start by putting a small amount of toothpaste onto your finger and allowing your cat to lick it off, you should do this for a number of days.
-Hold your cat with its back facing towards you as they may try and escape or reverse this is also less intimidating and a less confrontational approach.
-You may need someone to help you hold their paws to prevent less of a struggle. You should get your cat used to you touching their head, try repeatedly touching their head and mouth and offer rewards.
-You should then slowly retract their lips and begin touching their teeth with the toothbrush, stop and reward your cat. Repeat this for a few days, if the cat is comfortable with this then you should begin to apply the bristles of the brush at a 45 degree angle, so you're reaching the tooth surface and the gum line.
-Do this for 10 seconds or so and then reward.
-If your cat is young, don't attempt to brush its milk teeth, but it might be an idea to get your kitten used to having its teeth touched from an early age.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_C_Naylor
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