Keeping your cat’s teeth healthy is an important part of helping them live a long and healthy life. Dental care reduces their risk of painful infections, prevents tooth loss, and keeps their breath smelling fresh. If you’re still on the fence about dental care for your cat, here’s why our veterinarians always recommend it.
Four Important Reasons Why Dental Care Is Necessary for Cats
1: It prevents dental diseases and tooth loss.
Dental care helps prevent the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar. These are the root causes of many dental problems in cats, such as periodontal disease and tooth infections. If left unchecked, these conditions can become very painful, lead to tooth loss, and even spread infections to other parts of their bodies. Routine dental care helps us prevent these problems and treat them before they get worse.
2: Dental care promotes better health in general.
Oral decay can cause problems throughout your cat’s body. Oral decay can be painful, making it difficult for your cat to eat and maintain their nutritional needs. Build-ups of bacteria and other nasties can spread infections throughout their bodies. By making sure their oral health is maintained, you can avoid these problems.
3: Fresh breath means good dental health.
Plaque, bacteria, and decaying food debris can cause bad breath in cats, but most of the time bad breath is a sign of tooth decay. If your cat’s breath is making snuggles unpleasant, it’s time to see a vet. A dental cleaning will help prevent tooth loss and make your kitty’s breath smell fresh again.
4: Preventive care saves you money in the long run.
Tooth extractions and dental work can get expensive. It’s always better to pay for preventive treatments now, rather than costly procedures later. And remember: by maintaining good dental health, you can improve your cat’s general health, as well.
Three Ways to Care for Your Cat’s Oral Health
At-Home Dental Care
Brushing your cat’s teeth every day can help you maintain their oral health by removing plaque and bacteria from their teeth. Our step-by-step guide can help you brush your cat’s teeth. Feeding them dental treats can also help.
Good Nutrition
Meeting your cat’s nutritional needs helps keep their teeth healthy and strong from the inside out. Cats also need proper hydration to maintain good oral health. Drinking water rinses their mouths, washing away bacteria and germs. Keep an eye on your cat’s food and water intake. Refusal to eat or eating less than usual could point to tooth pain.
Yearly Dental Checkups
Exams and cleanings help your veterinarian detect dental problems before the damage goes too far. They can be scheduled along with your cat’s yearly checkup. Because professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar buildup, they’re very important for preventing dental diseases and tooth loss in cats.
Expert Dental Care for Cats in Gilbert, Arizona
Veterinary dental care is an important part of keeping cats healthy. If you want to spare your cat the pain of tooth infections and missing teeth, a little preventive care will go a long way. Dental cleanings and at-home tooth brushing can help prevent the oral health issues that plague many cats.
Here at East Valley Animal Hospital, we treat every pet like one of our own. If you have any concerns about your cat’s oral health, don’t wait! Contact us today to make an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (8//3/25). Photo by Erik-Jan Leusink on Unsplash