猫関連翻訳 猫の歯科衛生を保つ6つの方法（歯磨きとそれ以外） 「6 Ways to Keep Cats Teeth Clean( With & Without Brushing)」Expert Cat Care
猫に関するサイトの翻訳です。『』内は上手く訳せなかった部分をDeepLで補ったものです。原文にある商品については訳していません。動画等原文にしかないコンテンツがあるので気になった方はそちらもご確認ください。
作成に期間が空いてしまった部分があるので普段より読みづらいです。
※注意
・英語勉強を兼ねて作成した記事です。誤訳には気を付けていますが、正しい翻訳である保証はできません。お気づきの点がございましたらご指摘お願いします。
・ウェブサイトの性質上閲覧日によって元ページの内容が異なる可能性があります。
・翻訳元の正確性は素人なので内容の正誤が判別できず保証できません。
元ページ
本文訳
導入
猫の歯をきれいにし健康を保つ方法に関する私たちの記事へようこそ。以下の内容を含みます。
・なぜ歯の健康を保つことが重要か
・家出のデンタルケアの前に獣医を訪ねることが必須なのか
・科学的に効果的な歯磨き用品についての選び方
・デンタルケアとキレイな歯を維持する6つの方法
なぜ歯の健康を保つことが重要か
歯周病を防ぐために猫の歯を清潔に保つことは重要です。家出のデンタルケアはどの年代の猫でも考慮されるべきです。
歯周病って何？
歯周病は歯茎・靭帯・骨を含む進行性の炎症で歯の周りの構造が破壊されるもの（歯の周り）です。
『歯周病とは、歯肉、靭帯、骨など、歯の周囲にある構造物（歯周「周囲」、歯周「歯」）の炎症と破壊が進行する病気である。』
歯周病は何を引き起こすの？
歯周病の原因はプラークです。それは歯の表面に形成される透明なぬめぬめするものや唾液やバクテリアや食べ物のでできている物質です。
プラークが歯肉溝（歯茎と歯がぶつかるところにあり自然に存在するとても小さな隙間）に広がると歯肉炎（歯茎の炎症）の引き金となり、そこが赤くはれる。
（訳注：元記事には歯の周りの画像あり）
良い歯科衛生と日々の歯磨きはプラークを取り除くことにより歯肉炎は可逆的です。しかしながら、放っておいて治療しないと歯肉炎に進行するかもしれない。
歯周病が悪くなると歯茎の組織が腫れ、歯の表面にぴったりくっつく能力が失われ、わずかな歯肉溝が広がり歯と歯茎の間に深い歯周ポケットが作られてしまいます。
プラークが歯周ポケットに入り込みバクテリアとそれにより引き起こされる炎症が歯の周りの構造、歯肉・骨・靭帯（歯にくっついている）に継続的なダメージと破壊与え、歯肉の減少や歯のゆるみ、骨の喪失や歯の痛みを引き起こす。
（訳注：元サイトではこのプロセスについて４つの画像がある。以下の番号はそちらについての説明）
①健康な状態。歯茎は健康的なピンク色。
②歯肉炎。プラークが歯肉溝（歯とその周りの歯茎の間のスペース）に形成され歯肉炎の引き金（赤く歯茎の炎症がある）。
③歯周病。歯茎が歯にくっつく能力を失い深い歯周ポケットが形成される。
④進行した歯肉炎。歯茎が後退し歯の周りの重要な骨が失われる。
家でのデンタルケアの目標はプラーク形成を減らすことです。特に歯茎に沿ったラインの歯肉炎（歯茎の炎症）とそれに付随する歯周病（歯の周りの構造物にダメージを与える）を予防することです。プラークは歯磨き後12～24時間で形成されるので日々の習慣的なケアが推奨される。
（訳注：原文では実物の写真が２つ続く）
歯周病はどんな効果があるの？
・継続的な痛みと不快感（あなたが歯や歯茎の痛みを経験したことがあるならわかるでしょう）
・くさい息（口臭）
・歯茎の後退（歯肉退縮）
・歯の減少
・歯への感染（骨髄炎）
・骨の欠損による下顎骨骨折
・骨の欠損による口腔と鼻腔のつながり
・慢性的な腎臓猫や体全身へ炎症が広がるリスク増加（歯周病や多くのバクテリアが口腔内に存在することで他の臓器にどのような影響があるかより研究されることが求められている）
動物が歯の問題によって食事をやめることはめったにない。そのため食いつきがどれほどの痛みがあるかの良い指標にはならない。潜在的な捕食者を引き付けることを避けるため痛みを隠すように進化したことを知っておくことも価値がある。
（訳注：原文では骨が失われたレントゲンだ増があります）
家出のデンタルケアの前に獣医を訪ねることが必須
病気や痛みのない状態でのみ家でのケアは始めるべきです。ホームケアは歯肉炎や歯周病を防ぐ助けになるのであり、すでにある歯の病気を治療するものではありません。同時に歯磨きや噛むことを促す歯に良い食事といった家庭でのケアはすでに歯の病気になっている場合不快に感じられてしまいます。
ホームケアを始める前に獣医師に歯の病気の兆候、重大な炎症や歯肉退行、歯根露出、歯石、歯の欠損、吸収性欠損（歯の表面を痛みを伴いながら浸食）を確認してもらいに行きましょう。すでに歯の病気や痛みがある場合は治療を優先しましょう。さもなくば、あなたの口腔ケアに憤り、家庭でのケアは悲惨で失敗する可能性が高いでしょう。
診断や歯の病気について意見を述べる際に全身麻酔がしばしば必要となります。歯茎の上や中の病気を確認するためにX線撮影がなされ、歯肉の上下を徹底的にきれいにし、適切な処置を行えます。一度すべてを直し清潔な歯で痛みのない口腔にした後、家庭でのケアが可能になります。
歯磨き中に猫の口臭がくさい、歯のゆるみ、炎症、赤みがかったピンク色の点（吸収性損傷）、歯内や周辺の腫れが家庭でのケアで発見できた場合、1年に1度獣医に見てもらうことをお勧めします。私たちが日に2回歯磨きをし１度デンタルフロスをするのに６か月ごとにプロのクリーニングに行くように、猫の歯科ケアを家で行っていても専門的な治療が必要です。しかしながら、歯科治療の間隔はかなり長くなるでしょう。
（訳注：原文では赤みがかったピンク色の点＝吸収性損傷の画像あり）
VOHC認可製品って何？
猫の歯科衛生のために米国獣医口腔衛生協議会（VOHC)の認可した商品がお勧めです。VOHCのシールを得るには必ず厳格な審査と安全性とプラークや歯石形成を遅らせるのに効果的であるという証拠を提出しなければなりません。
残念ながら市場にある多くの商品はメーカーの主張することに対する科学的な根拠がなく、VOHCのシールがない商品を飼う時は注意しましょう。
デンタルケアとキレイな歯を維持する6つの方法
1.歯磨きこそが最適なデンタルケア
プラークをコントロールし歯周病を予防する黄金律は日々の歯磨きです。歯ブラシの機械的な作用は効果的に歯の表面と歯茎（歯と歯肉がぶつかるところ）にあるプラークを効果的に取り除きます。
プラークが24時間以内に形成されるため、１日１回の歯ブラシが最高の成果を得るのに推奨されています。２日に１回でも効果的だが、それより少ないと紅葉は少ない。
小さく柔らかいブラシで猫の大きさにあったのものを使うべきです。または、特別に猫や赤ちゃん用に作られたものを使いましょう。最初に少量出血するのは普通ですが、心配な場合獣医に相談しましょう。
（訳注：実際の商品と２枚歯ブラシの画像が原文には紹介されている）
プラークを取り除けるなら歯ブラシはあってもなくても良いです。しかし、猫を引き付ける味のついた歯磨き粉は猫に歯磨きをさせやすくしてくれるでしょう。歯磨き粉を歯ブラシに押し付け、すぐになめとられないようにしましょう。または、歯ブラシを水だけで濡らしましょう。
猫はすすぎやつばを吐けないので、人間用の歯磨き粉使ってはいけません。長い間の見込んでいると毒になりかねません。
猫の歯磨きのやり方
忍耐とやさしさをもって取り組むことがキーであり、猫に歯磨きを受けてもらえるようになるまで何週間もかけて徐々に進んでいきましょう。
以下のステップに従い、それぞれの段階に時間をかけて猫が快適と感じた時だけ次のステップに進みましょう。1日1回短い練習をし、徐々に時間を長くしていきましょう。常にやさしい声で話しかけ毎回積極的にこちらから終わらせること（猫が怒ったり逃げ去ることのないように）を目標にしましょう。終わった後はご褒美やおやつ、お気に入りのおもちゃで遊んであげましょう。
もし、あなたがかまれる可能性や猫が歯磨きでとても起こってしまう、猫との関係性を傷つけてしまうと心配するなら、続けてはいけません。
ステップ１.
猫が1日の内でくつろいでいる時間を選び、クッションやブランケットやタオルといった快適と思える場所に猫を配置しましょう。猫の後ろに立つ、あるいは跪き猫へ体を傾け口の片方へ近づきます。
ステップ２.
優しくマズル（訳注：鼻先から奥歯までのあたり）や口の周りを指でマッサージしましょう。
ステップ３.
優しく唇を開け前歯を露出させ、若干後ろに引っ張り奥歯も露出させましょう。
ステップ4.
歯と歯茎を指で優しくこすりましょう。
ステップ５.
歯磨き粉を指につけて猫になめさせましょう。その後、歯と歯茎を優しくこすりましょう。
ステップ6.
歯ブラシに歯磨き粉をのせ、猫になめさせましょう。歯磨き粉をなめとったら歯ブラシで前歯を少しだけこすっても良いでしょう。
ステップ7.
小さく柔らかい歯ブラシと歯磨き粉を使って円を描くように端から端まで優しく磨きましょう。歯ブラシは斜め45°で歯茎線（歯と歯茎が接する部分）に沿って歯垢を歯の表面からはがします。（訳注：歯茎線に対し45°）よくあることですが、内側の歯の表面を磨くことが難しいようなら外側の表面だけを磨くことに集中しましょう。
ステップ８.
前歯と奥歯を磨く歯磨きの時間をだんだんと伸ばしましょう。すべての歯を磨き終わるのにおおよそ2分かかります。しかし、猫の気分次第で実際にかかる時間は大きく左右されます。どの程度であっても時間をかけることは効果的でしょう。
（訳注：ここに原文では実際の写真と模型の画像がある）
歯磨きの実践動画1
（訳注：原文はここに動画あり）
ミロは今では毎日の歯磨きで治療されたものの深刻な歯肉炎を抱えていました。飼い主は非常に丁寧な技術と常に多くのご褒美を与え、終わりにおやつを与えています。
Apsley Veterinary Serviceは親切なことに使用許可をくださいました。（訳注：この記事ではなく原文に対しての許可）
歯磨きの実践動画2
（訳注：原文はここに動画あり）
ジェシカは3頭の歯を磨いています。段階的に忍耐強く猫たちにできるだけ若いころから慣れるための機会を与えています。猫を膝の上に心地よいように横たえ、常に歯磨きの経験を楽しいものにしています。
Jessica Riedererは親切なことに使用許可をくださいました。（訳注：この記事ではなく原文に対しての許可）
2.綿棒を用いた歯磨き
歯ブラシを使うことは歯をきれいにし歯肉溝から歯石を取り除き広くのに広く認められているが、非常に難しい場合、綿棒を代わりに使用することもできる。より小さなものの方が猫に受け入れられやすく、歯の裏側を磨く際に見やすい。綿棒は歯の表面と歯肉線（歯と歯茎が接する部分）を磨く際、歯石を取るのに十分な摩擦を起こせる。
前述のステップに従い、綿棒を使う前に口・唇・歯・歯茎に触れられることを快適と思えるか確認し、ゆっくりと歯磨きを猫に教えていきましょう。一部の猫は綿棒でマズルを撫でらることを楽しむので、唇を持ちあげ歯磨きを始める前にあごを掻くものとして使いましょう。ツナの入った水に綿棒を浸すことを一部の猫は好みますが、歯磨き粉を使う必要はありません。しかし、これは選択肢であり乾燥した綿棒で問題ありません。
（訳注：ここに綿棒での歯磨きをしている画像あり）
3.歯ブラシではなくデンタルワイプで口腔衛生を保つ
歯ブラシや綿棒を受け入れてもらえないなら、デンタルワイプ（訳注：歯磨きシートのこと）の方が受け入れてもらいやすいかもしれません。これは人差し指に巻き付けて歯や歯肉線をこすり歯垢を取り除くものです。歯磨きのようにデンタルワイプは毎日行うべきです。
既に述べたステップと似たようにゆっくりとデンタルワイプを受け入れてもらいましょう。最初はマズルを優しくなでられることにならし、唇を引っ張って歯を露出させる、歯と歯茎をこすることにならし、最後にデンタルワイプで歯を磨きましょう。
（訳注：本文では２つ商品紹介。日本だとLIONの製品がペットショップにおいてあることが多い印象）
4.歯の健康を保つ食事
すべてのドライフードが歯に良いわけではありません。歯の健康を助けるために歯垢や歯石をコントロールするために具体的に定式化された歯に良い食事を与えましょう。キブル（訳注：カリカリの粒）が大きく、ざらざらしており、咀嚼を促す繊維構造が歯ブラシの役割を果たすような傾向がある。従って、歯に良い食事は咀嚼に使われる内側の歯（小臼歯と臼歯）の歯石と歯垢を減らすのに優位性があります。
私たちの食事計算ツールを使い正しい食事量を計算することを推奨します。
（訳注：本文では2つドライフードの紹介あり）
5.歯と歯茎の健康をサポートするおやつ
歯の健康を補助するおやつは歯磨き程効果的というわけではありませんが、歯磨きと並行、あるいは歯磨きを許してくれない子の口腔衛生を助けるために使用できます。
（訳注：本文では3つおやつの紹介あり）
6.食事や水に加えるもの
ご飯や水に加えるサプリメントは歯科衛生を保つ簡単な大体手段です。Plaque Off Powder（訳注：商品名。日本ではサプリではなくおやつタイプのものを見かけます）は歯石や歯垢を減らし口臭改善が臨床上証明された天然の回想を含んでいます。食事にふりかけて使用し、大体の猫は味を好みます。毎日使用することで通常、3～8週間程で効果が出ます。
（訳注：本文ではPlaque Off Powderの紹介あり）
HealthyMouth Water Addictive for cats（訳注：商品名）は猫の歯垢を減らすと臨床上証明された天然原材料100％で作られています。毎日水にちょくせす加え希釈するか餌に注いで使います。
よくある質問
何歳ごろから子猫の歯磨きを始めた方が良いですか？
8～12週齢の子猫を家に迎えた後、口・唇・歯・歯茎を触り慣らすと良いでしょう。常に優しく、最初は短時間だけ行い、快適と感じるようになるにつれて徐々に時間を延ばしていきましょう。以下のことを守り子猫をなりしましょう。
・マズル・唇・口の周りを優しく触ってこすりましょう。
・優しく唇を引っ張り歯を出しましょう。
・優しく頬を引っ張り奥歯を露出させましょう。
・歯と歯茎を指でこすりましょう。
ここでの重要な目標は口や歯をいじられる際安心しているかの確認です。柔らかい歯ブラシで非常に優しく磨いてあげることで歯ブラシの感覚に慣れることが出来ます。しかし、乳歯が抜け永久歯が育つ際に歯磨きをされることは不快に思われることがあることを覚えておきましょう。
ほとんどの猫は避妊や去勢手術を通常歯の生え変わりが終わる6か月前後で行われます。獣医に麻酔中に歯を見てもらえるよう頼みましょう。健康上何の問題もなく歯科における問題の兆候が無いのであれば、上記の手順通り日々の歯磨きを始められます。子猫の時から準備しておくと簡単に受けてもらえるようになります。
野生の猫はどのように歯を磨いていますか？
野生化では獲物の固い皮膚や繊維状の内臓が歯垢を取り除き歯を清潔に保っている。しかしながら、歯が折れたり歯科的病気、とりわけ
歯茎内の痛みに苦しんでいる。また、野生の猫は寿命は飼い猫よりも非常に短い（平均15～18年ではなく2～3年）ので、私たちのペットよりも歯の健康を保つ必要が無い。
磨く以外で猫のはを綺麗にする方法は？
歯ブラシを受け入れてもらえないようであれば、綿棒やデンタルワイプをつかうとより簡単に出来るかもしれません。歯に配慮した食事やおやつや水に加えるものも口腔衛生に活用できるでしょう。米国獣医口腔衛生協議会が科学的に効果が証明した製品（訳注：VOHCと書いてある商品）を選ぶべきです。しかし、歯磨き程の効果が無いかもしれないことを認知しておきましょう。
なぜ私の猫の歯科治療や抜歯は高額なのですか？
多大な準備と専門家が猫の歯科治療を行います。加えて、観察し補佐をする最低でも動物看護士が1人が手術中に必要になる。歯1本づつ個別に調べ計画を立て、全体の歯茎内外のX線写真を撮り、抜歯が行われるので複雑になりやすい。
猫の歯科治療は通常以下のことが含まれる。
・初診
・全身の健康検査
・麻酔前の血液検査
・静脈内のカテーテル
・静脈内輸血
・麻酔薬
・局所麻酔
・痛み止め
・抗生物質
・滅菌手術器具
・モニター装置（訳注：心電図等。監視カメラではない）
・歯科手術用機械
・口腔全体のX線写真
・口腔内の検査と手術計画
・歯石と磨く（訳注：原文は”Scale and polish”）
・抜歯
・術後観察
猫の歯は麻酔なしで綺麗に出来ますか？
可能ですが一般的に推奨はされません。全ての歯を内側外側の面から確認し歯茎内の病気を調査し、X線を撮り、効果的にそれぞれの歯の表面と歯茎内を綺麗にし、起きている猫にいかなる治療を行うことは不可能です。
麻酔はリスクを含むものですが、注意深く薬を選択し、綿密なバイタルチェックと輸液治療、そして保温を行えば健康な動物においてリスクは非常に低いものです。歯の治療が必要だが心配な場合、獣医と問題を話し合い、歯科治療が有益かやリスクを最小限にする手順を説明してもらいましょう。全てのペットオーナーと同じように私も全身麻酔を使用する際に不安でした。しかし、私の猫が臭い息を強くはっするようになり、いくつもの病気になった歯や痛みのある歯を抜きた後、とってもとても幸せな猫になりました。また、健全な口腔は長期的な全身の健康にとって良いことを知り、とても幸せな気持ちになりました。
より多くの方法は無麻酔口腔クリーニングにおけるアメリカ歯科獣医専門校（AVDC)の意見書を読んでください。
（訳注：最後にリファレンス2つあり）
原文
6 Ways to Keep Cats Teeth Clean (With & Without Brushing)
by
Dr. Kate McMahon, BVSc, MRCVS
Updated
Feb 28, 2024
Share
Follow Us
Although this article has been written by a veterinarian and is based on scientific research and expert knowledge, it is intended for informational purposes only. It does not replace consulting your own veterinarian and establishing a patient-doctor relationship. To support our efforts, this site contains affiliate links to products we recommend and find helpful, which may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read more.
Introduction
Welcome to our article on how to keep cats teeth clean and healthy. Topics covered include:
Why it's important to keep your cat's teeth clean
Why a veterinary visit is essential before starting home dental care
How to choose teeth cleaning products that are scientifically proven to be effective
Six ways to care for your cat's teeth and keep them clean
Why Keeping Your Cat's Teeth Clean Is Important
It's important to keep your cat's teeth clean to prevent periodontal disease. Home dental care should be considered for kittens, adults, and senior cats.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is the progressive inflammation and destruction of structures surrounding the teeth (peri- "around" and -dontal "tooth"), including the gums, ligaments, and bone.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
The cause of periodontal disease is plaque, an invisible slime that forms on the surface of the tooth and is comprised of saliva, bacteria, and food substances.
When plaque extends into the gingival sulcus (a natural tiny space surrounding the tooth where it meets the gums), it triggers gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), causing them to appear red and swollen.
The gingival sulcus is a tiny natural pocket between the tooth and gum, where they meet. It is an area where plaque accumulates and triggers gingivitis.
With good oral hygiene and daily brushing to remove plaque, gingivitis is reversible. However, if left untreated, it may progress to periodontitis.
If gingivitis worsens, as the gum tissues swell, they lose their ability to attach tightly to the tooth's surface, and the tiny gingival sulcus expands to form deeper pockets between the tooth and the gum.
Plaque can now enter these pockets and both the bacteria and resulting inflammation continue to damage and destroy the structures surrounding the tooth, including the gums, bone, and ligaments (attachments to the tooth), causing a receding gumline, bone loss, and loose, painful teeth.
1 Healthy - gums are a healthy pink
2 Gingivitis - plaque has formed in the gingival sulcus (the small space between the tooth and surrounding gum) and triggered gingivitis (red, inflamed gums)
3 Periodontal disease - the gums lose their ability to attach to the tooth and deep pockets form
4 Advanced periodontal disease - the gums are receding and there is significant bone loss around the tooth
The goal of dental home care is to reduce plaque formation, especially along the gum line, to prevent gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and the subsequent progression to periodontal disease (damage to the structures surrounding the tooth). Plaque forms within 12-24 hours of a tooth being cleaned, so a daily home care routine is recommended.
Where the gums meet the teeth (the gum line) they are inflamed and red, indicating gingivitis. Although plaque is usually not visible to the naked eye, it is present on the teeth and is what initiates gingivitis when it accumulates in the gingival sulcus, the small space between the tooth and surrounding gum.
Within 48-72 hours, plaque can mineralize to form tartar (calculus), a rough, hard, yellow, rock-like deposit on the teeth. Tartar does not cause gingivitis or periodontal disease (plaque does when it triggers inflammation at the gum line), but tartar can protect plaque and make it harder to remove. Tartar cannot be brushed away and needs to be professionally cleaned.
What Are the Effects of Periodontal Disease?
Continuous pain and discomfort (if you have ever had sore gums or toothache, you will understand)
Bad breath (halitosis)
Receding gum line (gingival recession)
Loss of teeth
Infection of the bone (osteomyelitis)
Jaw fractures due to bone loss
Connections between the oral and nasal cavities due to bone loss (oro-nasal fistulas)
An increased risk of chronic kidney disease1 and widespread inflammation throughout the body2 (more studies are needed to understand how periodontal disease and the large amount of bacteria present in the mouth affects other organs in cats)
Animals rarely stop eating due to dental issues, so that is not a good indicator of how much pain they are in. It's also worth knowing that cats have evolved to hide signs of pain to avoid attracting potential predators.
This cat presented with bad breath and some mild gingivitis. When dental X-rays were taken, there was significant bone loss below the gum line due to periodontal disease, the extent of which was not apparent just on physical examination. The red dashed line shows where a normal bone level should be, and the arrows show the amount of lost bone. All 3 teeth were painful and infected, and needed to be extracted.
Vet Check Before Starting Home Oral Care
Home care should only be started in a mouth that is disease-free and pain-free. Home care helps prevent gingivitis and periodontitis and is not a treatment for established dental disease. Also, starting home care, such as teeth brushing or dental diets that promote chewing, will be uncomfortable in a mouth that already has established disease.
Before beginning your cat's dental home care, consult your veterinarian to check for signs of dental disease, such as significant inflammation, receding gums, tooth root exposure, tartar, broken teeth, and resorptive lesions (painful erosions on the tooth surface). If they currently have dental disease and a painful mouth, it will need to be treated first, otherwise, your cat will resent you manipulating their mouth, and dental home care will likely be distressing and unsuccessful.
General anesthesia is often required to diagnose and address dental disease so that each tooth can be inspected, radiographs can be taken to check for disease above and below the gum line, the teeth can be thoroughly cleaned above and below the gum line, and appropriate treatment can be performed, often involving extractions of diseased teeth. Once everything has healed, home care can commence with clean teeth, healthy gums, and a pain-free mouth.
Even with at-home dental care, once-a-year veterinary checkups are still advisable, sooner if you notice your cat has bad breath, pain when brushing, loose teeth, inflammation, gum recession, broken teeth, pink-red raised spots on the teeth (resorptive lesions), or growths or swelling in or around the mouth. Similar to how we brush our teeth twice a day and floss daily but still go to the dentist for a professional cleaning every 6 months, even with daily home care, your cat may still need professional dental treatments. However, the intervals between dental treatments will likely be significantly extended.
This cat had resorption lesions, which are pink-red raised dots due to painful erosions of the tooth surface. These teeth needed extracting and two weeks later, once everything had healed, dental home care could begin. If the teeth were brushed while she had resorption lesions, it would have been painful and she would likely always resent having her teeth brushed due to the negative association.
What Is a VOHC Accepted Product?
To keep your cat's teeth clean and healthy, products that have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) are recommended. For a product to receive the VOHC seal of acceptance, it must undergo rigorous testing and submit evidence to prove it is safe and effective at slowing plaque and/or tartar formation.
Unfortunately, many products on the market have no science to back the claims made by the manufacturer, so be wary if purchasing a product that doesn't have a VOHC seal of acceptance.
6 Ways to Keep Your Cat's Teeth Clean
1. Pet Toothbrushes for Optimal Dental Care
The gold standard to control plaque and prevent periodontal disease in cats is daily tooth brushing. The mechanical action of the bristles effectively removes plaque from the tooth surface and along the gum line (where the tooth and gum meet).
Since plaque forms again within 24 hours, once-a-day brushing is recommended for the best results. Every other day may still be helpful, but less than this will likely be of little benefit.
A small, soft-bristled, cat-sized toothbrush should be used, either one specifically made for cats or a baby toothbrush. A small amount of bleeding may be normal initially, but if you are concerned, contact your vet.
RYERCAT Dual-Sided Cat ToothbrushIt has a tiny head, so unlike most pet toothbrushes that are too big, this one comfortably reaches all your cat's teeth
Super soft bristles that won't irritate the gums
Comes in 5 funky colors
Made from high-quality and biodegradable materials
View on AmazonView on RyerCat
The RYERCAT toothbrush is specifically designed for cats and has a small head to reach each tooth and soft bristles that are gentle on the gums.
Toothpaste is optional since it is the brushing that removes the plaque. However, using flavored toothpaste that appeals to your cat may help improve acceptance. Press the toothpaste into the bristles to keep it on the brush and prevent it from being licked off immediately. Alternatively, the toothbrush can be moistened with water alone.
Since cats cannot rinse and spit, never use human toothpaste, which can be toxic when swallowed long-term.
How To Brush Your Cat's Teeth
Approaching the task with patience and gentleness is key, as it may take several weeks of gradual progression before your cat accepts having their teeth brushed.
Follow the steps below, taking your time on each step and only moving on to the next once your cat is comfortable. Practice for short sessions once a day, gradually increasing the duration. Always speak in a gentle voice and aim to end each session positively (without your cat getting upset or running away). Afterward, offer them praise, a treat, or play with their favorite toy.
If you are at risk of being bitten, or your cat finds teeth brushing very upsetting, and you are concerned you may damage your bond, then do not continue.
Step 1. Pick a time of the day when your cat is relaxed and place them on a cushion, blanket, or towel so they are comfortable. Stand or kneel behind your cat and lean over them to approach their mouth from either side.
Step 2. Gently massage their muzzle, lips, and the area around their mouth with your fingers.
Step 3. Gently pull their lips apart to expose their front teeth, then gently pull their lips apart and slightly back to expose their back teeth.
Step 4. Gently rub their teeth and gums with your finger.
Step 5. Place toothpaste on your finger, let your cat lick some off, and then gently rub it onto their teeth and gums.
Step 6. Place toothpaste on the toothbrush and let your cat lick it off. You can also start to rub the toothbrush on their front teeth slightly once they've licked the toothpaste off.
Step 7. Gently brush your cat's front teeth with a small, soft toothbrush and toothpaste, using circular and side-to-side motions. Hold the brush at a 45° angle to remove plaque from the tooth surface and along the gum line (where the tooth meets the gum). If cleaning the inside surface is too difficult, which it often is, just focus on the outside surfaces of the teeth.
Step 8. Gradually extend the duration of each brushing session to include the front and back teeth. A complete session, in which every tooth is brushed, should take approximately two minutes. However, the actual time spent brushing will most likely depend on your cat's mood for the day, and any amount of time spent brushing will be helpful.
The bristles are angled at 45 degrees to the long-axis of the tooth to remove plaque from the gingival sulcus (the small space around the tooth where it meets the gum), since plaque that accumulates here initiates gingivitis (inflamed gums), which can progress to periodontal disease (destruction of the tissues around the tooth).
Video: Teeth Brushing Demonstration 1
Milo had severe gingivitis, which has now resolved with daily tooth brushing. His owner uses a very gentle technique, lots of praise throughout, and a treat for a reward at the end.
Kindly given permission to use by Apsley Veterinary Services.
Video: Teeth Brushing Demonstration 2
Jessica brushes all 3 of her cats teeth, gradually and patiently getting them used to the experience from as young as possible. She positions her cats lying comfortably in her lap and always keeps the experience positive.
Kindly given permission to use by Jessica Riederer.
2. Teeth Cleaning With Q-Tips (Cotton Swabs)
Although using a toothbrush is the gold standard for keeping teeth clean and removing plaque from the gingival sulcus, if it is too challenging, a Q-tip (or cotton swab) can be used instead.3 Its smaller size can make it more readily accepted by your cat, and easier to see where you are cleaning as well as reach the back teeth. The Q-tip is abrasive enough to remove plaque when rubbed on the tooth surface and along the gum line (where the teeth and gums meet).
Follow the above steps to slowly introduce teeth cleaning to your cat by first ensuring they are comfortable with their mouth, lips, teeth, and gums being touched before using a cotton swab. Some cats enjoy the cotton swab being rubbed on their muzzle and used as a chin scratcher before gently lifting their lips to clean their teeth.
It's not necessary to use toothpaste, although some cats like it if the cotton swab is dipped in tuna water. Afterward, they can drink the remaining tuna water as a treat. However, this is an optional step and a dry cotton swab can be used.
Using a cotton swab (Q-tip) to remove plaque from the gum line.
Amazon Basics Cotton SwabsAn extremely affordable pack of 500 swabs
Double-tipped with 100% cotton
Stems made from paper, not plastic, so kinder for the environment
Rub them on your cat's teeth and along the gum line to easily remove plaque
View on Amazon
3. No Brush Dental Wipes to Maintain Oral Health
If your cat doesn't accept a toothbrush or Q-tip, they may be more amenable to a dental wipe, which can be wrapped around an index finger and rubbed along their teeth, including the gum line, to remove plaque. Like tooth brushing, dental wipes should be used daily.
Slowly introduce dental wipes to your cat, similar to the steps described above for how you would brush their teeth. First, get them used to having their muzzle gently rubbed, then their lips gently pulled apart to expose their teeth, then their teeth and gums rubbed with your finger, before finally introducing rubbing their teeth and gum line with a wipe.
Recommended Dental Wipes
Maxi-Guard Dental WipesWrap it around your index finger and wipe your cat's teeth and gums
Made from soft, textured material to gently remove plaque
An excellent option for cats that find teeth brushing too stressful
View on AmazonView on Chewy
Vetradent Dental WipesOdorless and tasteless dental wipes so as not to be off-putting for your cat
Use daily to gently wipe teeth and gums
Contains zinc chloride to help reduce bad breath and citric acid to maintain the pH balance in the mouth
View on AmazonView on Walmart
4. Keeping Cat Teeth Healthy With Dental Diets
Not all dry food diets are beneficial for teeth. To help keep your cat's teeth clean, dental diets can be fed that are specifically formulated for plaque and tartar control. The kibbles tend to be large, textured, and contain a matrix of fibers that promote chewing and act like a toothbrush. Therefore, dental diets predominately help reduce plaque and tartar on the back teeth (premolars and molars), which are used for chewing, crushing, and grinding food.
We recommend using our cat food calculator to ensure your cat is fed the correct amount of dental diet.
VOHC Accepted Dental Diets
Hill's Science Diet Oral CareClinically proven to help reduce plaque and tartar
Interlocking fibers help clean your cat’s teeth with each bite
Helps freshen breath
Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients
No prescription required
View on AmazonView on Chewy
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental CareClinically proven to reduce plaque, stain, and tartar buildup
The large kibble size, shape, and texture clean the teeth to the gum line to promote healthy gums and teeth
Exclusive feeding has been shown to be more effective than toothbrushing
Prescription required
View on AmazonView on Chewy
5. Dental Treats to Support Tooth and Gum Health
Cat treats to support dental health will never be as effective as brushing the teeth but can be used alongside brushing or as a simple way to help promote oral health in a cat that won't tolerate any hands-on teeth cleaning.
VOHC Accepted Dental Treats
Purina Pro Plan Crunchy BitesOur top recommended dental cat treat
The only VOHC-accepted cat treat to clinically control both plaque and tartar
Made with real chicken and natural liver flavor
1.5 kcal per treat
View on AmazonView on Chewy
Greenies Tempting Tuna Dental TreatsThe crunchy texture and unique shape help clean teeth and control tartar
Formulated with added vitamins, minerals, and taurine
Made in the USA
Contains 1.4 kcal per treat
View on AmazonView on Chewy
Purina DentaLife Dental TreatsA crunchy texture that's scientifically designed to effectively clean cats teeth and control tartar
Formulated with additional probiotics, vitamins, minerals, calcium, and taurine
Made in the USA
Contains 1.4 kcal per treat
View on AmazonView on Chewy
6. Food and Water Additives for Cats
Supplements added to food and water can be a simple and alternative way to keep your cat's teeth healthy. PlaqueOff Powder for cats contains a natural seaweed that has been shown in clinical trials to reduce plaque and tartar, and improve bad breath. It can be sprinkled onto the food and most cats enjoy the taste. The results are usually seen in 3 to 8 weeks, with daily use.
PlaqueOff Powder for CatsSprinkle or mix with dry or wet food daily
VOHC accepted for plaque and tartar control
Prevents plaque from sticking to teeth and softens existing tartar deposits
Made from sea kelp and is 100% natural
Supports healthy teeth and gums, and reduces bad breath odor
Not recommended for cats with hyperthyroidism due to seaweed's natural iodine content
View on AmazonView on Chewy
HealthyMouth Water Additive for cats is a 100% natural formulation that has been clinically proven to help reduce plaque in cats. It can be added directly to their water each day or diluted and poured over their food.
Cat Essential HealthyMouth Water AdditiveAdd to your cat's water or dilute and mix with their food once a day
Contains papain, yucca, cinnamon, pomegranate, blueberry, clove, chlorophyll, vitamin C, vitamin B2, salmon oil, and zinc gluconate to support oral and general health
VOHC accepted for plaque control
An easy method to promote good dental hygiene
HealthyMouth
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Should I Start Brushing My Kitten's Teeth?
Once you adopt your new kitten from around 8-12 weeks of age, it's a good idea to get them used to having their mouth, lips, teeth, and gums touched. Always be gentle and start with short sessions, gradually increasing the duration as they get more comfortable. You should get your kitten used to the following:
Gently touching and rubbing their muzzle, lips, and around their mouth.
Gently pulling their lips apart to expose their teeth.
Gently retracting their cheeks to expose their back teeth.
Rubbing your finger on their teeth and their gums.
The main goal is to make sure your kitten is at ease with their mouth and teeth being handled. You can use a soft toothbrush and very gently brush their teeth so they become accustomed to the sensation of a toothbrush. However, it's important to remember that they will be losing their baby teeth and growing their adult teeth, which can be uncomfortable and make brushing unpleasant.
Most cats are spayed or castrated at around 6 months, at which point they usually have all their adult teeth. While under general anesthesia, you can ask your vet to examine their mouth. If everything is healthy and there are no signs of dental issues or pain, you can initiate daily brushing as described above, which they should readily accept as you have been preparing them since a kitten.
How Do Cats Clean Their Teeth in the Wild?
In the wild, chewing on their prey's tough hides and the fibrous organs would help remove plaque and keep a cat's teeth clean. However, wild cats can still suffer from broken teeth and painful dental disease, especially below the gum line. They also have a much shorter lifespan than domestic cats (2-3 years rather than 15-18 years on average), so their teeth do not need to stay healthy for as long as our pets.
How to Clean a Cat's Teeth Without Brushing?
If your cat doesn't accept a toothbrush, you may find it easier to clean their teeth with a Q-tip (cotton swab) or dental wipe. Dental diets, dental treats, and food and water additives can also be used to support oral health. You should always opt for products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council that have proven their efficacy, but be aware they may not be as effective as brushing the teeth.
Why Is My Cat's Dental Procedure for Cleaning and Extractions Expensive?
Much preparation and expertise goes into performing a dental procedure on a cat. As well as a veterinary surgeon performing the procedure, there will also be at least one veterinary nurse monitoring and assisting. Each tooth is individually examined and charted, full mouth radiographs are taken to check for disease above and below the gum line, and extractions can be complex.
A cat dental usually involves:
An initial consultaion
A full physical examination
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork
Intravenous catheter
Intravenous fluid therapy
Anesthetic drugs
Local anesthetic blocks
Pain-relief
Antibiotics
Sterile surgical tools
Monitoring equipment
Dental machine
Full mouth X-rays
Oral examination and charting
Scale and polish
Extractions
Follow-up
Can a Cat's Teeth Be Cleaned Without General Anesthesia?
While anesthesia-free dental cleanings are available for pets, they are generally not recommended. It is impossible to thoroughly examine every side of each tooth, check for disease below the gum line, take dental X-rays, efficiently clean each tooth above and below the gum line, and perform any treatment in an awake cat.
Restraining a cat to clean their teeth could also be highly distressing and painful. By the end of the procedure, their teeth may look white and clean, but there could still be significant, painful disease below the gum line. In addition, Simply removing tartar does not prevent periodontal disease since it is plaque that needs to be removed at and below the gum line.
Although anesthesia is not risk-free, with careful selection of drugs, close monitoring of vitals, fluid therapy, and heat support, the risks are very low in healthy animals. If your cat requires a dental, but you are worried, discuss the issue with your vet so they can explain if a dental would be beneficial and the protocols they have in place to minimize risks. Like all owners, I was concerned about my cat having general anesthesia, but she had developed bad breath, and after several extractions of diseased and painful teeth, she was a much, much happier cat. I also felt much happier knowing a healthy mouth is good for her long-term overall health.
For more information, read the American Dental Veterinary College's (AVDC) Positional Statement on anesthesia-free dental cleaning.
ReferencesTrevejo RT, Lefebvre SL, Yang M, Rhoads C, Goldstein G, Lund EM. Survival analysis to evaluate associations between periodontal disease and the risk of development of chronic azotemic kidney disease in cats evaluated at primary care veterinary hospitals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018 Mar 15;252(6):710-720.
Cave NJ, Bridges JP, Thomas DG. Systemic effects of periodontal disease in cats. Vet Q. 2012;32(3-4):131-44. Epub 2012 Nov 29.
Bellows, J. (2022) Feline dentistry. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.