How do pets keep their oral and dental health?

Do you know that pets also need to pay attention to their oral health? This will better ensure the health of pets.Just like people need to brush their teeth and wash their teeth, cats' dental health also needs daily maintenance. So what are the ways for cats to maintain oral hygiene? Here are some practical methods for everyone.

1.Brushing teeth

Brushing teeth can help cats clean up food residues accumulated in their mouths and prevent bacteria from growing. Generally, 1-2 times a week is enough. If you feed some soft food, you can clean it 3-4 times a week. However, most cats are not very cooperative with brushing teeth. It is very difficult to touch their teeth, so you have to let them adapt slowly first.

If the cat shows full resistance or even aggressiveness, it is not recommended to force the cat to brush its teeth. You can choose other cleaning methods to avoid harming yourself and the cat.
Note: Please use toothpaste specially for pets! Human toothpaste contains fluoride, which is not good for cats.

2. Teeth washing

The cleaning power of teeth washing is strong, which can completely remove dental plaque, tartar and dirt in the gaps that are usually difficult to clean. Cats over three years old can have their teeth cleaned once a year. However, teeth cleaning requires general anesthesia, has certain risks, and is expensive.
Note: All oral surgeries require general anesthesia, and teeth cleaning is also a treatment method.

3. Mouthwash

Compared to brushing and cleaning teeth, the cleaning power of mouthwash is limited, and it has certain effects on removing bad breath and anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Just pour an appropriate amount of mouthwash into the water and let the cat drink it when drinking water. However, the taste of mouthwash, the numbness caused, and the burning sensation of oral mucosa will make cats drink less water.
Note: Please use a special mouthwash for pets!

4. Tooth cleaning gel

Tooth cleaning gel is more like a gel-like mouthwash, and the method of use is also very simple. Drop a drop of gel the size of a soybean on the cat's back molars. You don't need to squeeze too much, just once a day. If it is inconvenient to pry open the cat's mouth, you can also drop the gel on the cat's philtrum and let it lick it off. The gel is working when the cat is licking its teeth.
Note: Do not feed cats within 30 minutes before and after using the gel.

5. Tooth cleaning powder

Tooth cleaning powder belongs to a kind of dry seaweed. Its function is to change the oral environment and reduce the production of dental plaque, but it has little effect on the already formed dental calculus. Tooth cleaning powder is also very convenient to use. Just take an appropriate amount and mix it in the cat's food and let it eat it.

6. Tooth cleaning stick

The most common one is the wood Tianjiao stick, which cleans the dirt by rubbing the tooth cleaning stick with the cat's teeth.

Because the tooth cleaning stick is harder, it is only suitable for cats with healthy teeth. For cats who already have oral problems, using tooth cleaning sticks may accelerate tooth wear and even cause other mechanical injuries.

7. Tooth cleaning snacks

Tooth cleaning snacks are generally larger and harder blocks, which clean dirt by increasing the friction when the cat chews food.
However, when choosing tooth cleaning snacks, pay attention to the types that contain ingredients for cleaning oral breath in the ingredient list, such as galactofucan, persimmon extract, etc. Some snacks that claim to be good for cleaning teeth only contain the ingredients of ordinary pet snacks. A large amount of starchy carbohydrate residues will cause acidification and corrosion of teeth.

Similarly, tooth-cleaning snacks are more suitable for healthy cats.

8. Tooth-cleaning toys

Tooth-cleaning toys also clean teeth by friction.

Most tooth-cleaning toys will add catnip to attract cats, and they need to be disinfected and dried frequently. In addition, be careful not to choose toys that are easy to bite or have fluff, which can be easily swallowed by cats. Finally, cats only lick catnip balls instead of chewing them, so it has a certain effect of eliminating odors but no effect of cleaning teeth.

The above are the methods of cleaning and caring for cats' oral cavity! Have you learned it?