How to Clean Tarter Off Cats Teeth

Making sure your cat's dental hygiene is up to par is integral in both its health and happiness. Although cats in the wild can clean their teeth by eating foods that naturally remove excess tartar, domestic cat food makes this tartar-removing process more difficult and, in some cases, impossible. Over time, the excess tartar can lead to gum infections, according to PetEducation.com. Because of this, brushing your cat's teeth two times a week is recommended.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat dental toothpaste
  • Cat toothbrush
  • Treat
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Instructions

  1. Prepping Your Cat

    • 1

      Allow your cat to familiarize itself with the taste of the cat dental toothpaste you'll use. Let it lick some off your fingers and reward it after it does with a treat or petting.

    • 2

      Put some toothpaste on your finger and apply gentle pressure to your cat's teeth at the front of its mouth. This prepares your feline for the sensation of having something foreign in its mouth.

    • 3

      Let your cat lick some toothpaste off of the bristles on the toothbrush you'll use. This makes your cat more comfortable with the texture of the bristles and makes the actual brushing process easier to get used to.

    Brushing

    • 4

      Place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line and gently lift the cat's upper lip up to expose gums and teeth.

    • 5

      Rub the brush back and forth as you would for your own teeth. Apply only a slight amount of pressure and brush the two front canine teeth as well as the outside edge of the teeth.

    • 6

      Talk to your cat and praise it throughout the process and after you're finished brushing. Reward it with a treat.

    • 7

      Do not brush the interior of the teeth (side facing the tongue) since the tongue movement keeps it plaque-free.