How to Descale Cat Teeth

Neglecting your cat's oral care can lead to infection and tooth loss. Animals need dental care much like humans. Caring for an animal's teeth requires a bond of trust between you and your animal. Cats and dogs can have plaque buildup that will eventually turn into gingivitis. Veterinary professionals recommend having your cat's teeth professionally cleaned once a year. You can help make the yearly cleanings less laborious and more comfortable for your cat by brushing and descaling its teeth between visits.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken broth
  • Gauze
  • Cat toothbrush
  • Cat toothpaste
  • Tooth scaler for dogs and cats
  • Paper towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dip your finger into a cup of chicken broth. Call your cat to you as if you were calling it to give it a treat.

    • 2

      Allow the cat to lick the broth from your finger. Dip your finger back in the broth and open your cat's mouth. Rub your finger gingerly over its gums.

    • 3

      Repeat this activity every couple of days to let your cat get accustom to you touching its teeth and gums.

    • 4

      Wrap a piece of gauze around your finger. Dip the gauze into a cup of chicken broth. Rub the broth-soaked gauze over the cat's gums and teeth like you did with your finger. Use a circular motion like you were using a toothbrush. If your cat is uncomfortable with this activity, repeat every couple of days until your cat gets used to it.

    • 5

      Take a cat toothbrush and dip it into the chicken broth. Open the cat's mouth and gently touch the brush to its teeth and gums. Once the cat is used to the texture of the bristles, start making circular motions like you are brushing its teeth. Repeat this activity until the cat is comfortable with the brush.

    • 6

      Place a small amount of cat toothpaste on the brush. Cat toothpaste is flavored to appeal to a cat's palette. The cat will need to get accustomed to the texture of the paste. Let the cat lick it from the brush before placing the brush in its mouth. Once it is comfortable, use the brush to clean its teeth.

    • 7

      Brush your cat's teeth once or twice a week for a month so it becomes a routine.

    • 8

      Use the scaler to remove plaque from your cat's teeth after it is used to you working in its mouth.

    • 9

      Scrape the scaler gently over each tooth, using the angled end to work in between teeth. Wipe the tartar and plaque on the paper towel periodically. Clean and scale its teeth weekly.