Natural Ways to Help Get Rid of Tartar & Bad Breath in My Cats

Feline halitosis (bad breath) can be symptom of tooth decay, gum disease or an underlying health condition, such as diabetes. Taking your cat to a veterinarian for a dental and medical check-up is an important first step if it has persistent bad breath, because your pet may be in pain or require veterinary treatment. However, occasional bouts of bad breath are normal even in healthy cats. Brushing your cat's teeth at least twice a week helps keep its teeth clean and healthy, and prevents the formation of plaque and tartar. However, tartar, once it has formed, can only be removed with a professional tooth scaling administered by a veterinarian.

  1. Brushing

    • Establishing a regular brushing routine helps keep a cat's teeth and gums healthy by reducing plaque and tartar build-up. Use a toothbrush specifically designed for cats and brush with a little sea salt and water or a feline toothpaste containing only natural ingredients. Help your cat get accustomed to this new regime by gently massaging the its gums with your fingers or a cotton wool swab and put a little toothpaste on the cat's lips to familiarize it with the taste. Do this a few times before you start brushing. Brush the cat's teeth gently, starting from the back of the tooth and moving in small, circular motions. Start by brushing each side of the tooth for 10 seconds and increase it to between 30 to 45 seconds on each side when the cat becomes accustomed to this procedure. Don't worry if the cat's gums bleed at little at first --- this is normal and will stop as the gums become healthier. If you have more than one cat, use a separate toothbrush for each one.

    Diet

    • A healthy diet will help to keep your cat's teeth in good condition. Introduce a quality organic dry food to the cat's diet. Dry food encourages the cat to chew, and saliva produced during chewing fights bacteria, helping to prevent plaque, which causes bad breath and tooth decay. Dry food is also less likely to cause bacteria to form in the cat's mouth because, unlike wet foot, it doesn't stick to the teeth. Maintain a healthy balanced diet by feeding your cat a combination of wet and dry food.

    Chew Toy

    • Chew toys satisfy a cat's natural desire to chomp, which strengthens its teeth. Gnawing on a chew toy naturally flosses your cat's teeth, scrapes away soft tartar and massages its gums. Playing with your cat by pretending that its favorite chew toy is a mouse will encourage this process and help keep your pet physically active.

    Dietary supplements

    • Natural dietary supplements can help to remove plaque and keep the cat's teeth clean, strong and healthy. These contain minerals, probiotics and natural ingredients such as yeast, Aloe Vera, organic apples, calcium and potassium. Sprinkle the supplements directly on the cat's food or use them as an alternative to toothpaste. Alternatively, you can add liquid supplements containing natural ingredients to your cat's drinking water. Ingredients include yukka plant extract, which decreases odors and helps the cat to absorb nutrients, purified filtered water and mint oil.