How to Remove Tartar From Feline Teeth

Plague forms on a feline's teeth on a daily basis. If you don't help your cat remove plaque from her teeth, it mixes with saliva and turns in to a hard whitish-yellow deposit that settles at the upper part of her teeth, near the gum line. If left untreated, this tartar triggers loose teeth and infections, such as gingivitis and tonsillitis. When infections enter your cat's bloodstream, they can cause kidney and heart problems, which can be fatal. To avoid dental problems, prevent and remove tarter buildup through proper feline dental care.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat toothbrush
  • Cat toothpaste
  • Dry cat food
  • Dental powder
  • Dental treats or oral hygiene chews
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Bring your cat to the veterinarian to have tartar removed. The veterinarian uses a disclosing solution to reveal tartar. Because slight movement can result in injury during the cleaning process, a general anesthesia or a mild sedative is administered. A process known as de-scaling is used to remove tartar. Hand instruments and ultrasonic and sonic power scalers are used to remove the tartar above and below the gum line.

    • 2

      Brush your cat's teeth at least every other day to help keep plague and beginning tartar off her teeth. Use cat toothpaste and a cat toothbrush, pad or sponge. Have a friend hold your cat's face in his hands and pull back her lips to expose the teeth. Place the toothbrush with a pea-size amount of toothpaste inside your cat's cheek. Make circular motions over the teeth. Work from the back to the front. Reward your cat for good behavior during the entire process says Pet Education.

    • 3

      Feed your cat dry food instead of wet food. Wet food sticks to her teeth and forms plaque quickly. Dry food is hard and cleanses plaque and beginning tartar formation off your cat's teeth.

    • 4

      Mix a tartar and plaque removal powder in your cat's food. The powder is ingested with the food and works on removing plague and beginning tartar formation from your feline's teeth through her saliva. Use dental powder if you don't regularly brush your cat's teeth.

    • 5

      Feed your cat dental treats or oral hygiene chews to control, slow down and remove tartar and plague formation says Vetinfo.com. Dental treats and chews taste good to your feline and at the same time work to combat tartar formation.