How to Clean Your Rat's Teeth

Affectionate and clever, rats make surprisingly good pets. They don't take up much space, and like cats, rats are meticulous self-groomers so they're relatively easy to care for. You've probably bathed your rat once or twice after he's gotten something nasty on his fur, but tooth care now needs to be addressed. Good dental hygiene is important to ensure your pet rat's oral health.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet rat
  • Wooden chew toys
  • Small animal salt-licks
  • Bits of cloth
  • Small-animal nail trimmer
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Like your teeth, a rat's teeth can deteriorate from bacteria caused by sugary foods, so feed your rat as little sugar as possible.

    • 2

      Your rat's teeth are supposed to be orange-colored. If they're white, this indicates a nutritional deficiency. Ask a vet the best things to feed your pet rat.

    • 3

      It is not necessary to brush a rat's teeth because the rat will keep them clean through normal eating and gnawing activities.

    • 4

      Unlike human teeth, rat teeth never stop growing. A rat's incisors are quite long, and if they get too long they can grow into the rat's brain or could prevent him from eating properly. Fortunately, most rats keep their teeth the right length by grinding them (this is how they make that purring sound when they're happy) and by gnawing. Give your rat small wooden toys, a salt lick, or a bit of cloth to gnaw if he's taking out his urge to chew on his cage bars.

    • 5

      Sometimes a rat's teeth can become overgrown, and you will have to trim them. Have a friend hold the rat down, and trim the tips of his front teeth off with a nail trimmer for small animals. Rats do not have nerve endings in their teeth, so this will not hurt, but you will need assistance because the rat won't like this process at all.