Important note before we proceed: Please remember that your cat may already suffer from some form of tooth and gum disease. Existing dental or periodontal disease could make dental home care too painful for the cat, so do not make changes to your cat’s dental care routines without first consulting your vet. Click to read more about dental routines and brushing your cat’s teeth.
Here’s a list of common dental care products you may want to look into and what our members said about them.
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Greenies are often recommended on the forums as a cat treat. They use a natural formula with added vitamins, minerals, taurine and chlorophyll for 100% nutritionally-complete cat treats for adult cats. Just keep in mind this is a treat and should not replace a balanced diet. Most cats seem to like at least one of their five flavors, making this a popular choice among TCS members.
“Feline Greenies Dental Treats” are approved by the V.O.H.C. (The Veterinary Oral Health Council) for tartar reduction, which means their effectiveness was proved by scientific studies.
Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d was designed with dental health benefits in mind. The larger-than-usual pieces of kibble make cats chew them, rather than swallow them whole. The friction between the food and the surface of the tooth helps clean plaque. With less plaque on the teeth the rate of tartar build-up is decreased.
When it comes to plaque/tartar control it’s pretty clear that only a dental formula like this one has any effect. Read here why regular dry food does not actually clean your cat’s teeth. This is one of the few formulas to have been awarded the V.O.H.C. (The Veterinary Oral Health Council) Seal of Approval for helping reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar. Just keep in mind this is no guarantee for the overall nutritional quality of this food.
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Healthy Mouth by Healthy Pet Solutions is a line of herbal-based dental supplements. These include capsules, shown in the picture here, as well as a water additive and gels. The water additive and gels have received the V.O.H.C. (The Veterinary Oral Health Council) Seal of Approval for plaque control.
The ingredients in all of the Healthy Mouth products are human-grade herbal supplements. They contain no alcohol and no artificial additives.
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Plaque Off is a seaweed-based herbal supplement for cats made by a Swedish company called ProDen. The algae, Ascophyllum Nodosum, contain a special enzyme which is meant to help break down plaque. Less plaque means less tartar and healthier teeth and gums.
The supplement comes in powder form, to be added to either dry or wet food on a daily basis. Dosages vary according to the cat’s weight.
This supplement is not recommended for cats with hyperthyroidism, due to the high iodine content in seaweed.
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C.E.T. has a line of pet toothpastes in various flavors. They’re all based on the same formula which contains two types of enzymes. The enzymes break down the layer of plaque as it forms on the cat’s teeth.
While some people rely on the enzymatic system and merely smear the paste on the cat’s teeth and gums, it’s probably not as effective as actual brushing the teeth. Find which C.E.T. flavor your cat likes best and then use that to gradually get her used to having her teeth gently brushed with it. Read more about how to brush your cat’s teeth here.
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The Biotene water additive is a flavorless and odorless solution containing various enzymes that are supposed to break down plaque. It contains the lactoperoxidase enzyme system, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and other enzymes.
Amazon reviewers seem to love this product. Cats don’t notice it when added to the water (which is quite an achievement, considering their heightened sense of smell!) and owners report improved dental health. That said, I could find no studies relating to its effectiveness, nor is it endorsed by the V.O.H.C. (The Veterinary Oral Health Council).
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Undoubtedly, feeding raw goes way beyond dental health. If you’re interested in raw food for cats, you definitely should visit our Raw Nutrition for Cats forum to learn the ins and outs of how to properly feed raw to cats.
That said, a growing number of TCS members use raw meat, including bones, to keep their cats’ teeth and gums in good condition. The idea is to provide your cats with uncooked meat and bones for them to tear through, allowing the friction to remove plaque from their teeth.
Chicken wings seem to be a popular choice. It’s recommended that you use only the smaller tips of the wings, as these contain smaller bones that are easier to get through. Again, please do consult the forums for more information.
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As mentioned above, many members have had trouble brushing their cat’s teeth using toothbrushes, even the smaller ones that are specifically made for cats.
A good substitute for a brush is the humble gauze pad. It’s gentle enough on the gums and teeth, yet strong and textured enough to remove plaque.
Some members use Q-tips for the same purpose, allowing for more fine-tuned action. Either way, these are cheap household items that are readily available and can be used in conjunction with the C.E.T. toothpaste or other pet pastes and gels.
Comments? Leave them using the form below. Questions about your cat? Post them in the cat forums.
The forums are the only place where you can get quick answers to your cat-related questions. Please do not use the comments section to ask questions about your cat.
Comments? Leave them using the form below. Questions about your cat? Post them in the cat forums.
The forums are the only place where you can get quick answers to your cat-related questions. Please do not use the comments section to ask questions about your cat.