Should I Brush My Cat’s Teeth?

In this episode of the Scoop, I talk all about brushing cats’ teeth and how it plays out in *my* family. To brush or not to brush - that is the question! In this video, I discuss the pros, the cons, and the in-betweens.

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#JacksonGalaxy #Cat #Advice
00:00 Introduction
01:55 Tips for Brushing Your Cat's Teeth
03:31 Is it Practical to Brush Your Cat's Teeth?
04:33 Have Your Vet Do it
06:47 Get Teeth Cleaning Treats / Food

[hastip.]

Our cat actually loves the brushing teeth thing. Every night at 7 pm he goes and sit in the bathroom & waits for it lol

[ItsMeHeatherT]

I wrap my cat like a burrito and brush her teeth daily. The vet wanted to take all her teeth out but with brushing daily, the red gums have subsided and she actually chews on the toothbrush herself.

[BusterKitten]

true story... couldn't figure out why sometimes my toothbrush was damp when I'd brush my teeth. I noticed it several times and it seemed to happen when one particular grandson would spend the night with us. I assumed he was using my toothbrush to brush his own teeth so it didn't bother me too much. One evening he said that Boris, our rescue puppy didn't like the new toothpaste we had bought... I got a new toothbrush.

[TJ-kzul]

I have one marshmallow cat who will let me do anything to him, including brushing his teeth. My other cat...well, I have too much self-respect for my arms, hands, fingers to go near his mouth with a toothbrush. He's made it very clear he will never, ever let that brush enter his mouth without a claw attack.

[timriehl]

Dang; it's hard enough to clip his claws; I don't need another fight.

[DrunkenRhyin]

My Vet actually told me she stopped recommending brushing for cats, because so few cat owners she's dealt with were able to successfully brush their cat's teeth often enough to make a difference. She instead recommended a specific dental cat food called T/D to me and we're hoping that that + Greenies will help make a difference.

She also told me that if I buy any oral cat products, to only buy things that have the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) Seal of Acceptance, because otherwise what I buy might actual be snake oil as there's no regulation around making sure the products actually help our cats.

[indigoround]

I feel better now. My cats won't tolerate it at all.

[staceynoffke]

What a relief. I started watching this video thinking I was gonna feel like a horrible cat mom, but I feel relieved instead. Thank you!

[renthestray]

I adopted an 8 year old cat a year ago, and I now brush her teeth daily with no issues. I do it right before her evening meal, and she knows the routine. She doesn't love it, but she's calm and tolerates it just fine. It hasn't had a negative impact on our relationship at all. I'm sure with some cats it would be more challenging, but I honestly think it's doable with most. For me, it's been way easier to get my adult cat used to teeth brushing than other routine things like giving medication, claw trimming, or brushing parts of her body she's not a fan of.

[chelseagirl]

PLEASE everyone here brush your cat’s teeth at least once a week. I lost my best friend and fur baby of 13 years, Posh due to her developing a dental disease and died within a month. I beg all of you! 🙏

[MsBiz]

I never brushed my first 3 cats who now passed away. They all lived long lives around 14 to 17 years. Only one had a teeth problem at the end. She lived up to 17 yrs. I miss them very much

[MURZBO]

I started brushing my cat's teeth at age 5 now I brush after every meal except if I'm at work overtime someone else feeds him without brushing but other than that every meal and at this point it's something he expects after every meal so in case anyone has an adult cat just so you know it's possible to get them into the good habit!

[amandatracy]

I trimmed half the bristles off a normal toothbrush with a boxcutter. After I started petting her cheeks with it, she started wanting to chew on it, so I can just rotate it when she does.

[foxwaffles]

I volunteer in cat rescue and we use something called Maxi Guard. It is a liquid you can rub quickly onto their gums. Doesn't beat brushing but it has greatly improved some of our special needs cats' gum conditions. Cut off the tips of a glove or buy finger cots, drip a drop or two onto the glove, and rub a dub dub

[sawakenbake]

This is awesome. I saw the topic and thought “hell no, I’m not shoving my fingers into their mouths”. Glad to see Jackson is feeling the same.

[sloanep]

Hi, my cat have chronic gingivitis/ stomatitis, had to have some of his teeth removed and the vet asked us to brush his teeth...It was horrible and end up in everyone in the house crying so we stopped. Now our vet gave us a liquid solution called Oxyfresh, to mix with the water, it is supposed to kill bacteria in the water and clear the mouth when the cat is drinking. It is very helpful for us, hope it may help some of you too.

[TheDanielle]

I am so glad to hear your opinion about this. Both of my cats are 8-9 years old, and I’ve tried so many times to brush their teeth. I’ve tried to introduce it as gently and slowly as possible. They hate it so much. They have fought me every time. I would have to take them one at a time in the bathroom and shut the door so they can’t escape, and then try to wrap them and do it quickly while they were fighting me the entire time. I got bitten so badly once that I thought it was going to get infected. I eventually gave up on trying, and I have always felt so bad about that. But I just don’t feel like the trauma and stress that I have to put them through, and the bites and scratches that I have to endure is worth it. Not to mention, like you said, I don’t want them to flinch every time I come near them and worry that I’m going to try to do something to them. I’ve had their teeth cleaned at the vet a couple of times, and they are both going to have them cleaned again this year. That’s the best that I can do 🤷🏻‍♀️

[FromDawnDusk]

Just a heads-up, having to put them under anesthesia for a thorough cleaning can be a problem depending on the cat. It's good to take into account other health issues the cat may have (talk to their vet). In my personal experience, my 3-year-old cat was recommended by her veterinarian not to undergo that kind of cleaning until the dental situation becomes a bit of a more serious problem because she has chronic kidney disease and the anesthesia could further harm her kidney. So, in cases like this, it could be more beneficial to try to make the at-home cleaning work, as long as it doesn't stress the cat too much. Their veterinarian will be able to tell you what's best.

[TheZoeBird]

I put off watching this video for so long because I was honestly afraid to be scolded by Jackson for not being great with brushing my cats' teeth. I was pleasantly surprised.

There is one thing that I felt he didn't really address which is the cost of dental cleanings. Vet care is fairly expensive here so at minimum I'd be looking at about $1, 000 for the procedure (including xrays, pain meds) every year. If any extractions are needed, it adds about $150 per extraction. So, while I do agree that brushing daily may not be ideal, addressing dental health with dental cleanings can be very unaffordable.

It's also a horrible quagmire of conflicting information. On the one hand you have people who never clean their cats' teeth or have dental cleanings, and their cats are fine. Then you have vets saying they need daily brushing or annual cleanings to prevent painful dental disease. It's very confusing to know the best, more efficient way to approach dental care.

I'm going to share some of the things I've learned after heavy research that I hope may help others reading this.

Dental care, in some form, IS important.

However, it's not as important as some might say. It's only due to modern human dentistry that we have the expectation that people (and pets) should have no cavities, no tooth loss, no tartar buildup. Up until the last 100 years, people lived with cavities. Their teeth fell out eventually, or were maybe pulled out if the pain was bad enough. They had gingivitis and tartar. And they lived with it as a part of live. Yes, historically healthier diets were better for teeth, but it's not like our ancestors or wild cats are free from dental disease.

But still, anyone who has had sore gums or an untreated cavity knows that while it's tolerable, it's not FUN. We don't want our cats living with that if we can avoid it, and we hate that sinking feeling when our vets mention "she has significant tartar buildup, do you want to schedule a dental? Here's your estimate ranging from $900 to $2, 200, plus she'll need bloodwork and xrays."

Then we get the dental done and start buying products that promise to clean teeth without brushing. We buy toothbrushed and cat toothpaste knowing full well we're going to forget about it after the first week. We get chew toys and wonder why our cats aren't gnawing on them. Then we forget entirely until the next time we go to the vet and they say "she has significant tartar buildup again, do you want to schedule another dental?" Lather, rinse, repeat.

There's this vibe with dental care that it's all-or-nothing. Either you brush their teeth every day, or you get dental cleanings, or do you do nothing.

But it's NOT.

All those measures I mentioned above that don't work? They DO work. They just don't work all that well individually. But combine them together and you have yourself a system that you, your cat and your wallet can live with.

Toothpaste and toothbrush
Cat toothpaste is enzymatic, meaning it will soften plaque for easier removal. That means you don't have to reply on 2-minutes of scrubbing with a brush to remove all plaque. So, get a toothpaste your cat likes, and use your fingertip to wipe it on their teeth. It's far less invasive than a brush, and helps a little.
There are also silicone toothbrushes with 360-degree heads. They are softer, and use a gentle mechanical action to remove some plaque. Cats may even kind of gnaw on them and you can gently move the brush around to reach more tooth surface.

Chew toys
Most cats don't chew like dogs. They are not going to gnaw on a toothbrush-shaped toy for an hour. But they will probably gnaw on a toy they have caught. There are chew toys for cats with mesh material - attach one to a wand toy, play with your cat, and let them chew on it when they catch it. If you do this right after applying toothpaste, that'll help even more. Even a thick cotton rope (like for macrame) with knots tied into the end and bounced (under supervision only) around may encourage gnawing.

Raw meat and bones
This helps too. Find something your cat likes, and give them a big hunk of it once a week. I give my cats a raw chicken wing once a week.

Snake oil additives
Water additives and food powders - they're not entirely snake oil! They don't keep your cat's teeth perfectly clean, but they do help in preventing plaque accumulation.

Dental cleanings
Word to the wise: it's cheaper to get cleanings done more frequently, than to get cleaning+extractions less frequently. Ask your vet to let you know when they're due for a cleaning, but before they look like they will need multiple extractions.

Proactive extractions
When your cat is approaching senior status, ask your vet about doing proactive extractions with their next cleaning. If your cat is susceptible to severe dental issues, this can prevent a lot of future dental procedures. Cats do very well without their teeth (though it's preferable to leave the canines if possible).

[saraquill]

Three of my cats lost teeth to decay, so I’m diligent now about brushing.