Home Dental Care for Cats | Animal Welfare Hub

Daily tooth brushing and other home dental care measures significantly reduce dental disease prevalence and the chronic pain it causes in cats.

Key Facts

Brushing a cat's teeth daily reduces plaque accumulation by 95% compared to no brushing
Acceptance of tooth brushing requires gradual habituation from kittenhood
Dental diets, water additives, and dental chews can supplement but not replace brushing
Cats resist tooth brushing less when trained with positive reinforcement from a young age
Even weekly brushing provides significant benefit over no dental home care

Welfare Considerations

Home dental care is the most effective intervention available to cat owners for preventing dental disease, which causes chronic unrecognised pain in the majority of adult cats. Daily tooth brushing using cat-specific toothpaste prevents plaque accumulation and the resulting gingivitis and periodontal disease. Many cats can be trained to accept tooth brushing with patience and positive reinforcement. The welfare benefit of preventing dental disease throughout a cat's life is substantial and justifies the investment of effort in establishing a dental care routine from kittenhood.

What You Can Do

Introduce tooth brushing gradually to your cat using positive reinforcement
Use only cat-specific toothpaste as human toothpaste contains harmful xylitol
Brush your cat's teeth daily or at minimum several times per week
Ask your vet to demonstrate tooth brushing technique and recommend appropriate products