Companion Animals

Cat Dental Disease: Home Care Prevention Strategies

Periodontal disease is nearly universal in older cats, but daily tooth brushing significantly reduces its progression.

Key Facts

Over 70% of cats over 3 years old have clinically significant dental disease
Daily tooth brushing reduces plaque accumulation by over 90% compared to no brushing
Dental diets and treats have modest evidence for plaque reduction
Professional dental scale and polish under anaesthesia is the gold standard treatment

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain is chronic and significantly reduces quality of life in cats. Many cats tolerate dental disease silently for months before showing obvious signs. Prevention through brushing and dental diet is far preferable to treating advanced disease.

What You Can Do

Train your cat to accept tooth brushing - start in kittenhood for best results
Schedule annual dental examinations with your vet
Ask your vet about dental diet options if brushing is not tolerated