Dental disease is the most common health problem in cats, with preventive care through tooth brushing and appropriate diet significantly reducing progression.
Dental disease causes chronic pain that cats hide effectively until severely affected. By the time dental disease is clinically apparent, significant suffering has usually already occurred. Daily tooth brushing from kittenhood is the most effective prevention but requires patient introduction. The welfare case for proactive dental care is strong - prevention is far preferable to painful disease and anaesthetic procedures in older cats.