Within hours after your kitten gobbles up a meal, sticky plaque begins to accumulate on their teeth. Within a day, that plaque combines with minerals in their saliva to become tartar.
Brushing your kitten’s teeth is the best way to keep their mouth clean and healthy. But daily brushing can get challenging at times, especially with a high-energy, wiggly kitten! Other dental products can supplement brushing to help reduce bacteria and plaque on your kitten’s teeth, and can bridge the gap on days when brushing just isn’t going to happen.
With so many dental products available, how do you know which to choose for your feline best friend? Let us help demystify this issue.
- Dental chews and dental treats: These are designed to scrub your kitten’s teeth as they chew, hopefully rubbing off plaque in the process. Some of these products may also contain compounds that fight the bacteria on a chemical level.
- Toys: Chewing on rubber toys can help scrub plaque off your kitten’s teeth, and are less likely to fracture teeth because most toys are soft. However, supervision is a good idea in case your kitten is tearing off and swallowing large pieces of the toy.
- Water additives: Water additives are much like a drinkable mouthwash that you add to your kitten’s water bowl. They help reduce the amount of plaque-forming bacteria in your kitten’s mouth. Most cats don’t mind the taste, and it’s safe if your dog drinks some, too. But only use pet-approved products, because human mouthwashes are toxic to pets!
- Oral gels: If your kitten is picky about what is added to their water or refuses to accept tooth brushing, a gel could be a good solution. The flavored gel is applied to your cat’s teeth and gums after mealtime.
- Wipes: Medicated wipes remove plaque on the teeth and contain plaque-control agents to help prevent buildup. These are another good option for kittens who won’t fully accept tooth brushing.
Once you have chosen the type of dental product, how do you choose the brand? Luckily, the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has made this easy. Their seal of approval appears only on products that have passed testing to prove they are effective and safe for pets. You can see a complete list of approved products here:
https://vohc.org/accepted-products/
