5 Tips on Cat Dental Cleaning | Petco

Do you know how many teeth cats have? 30—making every single tooth important to them maintaining a healthy and happy life. While kittens come into this world without teeth, they start to get them once they’re about 2 weeks old. As their pet parent, it’s your job to look out for their pearly whites by starting regular cat teeth cleaning as early as possible.

If you neglect your feline’s teeth, they’re at risk for plaque buildup which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, or a more serious health problem. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your companion, we’re equipping you with 5 cat dental care tips to keep your pet's teeth healthy and strong.

1. Schedule regular visits to your pet's veterinarian

Take your cat to a veterinarian for their annual exam which includes a dental check-up. If you notice foul-smelling breath, excessive drooling, or anything out of the ordinary, make sure to bring it up.

2. Start and stick to a daily cleaning ritual

Routine cat teeth cleaning is best to start when your kitten is young. If you start when they’re older, you’ll face some resistance but oral hygiene is still possible. The first step to learn how to brush cat teeth is to get your feline accustomed to dental care products. Place a small amount of cat toothpaste (never human toothpaste) on your finger, and let your pet lick it off.

Work your way up to wrapping your finger with gauze and massaging their teeth and gums. You can also use cat dental wipes or a pet toothbrush, but again, never a human toothbrush. Start at a slow pace, cleaning a single tooth or two at first. Then, increase how long and the number of teeth you clean.

3. Feed your cat a well-balanced and healthy diet

Many brands offer oral care formulas to assist with cat dental care. There are special kibble designs that wipe away tartar build-up as well as formulas that use interlocking fiber technology to help with cat teeth cleaning. If you choose to only feed your cat wet food, place extra focus on their oral hygiene to clean out leftover food debris. This is key in reducing bacteria and plaque which are the main agents of tooth decay.

4. Offer your pet cat dental treats

Switch up your daily brushing ritual with a few Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)-approved cat dental treats. While they won't replace daily tooth brushing, they can help keep your cat's teeth clean and limit oral health issues. Treats come in a variety of flavors including chicken, salmon, tuna, beef, and more for all types of eaters.

Petco's picks for cat dental treats

5. Experiment with chew toys and dental chews

Believe it or not, chew toys are not just for dogs! You can select a VOHC-approved chew toy designed for cats. Not only does it help satisfy your cat's desire to chew, the toys or dental chews can help curb plaque buildup as well.

Petco's picks for cat chew toys

5 Tips for Cat Dental Cleaning (And Why Each One Works)

Cats are masters at hiding discomfort — which means dental disease can quietly progress for months before you notice a thing. A proactive cat dental cleaning routine is the single best way to stay ahead of it. Before diving into the tips, know your warning signs: bad breath, red or swollen gums, chewing on one side of the mouth, decreased appetite, drooling, or grooming less often all signal it's time to consult your veterinarian. With that baseline in place, here are five practical tips — grounded in feline biology — to protect your cat's mouth for the long haul.

Tip 1: Brush Your Cat's Teeth Regularly (and Start Early)

Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard of at-home cat dental care. Use a soft-bristled pet toothbrush and a cat-safe enzymatic toothpaste — never human toothpaste, which contains ingredients that can be harmful to cats https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control. Start slowly: let your cat lick the toothpaste off your finger first, then graduate to the brush over several sessions. Kittens who are introduced to brushing early tend to tolerate it far better as adults.

Why it matters for cats specifically: Cats are not small dogs. Their most common dental lesion — feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs) — is fundamentally different from the tooth root abscesses and fractured teeth seen most often in dogs. FORLs are erosive lesions that typically appear on the sides of teeth closest to the lips, rather than on the crowns the way cavities appear in people. Regular brushing helps slow plaque accumulation, which is believed to be a contributing factor, though FORLs have been documented even in cats with excellent dental hygiene — including in fossilized cat remains dating back 800 years. The only treatment once FORLs progress is extraction, making prevention the priority.

Tip 2: Schedule Professional Dental Cleanings Every Year

At-home care is essential, but it cannot replace a professional veterinary cleaning. Your veterinarian will scale tartar from above and below the gumline, probe for FORLs and other lesions, and take dental X-rays that reveal problems invisible to the naked eye.

Annual cleanings matter even more because dental disease can begin shockingly early. Feline oral stomatitis — a painful condition causing severe inflammation of the entire oral cavity, excessive salivation and bad breath — is sometimes diagnosed in kittens. Many cats with stomatitis have an underlying viral component as well as a suspected immune-system involvement https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information. In severe cases, veterinarians may recommend extracting all teeth behind the canine teeth, or even full-mouth extractions. The reassuring news: cats tolerate tooth loss remarkably well and can live comfortably and pain-free afterward.

Tip 3: Don't Assume Dry Food Cleans Your Cat's Teeth

One of the most persistent myths in cat care is that kibble scrapes the teeth clean. No scientific study has proven that a dry-food diet keeps cats' teeth cleaner than wet cat food. Here's why: cats don't really chew kibble the way we picture. They mostly swallow it whole, and when they do bite down, the kibble shatters rather than wrapping around the tooth to provide any scraping action.

There is one meaningful exception: veterinary dental diets specifically formulated to stay intact when a cat bites down, essentially enveloping the tooth before breaking apart. Studies show that these diets — such as Hill's Prescription Diet t/d — do measurably reduce plaque and tartar buildup. If your veterinarian recommends a dental diet, that's a purposeful, evidence-based choice — not just any bag of dry food.

Explore Petco's full cat food selection to find options your veterinarian recommends.

Tip 4: Add Dental Treats, Water Additives, or Dental Wipes to Your Routine

Brushing every single day isn't realistic for every pet parent. Dental treats, water additives and dental wipes approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can meaningfully supplement your routine on days when the toothbrush stays in the drawer. Look for the VOHC seal on packaging — it indicates the product has met published standards for plaque or tartar reduction. Keep treats to no more than 10% of your cat's daily caloric intake to maintain a balanced diet https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/.

Tip 5: Treat Dental Disease Promptly — It Affects Your Cat's Whole Body

Dental disease is not just a mouth problem. Significant bacterial buildup in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect the liver, kidneys and heart. The systemic impact is especially pronounced in cats with concurrent health conditions: cats with diabetes, for example, are notoriously difficult to regulate when active dental disease is present — blood glucose can remain elevated despite appropriate insulin doses. Addressing the dental disease often allows for better overall management of conditions like diabetes https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information.

Cats who have had teeth extracted — even full-mouth extractions — continue to eat normally in most cases. Because cats swallow kibble largely whole rather than chewing it, the absence of teeth rarely changes their ability to enjoy their regular cat food. Removing painful teeth eliminates the source of discomfort and often results in a noticeably happier, more active cat.

When to call your veterinarian: If you notice bad breath, red or bleeding gums, pawing at the mouth, drooling, difficulty eating or a sudden drop in grooming, don't wait for the next annual visit. Early intervention is always easier — and kinder — than treating advanced disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I brush my cat's teeth? Daily brushing is the gold standard for cat dental care. Even a few sessions per week can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup significantly compared to no brushing at all. The Cornell Feline Health Center recommends establishing a consistent routine early — ideally starting when your cat is a kitten — to make the process easier for both of you. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information

What if my cat won't let me brush her teeth? Start slow. Let your cat sniff and lick pet-safe toothpaste from your finger before introducing a brush. Gradually work up to gentle gum contact over several days or weeks. If your cat remains resistant, VOHC-approved dental treats, dental chews, and water additives can serve as supplementary tools — though none fully replace brushing. Always consult your veterinarian for additional guidance tailored to your cat's temperament.

Are dental treats and chews enough on their own? Dental treats and chews approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can help reduce plaque and tartar and are a valuable part of a broader oral care routine, but they are not a substitute for brushing. Think of them as a helpful complement, not a replacement. Treats should also remain at or below 10% of your cat's total daily caloric intake to support overall nutritional balance. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information

Does dry kibble actually clean my cat's teeth? No scientific study has confirmed that kibble keeps a cat's teeth cleaner than wet food. Cats tend to swallow kibble largely whole rather than chewing it, so the scraping action many pet parents assume is happening is minimal. Certain prescription dental diets — specially formulated to stay intact as the tooth bites through — have shown evidence of reducing plaque and tartar, but standard dry food does not offer the same benefit.

What are the warning signs that my cat needs a veterinary dental exam? Watch for persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums, drooling, pawing at the mouth, chewing on only one side, a decreased appetite, or a sudden drop in grooming habits. Because cats are skilled at masking discomfort, these signs often appear only after dental disease has already progressed. If you notice any of them, schedule a veterinary appointment promptly. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information

Can my cat eat normally after a tooth extraction? Yes — most cats adapt remarkably well. Cats do not rely heavily on chewing the way dogs do; they tend to swallow food in large pieces regardless. Many cats that have undergone full-mouth extractions continue eating their regular dry or wet food without difficulty. Your veterinarian will advise you on any short-term dietary adjustments needed during the recovery period.

This article was created with assistance from AI tools and reviewed for accuracy by Petco's content team.