My cat won't let me brush her teeth. Are dental water additives safe?

Once your kitty had his dental cleaning , brushing his teeth with enzymatic tooth paste will prevent the build up of tartar and gingivitis. Brushing his teeth while he still has the excessive tartar will not remove it and also hurt the gums, as the gingivitis is painful. You can use water additives, but in my opinion they do not do much for the breath and his teeth. The bad breath is caused by bacteria in the tartar and below the gums. It will go away as soon as the teeth are cleaned.

Yes this would work just be careful not to get bitten! There are other alternatives too that you can try to help with oral hygiene if tooth brushing is proving to be a problem. You can get a seaweed extract to add to the food daily called plaque off. There is also aquadent which is a bit like a mouth wash that you add to their water for them to drink. My favourite option is hills TD food as this has both a mechanical and chemical action to break down the calculi and improve oral hygiene and hopefully prevent dental work.

It is great to hear Gracie is doing a little better! Brushing can be a help to reduce plaque levels but will not remove any solid tartar on the teeth. I would be cautious about using water additives containing sodium bicarbonate in a cat with dental disease as compromised kidneys can have difficulty in regulating acid balance in the blood. I recommend you do not use until this can be checked with the manufacturer as to levels and safety for cats with kidney disease.Once she is more stable it may be possible to perform a short dental procedure with intravenous fluids and short acting anesthetic in order to remove the source of pain and discomfort from her mouth

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! You are my hero for trying to brush Nala's teeth. If you haven't tried to start with the left side first, do that. Yes, at least getting the enzyme tooth paste on the teeth will do something. The brushing does help the most. Try to brush at least 3 times per week. They also make a tooth brush that fits on your finger tip, that may work better for her. Also check out the link for the Veterinary Oral Health Council's recommended products. Otherwise just keep trying! Practice makes perfect and also hopefully Nala will acclimate. She may still be sensitive on the one side from the cleaning. I hope this helps and I wish you and Nala the best! http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3497 http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_cats.html

Hi and thanks for posting! Don't worry- you are not alone! Many pets do not enjoy their owners brushing their teeth. The best thing really is to have a professional dental scaling with your veterinarian once a year. However, there are many dental products out there to help decrease plaque formation and prevent dental calculus build up. Perhaps a dental chewable, water additive, or a dental spray would be easier. I have included below a link to a list of dental products approved by the veterinary oral health council. http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Cats.pdf I hope this helps!

It's great that you want to help keep Sylvester's teeth clean! Regular dental cleanings at your vet are vital to help prevent dental disease. See the links below for more information on products you may find helpful for dental home care and more information on periodontal disease: http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_cats.html http://www.vohc.org/veterinary_periodontal_disease.html

I am attaching a link to the products that the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has tested and approved for use. http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm You will see that the list for cats is pretty short, but there are some diets, treats and water additives that might be an option for you. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.