My cat has gingivitis. Is brushing her teeth at home safe?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jackie. If she has gingivitis or redness along her gum margins, she should go under anesthesia to have her teeth professional cleaned. Red gums indicate an infection in the mouth. This is actually more problematic than tartar accumulating on the teeth. Gingivitis leads to bad breath and a destruction of the attachment of the teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to chronic pain in the mouth and the eventual loss of teeth. As far as at home care, I like Maxiguard Gel as it is easier than brushing a cat's teeth. You want to look for products with the VOHC seal as these are approved for use by veterinary dentists. These products can really make a big difference for Jackie's oral health and her overall quality of life. I hope this information helps!

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.

You can brush Roxzy's teeth with a cat specific toothpaste (do NOT use human toothpaste) and a cat toothbrush, but ultimately the only way to cure gingivitis is with a dental cleaning, scaling, and polishing at the vet. I'd make him an appointment to get that done. Best of luck.

That looks like pretty painful gingivitis. There also may be some lesions on the neck of the canine tooth (FORL). Your vet will inspect the whole mouth and may suggest a tooth cleaning under anesthesia where the teeth are also cleaned underneath the gingiva. Unfortunately the teeth can look very clean, but underneath the gingiva bacteria congregate and cause tooth decay, inflammation, and, in serious cases, heart and kidney disease, This is not an emergency, but should be addressed soon.

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

I have found that a lot of cats will allow you to wrap your finger in gauze and gently rub the gum line that way. If they will tolerate that it may be a bit more effective then just your bare finger. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

The medications should have an effect within a week or so but response is variable. Gingivitis can be complicated in cats as it can have an autoimmune component. Special foods can help with the condition and daily tooth brushing with pet toothpaste will help the most if Chibi will allow it. Some cats may eventually need all the teeth removed. Hopefully Chibi’s is not that serious and I hope she responds quickly to treatment. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.