Why

Good dental health is an important factor in your cat's overall physical condition and well-being. Painful teeth and gums can be detrimental to nutrition, total health, and quality of life. The long-term consequences of poor dental hygiene in cats include:

• Bad breath, often a symptom of dental disease
• Dental abscesses and tooth loss due to periodontal disease
• Pain from infected teeth and gums
• Systemic infection starting in the teeth and gums and possibly spreading—via the bloodstream—to your cat's kidney, liver, heart or lungs
• Expense of repeated dental treatments, anesthesia, extractions and surgery

The good news is that by caring for your cat's teeth on a daily basis, you can greatly reduce or even eliminate such problems.

How

First, it's always smart to bring your cat to your veterinarian for an initial dental health assessment. Your cat may need a professional cleaning before you start a home care regimen. Your veterinarian can also advise you about your cat's dental risk factors, products you should use, and even show you how to brush your cat's teeth.

Once you get the go-ahead from your veterinarian, the next step is finding products that work well for your cat. Be patient, as this can require some trial and error.

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