You might be wondering why exactly your kitty needs some toothpaste. If you’ve ever gotten up close and personal with your cat, you should know why! Besides bad breath though, it’s really important to take care of your cat’s dental health. It can be hard to stay on top of things when your cat likes to squirm away, but we’ve got the best cat toothpaste to help your out.
Why Does My Cat Need Toothpaste?
It is natural for your cat to have somewhat bad breath, but if you’re pushing your cat away because of the smell, you’ve got a problem. As soon as you notice the bad breath, or if your cat isn’t eating right, there can be more serious problems to come.
Take a look at their teeth in order to see plaque build-up. If you don’t keep an eye on this, your kitty can get the same dental pains as you, with issues like gingivitis, gun inflammation, and tooth decay. Gum disease is more prominent in adult cats, causing them pain from the infection. Keep a close eye on your cat’s breath and eating habits so the infection doesn’t spread through the kidneys or liver.
Best Cat Toothpaste Worth Your Money
Before you brush, you need the right toothpaste! It should not only be something that will clean your cat’s teeth, but that will taste good too.
Tropiclean Fresh Breath Plaque Remover Pet Water Additive
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Tropiclean uses a natural green tea recipe to reduce plaque and tartar without brushing. Just add it to their water to fight periodontal disease and give your cat 12 hours of fresh breath!
Why Its So Popular:
– Minimal to no bubbles when it’s added to the water
– Best tasting!
– Includes a dispensary so you don’t need to remove the cap
Keep In Mind:
– Does not act as a substitution to regular dental care
– If you forget to add it to the water, it becomes obvious quickly
– Some ingredients aren’t actually natural
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dental Kit
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This dental kit is specifically designed for cats, including an angled toothbrush that cleans their small mouths. The toothbrush is super soft with massagers for plaque, while the toothpaste itself uses Denta-C specifically meant to clean your cat’s teeth.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Brush design covers both the front and the back teeth
– Cuts brushing time in half
– Best tasting!
Keep In Mind:
– The rubber bristles can sometimes trap the gooey toothpaste
– The bristles might get in the way of cleaning teeth
Enzadent Pet Toothpaste: Dogs & Cats Poultry Flavor
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Pets love the taste of this poultry toothpaste! It works with plaque removal in both dogs and cats, using three enzymes to clean those teeth. On top of that, it’s pretty easy to use too.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Great tasting, even compared to other toothpaste
– The extra enzymes clean extra well
– Since it’s enzymatic, you can just use it on your finger
Keep In Mind:
– May contain a few questionable chemicals
– May not show any difference in tartar
Virbac C.E.T Enzymatic Toothpaste
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Choose from any of the great flavours your cat will like. This C.E.T Enzymatic toothpaste is formulated for both cats and dogs, providing natural antibacterial actions. It can even inhibit further plaque formation.
Why It’s So Popular:
– The enzymes work to dissolve plaque before you brush
– Great smelling peppermint toothpaste
– Easy to use for most pets thanks to the enzymes
Keep In Mind:
– Some pets may not like the flavor
PetzLife Peppermint Oral Care Gel
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Use this safe alternative for healthier teeth and gums. It’s made with natural ingredients meant to kill bacteria and bad breath, so it’s safe for cats and dogs of any breed. You can even get it as a gel or a spray too.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Can reduce plaque in just a week
– Includes a light minty smell for bad breath
– The application does not have to be perfect for it to work
Keep In Mind:
– A little more expensive than other comparable products
– The essential oils may make it difficult for some cats to get used to it
Which Cat Toothpaste Ingredients Are Safe?
Most cat toothpaste use enzymatic ingredients to break down plaque and tartar since the tougher ingredients used in human toothpaste are off limits. Here are the most common ingredients you can expect, and how safe they are too:
- Dicalcium phosphate is a supplement made from calcium and phosphorus to strengthen teeth
- Ethanol is usually used as alcohol to dissolve things and can be toxic in large doses. You won’t find it in doses that large in toothpaste though
- Glycerin works as a binding and texturizing agent. Because it’s from animal and plant sources, it’s safe
- Magnesium aluminium silicate can affect the kidneys in dogs, as it’s a thickener, although it’s not studied much yet
- Potassium sorbate is safe for both cats and dogs, working as a preservative
- Silica is abrasive but isn’t toxic
- Sodium benzoate is another preservative, and in too large of doses, can be toxic
- Sodium phosphates prevent tartar and plaque buildup, although we don’t know enough about its safety yet
- Sorbitol, as you may know, is a sweetener. It can keep moisture in and improve taste while helping with pet constipation in laxatives
- Titanium dioxide adds the white colouring, so it’s not actually necessary
- Xanthan gum is assumed to be safe, working to thicken and suspend the toothpaste
How to Brush a Cat’s Teeth
First, you need a cat-sized brush, which is easy to find almost anywhere. They’ll be smaller and softer than what you’d use for a dog whether they’re a finger brush or one that you hold. After you grab your toothpaste, you can get started:
- Hold your furry friend on your lap and get them comfortable
- Gently raise your cat’s lip and brush the outside of the teeth. Brush down and away from the gum line to remove food particles
- From the bottom, brush up and away. Just be sure to pinch their cheeks gently between your fingers if they haven’t already opened their mouth
- Go around the outside until you’ve done the entire mouth
Thanks to the fact that cat toothpaste is made to be eaten by cats, you don’t have to worry about rinsing! Just make sure your cat has access to their water bowl like usual.
Conclusion
There are a lot of pet toothpaste you can choose from, but what’s important is getting one your cat will like too! These toothpastes are all safe for kitty consumption and hopefully delicious too. Don’t skimp on your kitty’s dental health and try picking up whichever toothpaste your furry friend will like best.
If you’re interested in more, we also have a full review of dog toothbrushes here.
