Caring for your cat's mouth and teeth
Just like human babies, kittens aren't born with teeth. They start to appear when a kitten is about three weeks old. Kittens normally have 26 baby teeth, which are replaced by 30 permanent teeth between four and six months of age.
Good oral health is vital for your cat’s overall wellbeing! As a cat owner, two essential things to know for keeping your cat’s mouth healthy are:
Check your cat's mouth regularly
Brush your cat’s teeth daily using a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste
If possible, it’s best to get your cat used to this routine from a young age. Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, early practice with brushing and handling makes it much easier when they're older and their permanent teeth are in place.
Two common dental conditions in cats are tooth resorption (sometimes called FORL) and periodontitis. Regular tooth brushing can help prevent periodontitis, but unfortunately, tooth resorption can't be prevented. Both conditions can cause your cat pain, and in severe cases, affected teeth may need to be removed.
