4 tips from vets to brush your cat's teeth and help keep their mouth clean and fresh

• Up to 90% of cats over age 4 have gingivitis, periodontitis, or another type of dental disease.
• Brushing your cat's teeth daily, or as often as you can, may help prevent oral health issues.

Your cat has teeth, just like you — and if they're prone to stinky breath that rivals your morning breath, you may wonder if they need regular dental care, too.

Vets say yes, your feline friend certainly does need dental care — particularly since 50% to 90% of cats over the age of 4 have some type of dental disease.

But daily brushing can help your cat avoid dental problems that could affect their quality of life — just like it does for you, says Dr. Danielle Bernal, veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food.

If you've never put a toothbrush into your cat's mouth before, don't worry. It's never too late to start. Below, get step-by-step instructions to brush your cat's teeth from experts, along with other tips to support your cat's oral health.

Does brushing really matter?

Cats take care of other grooming tasks on their own, so you might assume brushing their teeth is unnecessary.

Yet while they're perfectly able to clean their fur and paws and groom their nails, they can't give their chompers the same treatment.

Without regular brushing, your cat's teeth and gums may accumulate plaque, a transparent film of bacteria and debris. Over time, plaque attracts minerals from your cat's chewed food and hardens into tartar.

Tartar can then lead to a number of dental conditions, from periodontal disease and gingivitis to receding gums.

Left unchecked, these conditions could lead to painful dental issues, including:

• Chronic oral infections
• Bacteremia — bacteria in your cat's blood
• Rotting teeth or gums
• Tooth loss

What's more, cats with poor oral health may face a higher risk of kidney disease.

How to brush your cat's teeth

Here's the good news: You can manage some of these dental diseases by taking care of your cat's teeth.

Caring for your cat's teeth does include a good brushing from time to time — which may be easier said than done for some cats.

"Getting your cat comfortable with toothbrushing can be a process," says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, veterinarian at Excited Cats.

According to Bonk, it's best to introduce your cat to brushing when they're still a kitten. But if your cat is an adult, don't worry — you can still teach an old cat new tricks. Here's how to get started:

1. Get the right equipment

Before you can start brushing, you'll need to have essential supplies ready, including:

• A cat toothbrush: "Cats have very small mouths and teeth, so you'll need to purchase a toothbrush specially made for pets," Bernal says. If you're just starting out, consider a finger toothbrush. These slide onto your finger like a glove and give you easier control while brushing.
• Pet-safe toothpaste: Human toothpaste may contain ingredients that are toxic to cats, like fluoride or xylitol. Instead, look for a special cat toothpaste that's safe for swallowing. These often come in flavors your cat might enjoy more than cool mint — like chicken, beef, or even catnip toothpaste.
• Rewards: Grab some rewards to reinforce good behavior, like treats or a fun toy. These can both encourage your cat to allow the indignity of toothbrushing and reward them for cooperating with the process.

2. Get your cat comfortable

With your equipment on hand, you can start familiarizing your cat with the brushing process.

According to Bernal, the goal of this step is to simply get your cat used to you handling their mouth rather than actually cleaning their teeth. You can start by:

1. Lifting your cat's lips

2. Running your finger or a toothbrush over their teeth

3. Repeating until your cat feels comfortable with you touching all of their teeth

If you're using a toothbrush during this step, Bonk first recommends keeping it dry. Later, you can introduce your cat to the toothpaste by letting them lick it from the tube or your finger first.

3. Start brushing

After a few sessions of getting your cat used to the brushing process, you can start actually cleaning their teeth.

First, set your cat in your lap, or in a spot where you can easily access their mouth.

If your cat doesn't want to hold still, consider recruiting someone else to hold them for you. Alternatively, you can try wrapping them in a towel — like a cat burrito or "purrito" if you will. Swaddling your cat gives you better control of their head and helps keep them from swatting at you.

Then, Bernal says, follow these steps:

• Squeeze a drop of toothpaste onto the toothbrush.
• Gently move the toothbrush in a circular motion over every tooth.
• Continue tooth to tooth until you've clean all of your cat's teeth
• Remember to brush along the gum line to help prevent plaque buildup there.

Quick tip: At first, your cat may not tolerate you brushing all of their teeth in one sitting. But according to Bernal, that's totally normal. You can always take a break and pick up where you left off until you've cleaned all their teeth.

Ideally, aim to brush their teeth for 2-3 minutes once a day. If your cat won't tolerate daily sessions, brushing every other day or weekly can still make a difference, Bonk says.

4. Offer rewards

Throughout the process, it's important to stay gentle and reward your cat for good behavior, Bernal says.

After all, you want your cat to keep calm when you get the toothbrush, not run away and hide.

Positive reinforcement, like a yummy dental treat, may help your cat learn to link the reward with the toothbrushing session — which may leave them more inclined to cooperate.

That said, every cat has different preferences. If your cat doesn't care for treats, other rewards that may motivate them include:

• Petting or brushing sessions
• Playtime with a favorite toy
• A dash of catnip

Best cat dental products

Keeping your cat's oral health in good shape is important for their overall health. Here are the best toothpaste, toothbrush, and treats you can buy to help you maintain a good standard for your cat:

• Best toothpaste for cats: Petsmile Professional Toothpaste - See at Chewy and Amazon

• Best toothbrush for cats: Virbac C.E.T. Pet Toothbrush - See at Chewy and Amazon

• Best cat dental treats: Feline Greenies Dental Treats - See at Chewy and Amazon

Other ways to support your cat's oral health

Patience is key when training cats to tolerate any new experience. Of course, if you've been at it for a while and your cat responds to the toothbrush with a flurry of claws, it might be time to change your tactics.

"Some cats just aren't going to go for toothbrushing, and that's fine," Bonk says.

Rather than forcing your cat to brush, you can still help keep their teeth and gums healthy through methods like:

• Getting a professional cleaning: If your cat won't let you brush their teeth at home, Bonk suggests contacting your vet for a professional cleaning. Your vet can sedate your cat before cleaning their teeth and examine your cat's mouth for any dental issues.
• Feeding them dry food: Tartar and plaque may be less common in cats that eat dry food. So, feeding your cat kibble or crunchy dental treats may help support their dental health.
• Trying a gel: If your cat won't sit still for a brushing session, Bonk suggests smearing your cat's teeth with a dental gel to fight plaque and tartar.

Insider's takeaway

Brushing your cat's teeth might seem a bit strange at first — both to you and your cat. But it's an important way to support their dental health and keep them from developing painful dental diseases.

While it's best to introduce toothbrushing to a young kitten, adult cats can also learn to tolerate the process, so long as you start slow and reward them for cooperating with you.

"Stay patient, persistent, and gentle. If you can regularly clean your cat's teeth, they have a better chance at living a happy, healthy life," Bonk says.