The Best Cat Toothpaste for Healthy Kitty Teeth

Veterinary experts estimate that all mature cats have a total of 30 teeth. If you own one of these animals, sometimes taking care of all of these teeth can be a challenge considering that you need to keep them clean on a regular basis. What you need is one of these best cat toothpaste products.

Luckily, there are various cat toothpaste available in the market that you can safely use on your pet. These products are specially formulated for cats, and some are even infused with flavors like meat, fish or chicken to make them more appealing to the animal.

If used regularly, cat toothpaste can protect your pet from various oral diseases including life-threatening periodontal conditions caused by bacteria and germs. When choosing an appropriate toothpaste for your pet, you need to ensure that it’s comfortable and doesn’t have any negative side effects that may make the cat to suffer in silence. Other key factors to consider when choosing the best cat toothpaste include the following points.

Cat-friendly Ingredients

The ingredients found in your best cat toothpaste matter a lot, since they determine whether the product will be effective in cleansing or not. Preferably, go for a tooth cleanser with coconut oil as one of the main ingredients, it’s an organic alternative that contains approximately 50pct lauric acid found naturally in the substance. What’s more, it has a pleasant taste and most cats actually seem to like it. As the owner, it’s highly recommended to get a good toothpaste with compounds that your cat genuinely approves of.

Another favorable ingredient to consider is dextrose, which is a simple sugar that’s chemically identical to glucose and promotes balanced pH levels in your cat’s mouth to prevent the proliferation of bacteria that may cause oral diseases. Likewise, glucose oxidase is a cat-friendly ingredient produced by some species of beneficial fungi and insects and used as an antibacterial agent that helps to destroy oral bacteria.

On the other hand, there are some harmful ingredients you need to watch out for since they can do more harm than help to your cat. One of them is ethanol, which is often added as an antibacterial agent in some toothpaste, but when your cat consumes too much of it during brushing then it could potentially suppress their central nervous system (CNS), and lead to serious health effects over the long term.

Another potentially harmful ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate the soft tissue in your cat’s mouth and cause painful sores. Even though it’s a popular antibacterial agent, when used in your cat toothpaste it can sting especially if your pet has a bleeding-gum condition. Other ingredients not recommended are essential oils like peppermint and clove.

Compare the Benefits of Different Products

It’s wise to check what other cat owners are saying about different cat toothpaste brands before making any pick, the best way to do this is by referring to online reviews. Check out whether the product worked for most users, and also the benefits that each specific cat toothpaste brand has over the rest.

Always go for pastes that are designed for cats only and not multi-purpose for all pets, since they tend to work better than the latter. Similarly, ensure that your product has been approved for use by relevant veterinary authorities. You definitely don’t want to brush your cat’s teeth with a cheap and generic toothpaste, containing unknown compounds that may cause harm to your pet’s mouth.

Additionally, nowadays there are modern toothpaste uniquely formulated with non-foaming agents, that don’t require any rinsing after the brushing has been done. They are suitable for owners who run a busy lifestyle schedule, and only have a minimal amount of time to clean their cat’s teeth.

Another benefit to look out for when doing your research is, whether the product is capable of neutralizing bad breath and odors that may be coming from your cat’s mouth. Including the ability to remove and prevent plaque buildup.

Likewise, check whether the toothpaste is available in flavors that your cat will find attractive such as beef, fish and chicken. This will make it easier for you to approach the animal for brushing without it resisting. Remember that your ultimate goal is not only getting your pet’s teeth cleaner, and having healthier gums and good breath, but also ensuring that your pet is relaxed and comfortable during the brushing process.

Types and Function of the Toothpaste

Basically, there are two types of cat toothpaste which include; the enzymatic and antiseptic toothpaste. Enzymatic options are great for preventing tooth decay in animals, they contain synthetic enzymes that help to break down plaque and bacteria naturally. Likewise, they can speed up other chemical reactions within the paste to help keep your cat’s mouth clean. Most of them contain lactoperoxidase-enzyme as the main ingredient which works to promote dental health, though others may also have glucose oxidate.

On the other hand, antiseptic cat toothpaste are also helpful in killing harmful bacteria in the animal’s mouth. They can root out microbes from the cat’s dental system without you even having to use a brush, simply apply the antiseptic gel directly to the animal’s gums and wait for it to work its magic. They also promote dental health by ensuring a neutral pH in your animal’s mouth, as well as promoting healthy gum tissue.

Nowadays, owners can find special cat toothpaste that are formulated specifically for use by the animal. Nevertheless, since cats can’t spit like humans do it’s important to find a product with safe ingredients that aren’t toxic to the animal. It’s recommended to go for tested and approved cat toothpaste brands that have already been verified to be safe for use by veterinary experts, don’t go for generic brands since you don’t know the content of their ingredients which may be harmful to your cat.

Additionally, you should conduct an online research to check the various advantages and disadvantages of different cat toothpaste brands available in the market, which shall help you make an informed decision by picking a product that’s both healthy and effective on your animal. Similarly, it’s good to know which types of toothpaste are available for use, and how they function to keep your cat’s teeth clean. The two most popular types of best cat toothpaste products available in the market today are enzymatic and antiseptic toothpaste.