Tip-Top Teeth
By Kelly Kyrik
Published In Your Cat Magazine - Winter 2003
Promote excellent dental health with brushing, regular cleanings and proper diet; including the revolutionary new Iams© Daily Dental Care™!
“I noticed that Demian had very bad breath and a little bit of drool,” Nanci Black says of her 7-year-old tiger-striped cat, “so I made an appointment with the vet. He took one look into Demian’s mouth and immediately showed me how red the gums were from tartar buildup.” The vet said that Demian was also suffering from periodontal disease and needed expensive surgery as well as a cleaning, but Black didn’t mind. “I’ve always felt that my cats deserve the best possible medical care-and dental work-I can give them.”
Black’s experience is hardly unique-tartar buildup is the most commonly diagnosed feline health problem today–but not everyone takes it as seriously as she does. While most cat lovers are conscientious about their pet’s overall health, they often neglect their cat’s teeth. That’s unfortunate, since tartar buildup-and its successor, periodontal disease-can significantly affect a cat’s health.
The Problem
It starts when food particles mix with naturally occurring bacteria to form plaque, which hardens into tartar on the teeth. Untreated, this tartar buildup often leads to a damaging but common infection known as periodontal disease. This condition affects 85% of all adult cats over four years of age, with sometimes devastating effects.
“Tartar buildup breaks down the attachment of the teeth to the bone,” Dr. Bonnie Kramer, DVM, of the Alameda Veterinary Clinic in Lakewood, CO, says. “Then it moves into the gums, which leads to infection. This can result in tooth loss and can also make the cat quite sick.” Bleeding, inflamed gums, decreased weight, tooth decay and loss, even damage to the cat’s internal organs is possible.
The Solution
Fortunately, periodontal disease is both treatable and preventable. Brushing, along with professional cleanings and a steady diet of Iams© Daily Dental Care™ can help keep kitty’s teeth in tip-top shape.
Regular Brushing
Regular brushing with a toothbrush and paste made especially for cats helps prevent tartar buildup. Dr. Kramer recommends a thorough scrubbing every day, although she realizes that’s not always feasible, given most felines’ aversion to the activity. “Cats don’t really take to having their teeth brushed,” she says with a laugh. She and other experts agree that it helps to begin brushing when the cat is young.
Professional Cleaning
Regular cleanings-under anesthesia in the veterinarian’s office-are critical to
maintaining dental health. The average cat needs one yearly, beginning in early adulthood, more if there are warning signs such as irritability, drooling, bleeding gums or a change in eating habits. The most often ignored symptom, Dr. Kramer points out, is bad breath. “People begin to think that bad breath is normal in animals,” she says, “but it’s not.” She recommends an appointment with the veterinarian at the first sign of halitosis.
The Right Food
Diet is a convenient, though often overlooked, tool in the fight against tartar buildup. And while all dry food helps scrape tartar off teeth, a revolutionary new breakthrough in feline dental care goes several steps further. Unlike other products, which only work when the cat is chewing, Iams Daily Dental Care actually works in between meals, too. Special micro-cleansing crystals continue to block tartar even after kitty has finished eating. This means that you can reduce the tartar buildup that leads to periodontal disease by up to 43%, just by feeding your cat Iams Daily Dental Care every day!
Take A Peek
Awareness is the first step. “It’s really important for owners to get used to looking in their cat’s mouth,” Dr. Kramer says. So take a peek in your favorite feline’s mouth today and then get her started on the path to good dental health with a regimen that includes Iams Daily Dental Care cat food!
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