how do i brush her teeth?

my kitty wont let me brush her teeth. she will lick the toothpaste and like it i think but she fidgets and meows when i try to brush her teeth and she wont open her mouth. i dont want to force her mouth open or have to hurt her too much in the process so how should i hold her and get her to open her mouth in order to let me brush her teeth?

number one, are you using kitty toothpaste? Do not use human toothpaste! The floride or something is bad for them. I wouldnt reccommend brushing your cats teeth at all O_O My elliot likes to bite on it but wont let me brush, and Aerowyn wont let me anywhere near her teeth with it. I reccommend you buy cat treats specifically for their dental health. Dogs have bones they can chew which will help their teeth, and cats also have crunchy treats (that you can find at a pet store or even your local grocery store) It will help with plaque and keep your kitties teeth healthier. Besides, if you brush her teeth, you will have to do it like two, maybe three times a day, and soon she will get to hate a toothbrush. But what kind of cat passes up a yummy treat eh? hope this helped! It shouldnt be too expensive either, maybe like two to five dollars? Make sure to follow the instructions though! Some people just give a cat the whole can of treats, but people really shouldnt do that X_X

I use dental wipes/swabs from Petkin to clean their teeth. When I clean their teeth, I open their mouth just enough to get a swab in there (for the back teeth). They will start to bite down a little so I let them, but continue the brushing motion. Once I finish the back, I use the dental wipes to clean their front teeth.

Brushing your cats teeth is the absolute best way to prevent dental disease- Good for you for trying it! It won't be easy at first but give it time. Let her lick the (pet!) toothpaste off of your fingers at first. Then try using your finger to rub some on her molars. Give it awhile before you introduce the brush or she might learn to hate it. Doing this just once a day will save you lots of $$$ in the future!

i use kitty toothpaste that is malt flavored. i let her lick it before handf and she l ikes the taste but she just wont let me touch her teeth! i tried using the finger brush but it didnt work and she just wont open her mouth and i dont k now how to get it open without hurting her bc im afraid that if i hurt her she wont like it in the future.

starlie can you show me where the petkin swabs are available and what they look like please? thanks!

The swabs are available on their website www.petkin.com. The swabs look just like q-tips.

thanks! i appreciate it

p.s. have you used their liquid oral cair?

I've been using Oxyfresh Pet Oral Hygiene Solution in my cats water for over a year & their teeth look great. I liked their products so much that I recently became a distributor. Since then I started using the Pet Gel as a toothpaste to clean their teeth & gums. I have the Triple Pet Toothbrush but I find that it's easier just to apply some Pet Gel to a piece of gauze & wipe their teeth down with that.
Here's the link if you want to check it out.... Oxyfresh Pet Products.

Originally Posted by irisanth

thanks! i appreciate it

p.s. have you used their liquid oral cair?

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The liquid is a new product and was not available when I recently ordered swabs and wipes. I'll talk to my vet and see what he says. If he gives the okay, I'll pick up a bottle and give you a review.

Originally Posted by starlie

The liquid is a new product and was not available when I recently ordered swabs and wipes. I'll talk to my vet and see what he says. If he gives the okay, I'll pick up a bottle and give you a review.

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that would be great. thanks!

I brush my cats' teeth daily, and I can tell you, it took a loooooong time!! It takes patience and persistence, getting the cat used to you fooling around in her mouth. But make it a pleasant experience for her, with lots of scratching and petting and praise, and eventually she might even come to enjoy it!!

Here's a good way to open her mouth: if you're right handed, hold her in your lap. Hold her head with your left hand. Position your left thumb at the corner of her mouth. With your right hand, stick the fingernail of one finger in between her lips and pry open her mouth between her incisors. Meanwhile, with your left thumb, press the lips at the corner of the mouth in between the upper and lower teeth. The cat won't bite down on its own lips.

If she squirms too much to let you do this, you might have to wrap her in a towel.

Good luck, and bright pearly whites for your kitty!!