4 Facts About Cat Teeth and How to Take Care of Them
Many pet owners are unfamiliar with the inside of a cat's mouth, but keeping up with your kitty's dental issue is critical to their general health and wellness.
Because the best defense is a good offense, we've compiled a list of fascinating cat tooth facts to help you learn more about your feline's dental health. Read on also to discover where to find a cat groomer in Bentonville.
What Are the Different Facts About Feline Teeth?
Humans and cats are both diphyodont creatures, even though a cat's teeth are significantly different from a human's dazzling whites. This means humans have two sets of teeth in succession.
Children's initial set of teeth, known as deciduous or baby teeth, fall out. Then a permanent set is introduced. A cat's dental timeline, on the other hand, is a little faster than a human's.
Moreover, cats are born without teeth, but their baby teeth emerge around two weeks after birth. At roughly 3 months, the baby teeth begin to fall out to make place for permanent teeth.
Cats generally have 26 baby teeth and 30 permanent teeth. On the other hand, dogs have 28 baby teeth and 42 permanent teeth, whereas humans have 20 baby teeth and 32 permanent teeth.
Feline Teeth Are Designed For Hunting
Dr. Alexander Reiter, an associate professor of dentistry and oral surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, argues that the crown forms of cat teeth mirror the function of a real carnivore. Your cat's teeth are designed to rip and tear through prey like a jungle cat.
Those enormous canine teeth (fangs) are designed to pierce prey's flesh. Of course, this means that a cat bite is excruciatingly painful.
Different Teeth Are Used For Different Purposes
When hunting, a cat's incisors—those tiny teeth located between the canines in the front of the mouth—aren't very useful. However, they are useful for grooming and grabbing up items. Dr. Daniel Carmichael, head of the Dentistry Service at the Animal Medical Center, states that they're quite handy if a cat has to gnaw at anything.
According to Dr. Reiter, some cats use their incisors to chew on their claws and remove loose bits of their nails.
Cavities Do Not Exist in Cats
They don't get cavities in the same way that people do, so they're called "caries" in the first place. This is partly because of the shape of their teeth.
According to Dr. Reiter, cats' molars lack occlusal tables (horizontal surfaces); hence, they do not form real carious lesions.
Caries-causing bacteria thrive on the pits and divots found in occlusal tables, which are used to grind food.
Due to the structure of their teeth and their food, domestic cats have never been documented to have cavities. The only cavity discovered in a cat was in a 13th-century fossil.
Cats Require Regular Brushing of Teeth and Dental Appointments
Dr. Reiter and Dr. Carmichael recommend daily tooth brushing for cats to minimize bacteria accumulation, leading to various dental problems.
Brushing your cat's teeth may seem impossible, but many cats can be trained with a little patience. Brushing works best on clean teeth, so begin when your cat is a kitten and keep up with it in between veterinary cleanings. You can also seek assistance from a cat groomer who knows how to deal with cats when brushing their teeth.
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Also, during annual wellness appointments, cat owners should always request an oral examination. Oral exams for cats should be performed regularly during visits. Moreover, the American Animal Hospital Association recommends that kittens get a full oral exam to check for missing, unerupted, or slow-to-erupt teeth and baby teeth that don't fall out on time.
Conclusion
When taking care of your cat's teeth, it's unavoidable not to intervene. Fortunately, taking a few simple actions to care for your cat's mouth is straightforward if you start early and get them used to cleaning their teeth. Your veterinarian may also recommend and offer you a choice of treatments to keep your pet's teeth and gums in good shape by performing annual professional cleanings. To maintain good oral health, it's also best to go for regular cat grooming.
Earthwise Pet Supply & Grooming is a reputable dog and cat groomer in Bentonville that can assist you in keeping up with your dog's grooming needs. Make an appointment for your cherished pet with us!