Feline Dental Calculus Causes

Feline dental calculus is mainly caused by inadequate oral hygiene and improper diet. For example, frequently feeding cats soft or high-salt foods can lead to dental calculus. Additionally, oral inflammation caused by a weakened immune system, genetic tooth misalignment, or crooked teeth can also result in feline dental calculus. Pet owners can open their cat's mouth and see brown-yellow calculi on the side walls of the teeth. In this case, it is necessary to take the cat to the pet hospital for ultrasonic teeth cleaning, and pay attention to maintaining oral hygiene by regularly brushing the cat's teeth.

Inadequate tooth brushing

After cats finish eating, food residues remain in the teeth gaps. If the cat's teeth are not cleaned promptly, the residues accumulate over time, gradually forming dental plaque, and eventually dental calculus. Therefore, it is best for owners to develop the habit of brushing their cat's teeth regularly from a young age.

Improper diet

If owners continuously feed cats with soft and sticky foods such as rice, canned food, delicious packages, and boiled meats, these food residues combine with saliva over time, forming dental calculus. Early on, these calculi and plaque are delicate and can be removed with fingers dipped in gauze. However, they will gradually calcify and become more solid with time. Therefore, it is recommended to feed cats with dry cat food as the main daily diet. The shape of the cat food helps clean the cat's teeth during chewing and removes tartar and plaque through friction.

Oral inflammation caused by a weakened immune system

Cats with feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus are more prone to oral mucosal inflammation. This is because when the cat's immune system is damaged, the immunity is insufficient to combat inflammation. Harmful bacteria multiply more aggressively and deposit on the cat's teeth, forming dental calculus. In this case, it is essential to take the cat to the pet hospital for inspection and treatment promptly.

Genetic tooth misalignment and crooked teeth

Due to the shorter upper and lower jaws and noses in Persians and British Shorthairs, their teeth have difficulty finding enough space in the jawbone, resulting in misaligned or crooked teeth. This makes these cats more susceptible to dental calculus, gingivitis, and other oral diseases.