The primary preventative method consists of diagnosing these disorders as early as possible. It is therefore essential to inspect a cat’s mouth frequently from a very young age – in fact, as soon as it’s first veterinary visit. Training the cat to allow the owner to examine its teeth and the inside of its mouth routinely is a huge advantage.
While the etiology remains a mystery, there is at present no means of preventing odontoclastic resorptive lesions. However, since it is suspected that micro-traumas to the cementum of the tooth play a part in the cause, it is important to give cats a food of a specific texture – neither too hard (to avoid lesions) nor too soft (so as not to lose the benefit of mastication). It is also important to ensure that they have a balanced food in terms of calcium and magnesium and without too much vitamin D (Harvey in Chandler, 2004).
Chronic gingivitis-stomatitis is a condition that has many etiological factors. For all these reasons, administering a dry food – with the right balance and texture and at the earliest possible age – can only be beneficial to a cat’s dental wellbeing. Feeding special kibbles when weaning kittens will help to introduce good habits for the animal later in life – it will find it normal to “crunch” its food, thereby brushing its teeth at the same time. Of course there is nothing to prevent the cat’s owner from doing this daily as well. In addition, most cats up to 3 years old already present with dental lesions, fully justifying early treatment (Harvey in Chandler, 2004).
MECHANICAL
Thorough and daily brushing of a cat’s teeth is still the best method for preventing periodontal conditions (Ingham et al, 2002). However this requires a motivated owner and a cooperative cat in order to achieve effective prophylaxis. This is one of the reasons why the use of specially researched dry food like ROYAL CANIN Feline Nutrition is an excellent solution for its mechanical action on plaque and on the development of tartar. The shape of the food is important but also its texture. In fact, the distance of the tooth’s penetration optimizes the brushing effect. A rectangular shape of kibble (as opposed to a triangular shape) encourages this mechanical action and helps to produce a significant reduction (-41%) in dental plaque (Servet, 2003). Chewing also stimulates the production of saliva and saliva contains anti-infective agents.
CHEMICAL
Diet can have a direct influence on oral and dental health through the intermediary of nutrients. Their method of action can be ranked in line with four different axes:
Antimicrobial action
Anti-inflammatory effect
Action at the level of the immune system
Antioxidant effect
Zinc: antibacterial and healing properties (promotes a healthy epithelium). Zinc salts inhibit the formation of tartar, restrict bacterial growth and have a beneficial effect on the production of malodorous molecules (halitosis).
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): important for the production of collagen is the main protein in the structure of the gum.
Vitamin A: protects the epithelium.
Calcium chelating agents: rendering calcium in the saliva unavailable for the mineralization of dental plaque. Various studies have shown that the addition of polyphosphates (calcium chelating agents) can produce significant reduction in tartar formation (-45%). It should however be noted that this type of prophylactic treatment is effective only in the long term (Servet, 2003).
Polyphenols (green tea): these antioxidants possess bactericidal properties. They also slow down the ability of bacteria to adhere to epithelial cells in the mouth and inhibit the production of acid metabolites by bacteria in the dental plaque.
Essential oils: because they are rich in antioxidants, they inhibit bacterial growth, reduce the formation of volatile fatty acids responsible for halitosis and have an anti-flammatory action.
CONCLUSION
Oral hygiene in cats merits veterinary attention throughout the animals’ life. Owner recognition early on of a dental problem is the best means of limiting disease and preventing serious damage. Diet plays an important part in the prevention of specific diseases in this species.