Kitten Dental Care: Teething, Baby Teeth and Starting a Brushing Habit

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

A kitten's mouth changes fast. In the first months, tiny needle-sharp baby teeth appear, fall out and are replaced by permanent ones. This is the ideal time to build good dental habits, which can prevent painful disease later. See kitten teething for the chewing side of this stage.

Teething timeline

• 2 to 4 weeks: the first baby teeth, the incisors, appear.
• 3 to 4 weeks: canines and premolars erupt.
• By 8 weeks: all twenty-six baby teeth are present.
• 3 to 4 months: incisors fall out, replaced by adult teeth.
• 4 to 5 months: canines are replaced.
• 5 to 6 months: premolars and molars come in.
• By 6 to 7 months: all thirty adult teeth are in place.

You may find tiny teeth on the floor, or not see them at all, since kittens often swallow them, which is harmless.

Signs of teething

• Chewing on everything.
• Drooling or pawing at the mouth.
• Red, swollen gums.
• Mild bleeding when a tooth falls out.
• Reduced appetite, or preferring soft food.
• Slight irritability.

Provide safe chew toys, a chilled washcloth or cooled, soft toys. See kitten toys safe and unsafe. Avoid hard bones, antlers and hooves.

Retained baby teeth

Sometimes a baby tooth does not fall out when the adult tooth erupts, so the cat has two teeth in one place. This is called a persistent or retained deciduous tooth, and is most common with canines. It can crowd the adult tooth, trap food and cause gum disease or bite problems. Ask your vet to check at about six months. Retained teeth are usually removed, often at spay or neuter, to avoid a second anesthetic. See when to spay or neuter a kitten.

Start handling the mouth early

1. Touch the lips and cheeks gently while petting.
2. Lift the lip to look at teeth, with a treat after.
3. Rub a finger along the gums, with a bit of tuna water or a dab of cat toothpaste.
4. Introduce a toothbrush or finger brush with cat toothpaste.
5. Brush a few teeth at a time, extending sessions gradually.

See how to brush a cat's teeth. Use toothpaste made for cats. Human toothpaste contains fluoride and xylitol, which are harmful. See is xylitol toxic to cats.

Diet and dental health

A complete and balanced kitten food supports tooth development. Calcium and phosphorus must be balanced, so avoid homemade diets without expert guidance. Later, dental diets and treats may help. See cat dental diets and treats and best food for kittens.

Signs of dental problems

• Bad breath.
• Red or swollen gums, or bleeding.
• Drooling.
• Dropping food, or chewing on one side.
• Pawing at the mouth.
• Crooked, broken or missing teeth.
• Face swelling.

Kittens can also have gingivitis, mouth ulcers from calicivirus and congenital problems. See feline calicivirus and herpesvirus and gingivitis and stomatitis in cats.

Checkups

Ask your vet to look at the mouth at each kitten visit, particularly around five to six months, to check that adult teeth are coming in correctly. See kitten first vet visit.

Adult dental care

Daily brushing is best. Yearly dental exams, and cleanings under anesthesia when recommended, protect teeth. See cat dental disease and cat dental cleaning: what to expect.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until the mouth hurts.
• Using human toothpaste.
• Giving bones or hard chews.
• Ignoring retained baby teeth.
• Skipping dental checks.

Caring for a kitten's mouth through adolescence

Between three and seven months, kittens may be fussy eaters as teeth change. Offer softer food and moistened kibble if the mouth is sore. Keep up daily gentle handling, since mouths heal quickly, and brushing remains important. Monitor for red lines along the gumline, which show gingivitis, and bring any broken tooth to your vet.

Breeds with special needs

Some breeds, such as Persians and other flat-faced cats, have crowded teeth and are prone to dental disease. Ask your vet for a plan, and begin daily brushing early. See persian.

A simple dental routine

Pick one calm moment each day, such as after the evening meal. Offer a taste of cat toothpaste, touch a few teeth with your finger, then reward with praise. After a week, introduce a finger brush for a few seconds. Extend by a tooth or two every few days. Within a month or two, many kittens accept a full brush in under a minute, which sets up years of healthy teeth.

When to see a vet

See a vet if your kitten has bad breath, red gums or retained baby teeth. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.