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My cat has gingivitis. Will brushing or water additives help?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years old | 5 lbs

Whenever I've taken my cat to the vet, they mention that he has gingivitis. He does need a cleaning which I intend to do, but I'm still saving money for it since they need blood work on him. How well will brushing his teeth with cat toothpaste help him? Is it safe to use water additives for his teeth and breath?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 10th, 2017

Once your kitty had his dental cleaning , brushing his teeth with enzymatic tooth paste will prevent the build up of tartar and gingivitis. Brushing his teeth while he still has the excessive tartar will not remove it and also hurt the gums, as the gingivitis is painful. You can use water additives, but in my opinion they do not do much for the breath and his teeth. The bad breath is caused by bacteria in the tartar and below the gums. It will go away as soon as the teeth are cleaned.

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