Toothbrush cleaning?

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K. Sya and Sophie (GA)

K. Sya and Sophie (GA)

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Hi,
After her dental, Sya has taken well to toothbrushing. Each night before bed, I do mine and she waits at the foot of the bed for me to do hers :-D Anyway, having finished the first tube of toothpaste am wondering about the brush. I rinse it well with hot water each night after brushing, but does it need more cleaning than that? Should it be replaced after each tube? Thoghts?
 
If you are concerned about bacterial contamination, there are a few options

* denture tablets are a safe option for cleaning toothbrushes, just be sure to rinse well and air dry (some cats like the mint smell). I use them on mine.

* they make a toothbrush sanitizers. examples

* a 3% bleach solution may be used to dip, rinse, and air dry the brush. (1 oz of 100% added to 32 oz of water is approximately the correct ratio for a disinfecting solution).
 
if the toothpaste is from the vet and being used on a diabetic, can you look at the ingredients?
I have not been able to find a pet toothpaste with no sweetener in it; my vet gave me a tube for my 2 civies and I pointed out to him that he should not have diabetic animals using it.... he recommended baking soda.
 
Hi,
It does have sorbitol in it...no doubt why it is such an attraction for her. Considering how little toothpaste is used each time, I figure it is a toss-up in benefits. It might push numbers up slightly, but it allows me to keep her mouth in good shape, I figure its worth it. Her numbers are holding nicely (haven't updated my spread sheet lately, but I have been successful with a .25 unit dose reduction since her dental, so I figure things are going well. (It is the CET paste)
 
fwiw, Oscar is UBER sensitive to carbs and the CET seafood flavor tartar toothpaste doesn't drive up his numbers when I brush his teeth.
 
Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:
if the toothpaste is from the vet and being used on a diabetic, can you look at the ingredients?
I have not been able to find a pet toothpaste with no sweetener in it; my vet gave me a tube for my 2 civies and I pointed out to him that he should not have diabetic animals using it.... he recommended baking soda.
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The CET ppultry and seafood flavored toothpastes are fine for diabetic cats to have :smile: The glucose oxidase is an enzyme, not a sugar.
 
Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:
and I pointed out to him that he should not have diabetic animals using it
Click to expand...

I disagree.

.... he recommended baking soda.
Click to expand...

And...I very strongly disagree with this recommendation. I would never use anything that tasted bad. It is hard enough to get some cats to allow toothbrushing without introducing something like baking soda into their oral cavity.

I brush two of my cats' teeth. One I use CET toothpaste (just at the start but then I don't 'refill' the brush so must of his teeth are done without any paste)......with but the other one I just wet the brush and use nothing else. Just a plain tooth brush.

Really....you do not have to use anything on the brush....and this is supported by a boarded dentist I spoke with recently. The abrasive action of the brush is what you are after. The toothpaste holds no magical qualities.

I really only use the paste as treat for Robbie after brushing with essentially a plain, wetted down brush. I put a bit of paste on my finger for him to lick off when we are done. Again, only considering it as a treat.

My other cat does not go for the toothpaste so he just gets brushed with a wet brush.
 
I have always used just water and the finger brush and their teeth are staying just fine.
 
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