31 Oct Is Wet Food Bad for a Cat’s Teeth?
Wet food is not necessarily bad for a cat’s teeth, but it may not provide the same dental benefits as dry food. Here’s how wet food impacts a cat’s dental health:
1. Texture and Chewing:
Wet food is soft and doesn’t require much chewing, which can be a disadvantage for dental health. Dry food, on the other hand, provides some mechanical cleaning as cats chew the kibble, which may help scrape off plaque from the teeth. However, the actual benefit of dry food in preventing dental disease is often overstated, and neither dry nor wet food alone is sufficient to fully maintain a cat’s dental health. (Today’s Veterinary Nurse)
2. Plaque and Tartar Buildup:
Because wet food is soft, it can stick to the teeth and gums more easily, potentially contributing to plaque and tartar buildup if the cat’s teeth are not regularly brushed or professionally cleaned. However, studies show that both wet and dry diets can contribute to dental problems if not accompanied by proper dental care. (Today’s Veterinary Nurse)
3. Overall Dental Health:
Regardless of whether a cat is fed wet or dry food, oral hygiene practices like regular tooth brushing, dental treats designed for plaque control, and routine veterinary dental cleanings are essential for preventing periodontal disease. Relying solely on the type of food (whether dry or wet) is not sufficient to maintain optimal oral health. (AVDC)
4. For Cats Having Kidney Compromise or Diabetes Mellitus:
Cats with kidney compromise need to high quality/low quantity kidney diet and canned food is highly recommended. Those cats having Diabetes Mellitus must receive a low carbohydrate diet that is also canned. Therefore, for either of these conditions, do not feed a dry diet.
Conclusion:
Wet food is not inherently bad for a cat’s teeth, but it doesn’t offer the mechanical cleaning action that some dry foods might provide. Regular dental care practices, such as tooth brushing and veterinary check-ups, are crucial to maintain your cat’s oral health, regardless of its diet.
There are VOHC-approved (Veterinary Oral Health Council) diets that do work to prevent calculus. These diets can be quite helpful, but from my perspective as a veterinary dental specialists ™ , they are high in fat content and if there is any Tooth Resorption (TR), these pets experience pain when eating such a hard kibble. Therefore, for my feline friends, I do not recommend VOHC-approved feline dental diets unless I know for sure that there is no tooth resorption or a pet is free from systemic disease such as Kidney compromise or Diabetes.
Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC
Board Certified Veterinary Dental Specialist ™
References:
American Veterinary Dental College. “Does Dry Food Clean Your Pet’s Teeth?”
VCA Animal Hospitals. “Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth.”
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